Dalayah Daniels
Hailey Van Lith of Cashmere, Washington, extends past Faith Bergstrom at the 2018 Check Me Out Showcase in Seattle. *Photo by Glenn Nelson/@trailposse.
SEATTLE -- The Emerald City and the University of Washington campus has been home to the Check Me Out Showcase the last five years. The event which has morphed into a seven-city, national camp circuit, was as strong as ever because of the talent surge in the Pacific Northwest. Here's the first look from last weekend's showcase, which features five local players who are on the national map.
With each evaluation, Daniels seems to be finding her way and growing into her body. She was attentive throughout the skill sessions and gameplay. At one point, Daniels was able to take instruction setting three designed screens to perfection. in a late-game situation. She has the physical tools to play this game for years to come. In that regard, Daniels is ahead of where current WNBA player Dearica Hamby was at the same stage. If Daniels will continue to work on pacing her footwork, finishing around the rim the way that Hamby did, it stands to reason that Daniels can produce at a similar rate over the course of her career.
Simply put, Fiso is like a Swiss Army knife on the hardwood. She caught my attention last year with her versatility and was even better during this year’s edition. Fiso is strong enough physically to play either forward position but possesses the skill needed to spend quality minutes at either guard spot. She shot the 3-pointer, midrange step back and finished around the rim. In addition, Fiso set up her teammates to be successful and rebounded as well as anyone in the gym.
With her size and ability to rebound the ball, Jenkins showed growth in this evaluation from her play here in August 2017. She has the skill to grab the ball on the defensive rebound, handle the length of the floor and finish on the other end. Jenkins is oozing with talent and potential. Continuing to grow the consistency in her overall game will be a major key over the next 12 months. If the past year is an indicator, Jenkins is well on her way to doing just that.
Lenzie was arguably the most improved player in the gym regardless of class. Even though she’s already committed to Portland, the sharpshooting guard came dialed in and ready to work. Lenzie, who knocked down eight 3-pointers in a high school game last season, was making shots from all over the floor using the pick and roll action to create both jump shots for herself and easy baskets for her teammates. Though a shooting guard by definition, Lenzie showed the skill to play on the ball when need be as well. Defensively, she took the challenge of guarding one of the nation’s most skilled options in Hailey Van Lith.
Speaking of Van Lith, the five-star prospect stole the show during the competition portion of the event on Saturday. Her unique blend of power, skill and speed with the ball remind me of the version of James Harden we are seeing in Houston. Like Harden, Van Lith is a left-hand dominant guard capable of getting downhill to make a play against just about any guard in the country. She is a quality option shooting the basketball showing that both the midrange and 3-pointer are in her arsenal during the showcase. As Van Lith continues to learn when and where to utilize her offensive skill, both her efficiency will increase as a result.
Brandon Clay serves as the WNBA Director of Scouting for ProspectsNation.com and owns The JumpOffPlus.com International Report, which is picked up by more than 150 colleges and universities nationwide. He serves as the Executive Camp Director for the Elite Basketball Academy Camps. He serves on the Naismith Trophy Men’s / Women’s College Player of the Year Academy and is chairman of the HS Boys / Girls Board of Selectors and is on the McDonald’s All-American Selection Committee. He also is the publisher of PSBPopCulture.com.
