It was in March of 2020 at the Tennessee girl's basketball state tournament that I learned that life as we knew it was going to shut down for the next year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic caused uncertainty from everyone including coaches and prospects with recruiting basically being limited to watching prospects on film. As it appears, this July will be back to normal at full capacity and an opportunity for players to get their names out there.
This article features a few senior prospects that are worth checking out in July.
Keeleigh Rogers - 5'10 Guard - Farragut/TN Flight Trotters
Rogers is a floor general that makes great passes and decisions with the ball. She has great size and a nice skill set at the guard position. There is nothing flashy to what she does, she just gets the job done. She is a great rebounder and relentless competitor on both ends of the floor. I fully expect Rogers to pick up a handful of Division 1 offers by the end of July.
Kamil Collier - 6' Forward - Ensworth/Flight Silver 17U EYBL
Collier is a skilled forward that is capable of scoring at all three levels. Her consistent jump shot extends beyond the arc. While she may lack in superior athleticism, she more than makes up for it with a skill set that translates well. She offers nice back to the basket moves with crafty footwork and is also a great pick and pop player. She's had a solid travel season this year and certainly expect college coaches to be circling her name during this live evaluation period.
Madison Hart - 5'11 Forward - Gibson County/Tennessee Blazers
Madison was a Miss Basketball finalist last year in Class A as a junior and is one of the most relentless players on the court that you will find in the state. She battles for every rebound, finishes well through contact, and offers plenty of upside for college coaches. Hart is at one of the top high school programs in the state and continues to progress each year as a player. She is a must watch this July!
Annalise Malone - 6'1 Forward - Lincoln County/Stars Basketball
Malone is a lengthy forward that is mobile, rebounds, and finishes well at the rim. Her length and mobility allows her to block tough shots and get hands on a lot of basketballs. She is a capable rebounder that elevates well and tracks down rebounds out of area. She is a capable scorer around the rim with a nice touch and finish. Malone offers a ton of upside and her best basketball is still to come.
Lili Wilken - 5'8 Guard - Page/Team B-Wright
Lili is a guard with size and strength that refuses to get rattled on the court. Her on-court demeanor allows for her to process and understand the game. She has a knack of making the tough plays look easy. She is a scoring threat anytime she touches the ball whether she's knocking down the 3 ball, hitting a pull-up jumper, or just standing at the free throw line completing the final step of the AND-1.
Kennedy Claybrooks - 5'7 Point Guard - Bartlett/Bluff City
Kennedy recently reopened her recruitment after being committed to Southern University in Louisiana. Kennedy had a great showing recently at the Insider Exposure All-American Camp and I expect her to have a great showing this July. She is a pass first point guard that sees the floor on every possession. She consistently breaks down the defense by attacking the rim and setting the teammate up for an open bucket. This kid knows how to win and is a relentless competitor.
Ashlan Crittenden - 5'8 Guard - Bradley Central/Flight Select
Crittenden is another guard with a calm demeanor on the court. The guard scores in a variety of ways with elevation off the floor and a smooth looking shot that rarely changes form. Her deceptive athleticism allows her to rebound against the bigger opponent and steal boards for her team. Crittenden comes from a high school and travel program that knows nothing but winning.
Edie Darby - 5'6 Guard - Greenfield/Flight Silver 17U EYBL
Edie is a southpaw guard that is one of the best shooters in the state. She displayed her great shooting ability earlier in the spring at Boo Williams knocking down shots from everywhere and with range. She is great with that basketball in her hands and showcases a hesitation move that will routinely drop a defender to the floor. She is a scrappy defender that plays with a ton of energy and never gets tired on the court.
Bailey Burgess - 5'7 Guard - Bearden/East TN Air Thunder
Burgess is one of the best knock down shooters that you will find in this senior class in Tennessee. Her outside shot sets up her to drive and dish/score. She recently transferred to powerhouse Bearden and certainly helps put them over the top as the top public school in the state. I expect Burgess to have a great July evaluation period and pick up plenty of offers in doing so.
Reghan Grimes - 5'11 Forward - Ravenwood/Team B-Wright
Grimes is a double-double machine that scores the ball well and overwhelms the opponent on the boards. Grimes is capable of putting the ball on the floor and overpowering the defender. She can play the back-to-the-basket game or face up and take her defender off the dribble. She has a great touch around the rim and finishes consistently through contact. She is one of the best athletes in the state in the 2022 class and should be a player that coaches check out in July!