Diana Collins
Sydney Bowles from Lithonia, Georgia, at the 2020 BCS Training Academy Top 40. *Photo by Ty Freeman.
ATLANTA, Georgia – The BrandonClayScouting.com Top 40 Training Academy has become arguably the nation’s premier proving ground to start the club season. With campers representing eight different states, the 2020 edition was no different. Here’s my takeaway from the session:
Chelsea Aalim – Palm Beach Atlantic signee – Ola (Hampton, GA) – 2020
In a literal sense, Aalim keeps growing her game with each evaluation. Offensively, she has come a long way from the young guard who was inconsistent on that end years ago blossoming into a legit two-way threat.
Sydney Bowles – Woodward Academy (Lithonia, GA) – 2022
Bowles possesses a combination of size, skill and wiggle at the guard position that only a handful of backcourt threats possess nationwide. She is a do-it-all option in that regard for both her school and club teams.
Diana Collins – Brookwood (Snellville, GA) – 2023
Diana Collins of Snellville, Ga.
*Photo by Ty Freeman.Collins might be the most dynamic rising sophomore guard in the Peach State. However, it was her overall basketball IQ that jumped out to me here. Collins willingness to be vocal leader can take her game to the next level.
Lilly Davis – Mooresville (Mooresville, NC) – 2022
Davis has improved leaps and bounds on both ends of the hardwood since our August event. Her ability to do whatever is needed has earned both my respect and attention. That said, the sky is still the limit for her over the next couple of years development wise.
Jae’la Dunn – USC-Salk signee – Ola (Hampton, GA) – 2020
Dunn has never let her stature or lack thereof keep her from making a difference. She’s a tempo setter who is maturing as an offensive threat coming off a strong senior high school season.
De’Mauri Flournoy – Carrollton (Carrollton, GA) – 2021
This was Flournoy’s first time back in the Lab with me in over a year. She picked up right where she left off with her work ethic showcasing an improved outside shot. If she’ll unleash that on opposing defenders, Flournoy is one of the best available point guards nationally.
Jalexcia Hargrove – Hancock Central (Sparta, GA) – 2022
Hargrove has turned herself into a consistent threat with size and good hands. Of all the returning campers in this setting, Hargrove has probably the steepest improvement curve over the past 12 months. She’s really been in the Lab working and it shows.
McKenna Hayes – East Hamilton (Chattanooga, TN) – 2022
Hayes game is coming along nicely from my evaluation in the fall. She’s filled out some from then and is showing signs of growth skill wise. Overall, as Hayes becomes more comfortable shooting the basketball from the outside, her game will continue to flourish as a result.
Jaycee Douglas-Haynes – Spain Park (AL) – 2021
Douglas-Haynes came in ready to improve. Her game has a solid foundation that will only keep growing as she becomes a more consistent outside shooter with her mechanics. A left-hand dominant guard, Douglas-Haynes already possesses an offer and should see more when the club season finally gets rolling.
Taylor Henderson – Myers Park (Charlotte, NC) – 2021
Henderson made the trip down from the Queen City and did exactly what I expected which is prove that she belongs in the discussion as one of the city’s top prospects. Her length, athleticism and skill was on full display here.
Ja’kia Little – Northeast (Macon, GA) – 2022
Fresh off of a 40-point game in high school season, Little has an array of tools. What stuck out to me was ability to respond to my challenge on the defensive end. I walked away impressed with her physical ability and can’t wait to work with her again this summer.
Tabitha Littlefield – Greer (Greer, SC) – 2021
Coming from just north of Greenville, Littlefield actually reminds me of a former Greer product, Kayla Carlisle. Littlefield’s length and shot making ability were noteworthy here making her a prospect who is firmly on my radar after this workout.
Paris Miller – Luella (Locust Grove, GA) – 2022
Miller has shown time and time again that she has the physical talent to be one of the better backcourt players in her class. She’s starting to piece together the skill set to match her athleticism and I love to see it. Miller always seems to have a bounce to her step as well.
Dakota Phillips – Hart County (Hartwell, GA) – 2024
The only middle schooler in the building for this training academy, Phillips took full advantage working with elite level underclass prospects like Miller inside of the skill development work. Phillips is on track to be a player I’ll track closely in her grade next season.
Brandon Clay serves as the Director of Scouting for ProspectsNation.com and owns The BrandonClayScouting.com Evaluation Report, which is read by more than 200 colleges and universities nationwide. He also serves as the Executive Skills Director for the Brandon Clay Scouting Academy Series.
