The talent pool never dries up at TOC
Year after year the Arizona desert becomes a hotbed for high school hoops. Chandler, Ariz., and the surrounding area hosts the Nike Tournament of Champions and the pedigree of this event is as prestigious as any high school event in the country.
From Maya Moore and Elena Delle Donne flirting with 40-point games, to the Paris twins, to the Waner sisters, top players seem to always bring their best performances to the event and this year's field should dazzle crowds just the same.
Impact players come in many sizes and styles. The brackets are loaded with must-see players from the hyper-competitive Joe Smith Division all the way through the divisions named after colors.
A look at the top players there are some that are simply big-time scorers. Those with a chance of putting up 30-plus points include Santa Margarita's (Calif.) Melissa Zornig. She went for 43 points on Dec. 11, in her team's 75-66 victory over San Clemente. Edison's (Huntington Beach, Calif.) Bonnie Samuelson is a deadly shooter who is averaging more than 20 points per game and is a threat to go off at any time.
Others who could fill the boxscore with big numbers are Chelsea Gray, starting point guard for No. 1 ranked St. Mary's (Stockton, Calif.). Tolleson Union (Phoenix, Ariz.) is down their starting point guard from last year due to injury so Nebraska-signee Rebecca Woodberry will be depended on to score even more than she already does.
When looking for players who can put up big numbers, just look back to last year's tournament and the Mike Desper Division. Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis of Mater Dei High School (Santa Ana, Calif.) put up huge numbers for one of the nation's top teams. The No. 2 ranked Monarchs will again look to its top gun to lead them to victory.
Not all of the big time scorers come from the West coast. New Yorker Bria Smith of Christ the King (Middle Village, N.Y.) is coming into her third TOC and has the tools to explode for 30-plus if her team needs it.
In addition to the scorers there are a group of players that are simply crowd pleasers. Ronika Ransford, the senior point guard for H.D. Woodson High School (Washington, D.C.) has built a name for herself with her ankle-breaking, momentum-changing play. Dillard High School's (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) point guard Dawnn Maye also fits this category of player but she does it by dropping dimes and scoring the ball.
Mater Dei's Jordan Adams is also a crowd pleaser with her play. Her attacks to the rim and ability to play the game in the air are reminiscent of current Connecticut guard Caroline Doty.
Amber Orrange, a junior guard for Westbury Christian (Houston, Texas) is another entertainer on the court. She draws gasping cheers from fans with her assortment of nifty, off-balance finishes as well as tight handle.
While scoring and showmanship are certainly entertaining to watch for the fans, this game is about winning. Looking back at last year a player that embodied winning and substance over style was Cardinal O'Hara's (Springfield, Pa.) Stephanie Holzer. She's now a freshman post for Vanderbilt but she set the bar last year for on-court leadership.
Mt. Lebanon's (Pittsburgh, Pa.) Anna Kestler has the leadership and passing skills to lead her team without scoring huge numbers. In a many of the same ways Dillard's Maye falls into this 'winner' category as well, combining her offensive exploits with a defensive presence often missing from today's high school star.
Speaking of winning point guards, Bolingbrook's (Ill.) Ariel Massengale may take the cake. She could go for 28 points one game and follow it up with a dozen assists the next. The junior has tested her mettle against the best in the country and internationally with USA Basketball.
These players are just a few of the players that fans, coaches and scouts shouldn't miss at the 2009 Nike Tournament of Champions. Click here to see the entire watch list.