Team 3
Coach: Mackenzie Graham
#3: 5’2 ’25 Meadow Thomas (Rolesville)
Starting things off, we look at a player that made a seemingly nonstop impact despite being the smallest camper on this team, Meadow Thomas. She’s a tough, quick, scrappy point guard prospect with a sharp penetration sense and great defensive instincts. Thomas utilizes her high motor well defensively to contain her assignment, force turnovers, and make hustle plays. She’s a capable shooter but prefers to get downhill whenever possible, where she’s able to finish or set up others at a quality rate. Thomas is a team-oriented player with a willingness to do the dirty work and consistently get back in transition. Next in her development process is working on her ability to move without the ball, as it would open her up to more spot-up opportunities. Coach Graham on Thomas: “Meadow is undersized but plays bigger than her listed height. She’s a great facilitator with a quick first step and the ability to handle the ball well through defensive pressure.” Thomas enjoyed a strong showing at camp and should continue to emerge as a useful contributor for Rolesville going forward.
#14: 5’5 ’23 Dearia Page (North Mecklenburg)
Next, we look at a player that simply knows how to produce alongside any collection of teammates, Dearia Page. She’s a smart, scrappy, fairly well-rounded guard prospect with excellent quickness and a terrific defensive presence at the point of attack. Page can reliably handle the ball, create for herself and others, and apply scoring pressure from all three levels. She’s great at getting downhill and accessing her lethal midrange pull-up, but can also effectively finish or knock down jumpers from beyond the arc. Page makes smart decisions with the ball in her hands. She’s also a menacing defender with the ability to mirror opponents and force turnovers at a healthy rate. Next in her development process is working on her consistency as a spot-up threat, as it would make her a more complete player. Coach Graham on Page: “Dearia is an energetic defender with a good attitude and quick first step. She’s really good in the midrange and highlights a great pull-up jumper.” Page did a lot of things well at camp and has the tools to be a nice late addition for the right program.
#20: 5’6 ’26 Ma-Kaela Gidney (Hickory Ridge)
Moving onto a player that possesses an enticing crossroads between productivity and long-term upside, Ma-Kaela Gidney. She’s a young, unselfish, well-rounded guard prospect with a nice blend of IQ, skill, and athleticism. Gidney is a quality penetrator with quickness, vision, and a tight handle. She is a capable shooter from midrange, but prefers to attack the basket and finish or set up others whenever possible. Gidney defends her position well, both on and off the ball, and displays natural instincts for intercepting passing lanes. She’s also a useful rebounder on both ends of the floor. Next in her development process is working to become a more consistent three-point shooter, as it would make her a more complete player. Coach Graham on Gidney: “Ma-Kaela is a smart guard with tons of upside. She has a great attitude and clear willingness to be coached. She can penetrate and finish well around the basket.” Gidney enjoyed a quality showing at camp and will be a prospect to watch grow over the coming years at Hickory Ridge.
#31: 5’7 ’27 Jakayla Palmer (Neal)
Continuing onto a player that highlighted a lot of appealing flashes, especially as the youngest camper on this team, Jakayla Palmer. She’s a young, smart, high-motor guard prospect with nice size, toughness, and overall array of skills. Palmer handles the ball with poise and understands how to provide a steady, reliable presence on both ends of the floor. She scores the ball at a solid rate from all levels while consistently operating within the framework of the team structure. Palmer utilizes her quickness well to penetrate and defend her assignment at the point of attack. She rebounds well for her size and naturally fills in the gaps on either side of the ball. Next in her development process is working on the use of her off-hand, as it would make her a more complete player. Coach Graham on Palmer: “Jakayla has a great attitude and great understanding of defensive positioning. She displays a quick first step and touches the paint well. Jakayla has nice potential.” Palmer made a quality impact at camp and will certainly be one to watch progress over the coming years.
#38: 5’8 ’26 Alley Wright (NC GBB)
Next, we look at a player that showcased a lot of appeal, both as a current and long-term piece, Alley Wright. She’s a young, polished, high-motor guard prospect with a clear understanding of how to run a team and set the tone on both ends of the floor. Wright possesses a quick first step and crafty handle, which allows her to break down opponents and make plays as a penetrator. She finishes well, sets up others, and converts midrange pull-ups with regularity. Wright displays IQ and makes quality decisions with the ball in her hands. She’s a solid defender and capable shooting threat from beyond the arc. Next in her development process is working on her ability to move without the ball, as it would make her a more complete player. Coach Graham on Wright: “Alley is a floor general with a good motor. She’s shifty and can create off the dribble for herself or her teammates. Gets to the basket with ease. Alley’s always smiling but is highly competitive.” Wright proved to be an asset during her time at camp and has all the tools to be a notable piece for NC GBB over the foreseeable future.
#51: 5’9 ’26 Layla Clark (Providence Day)
Moving onto a player that consistently found ways to fill in the gaps on both ends of the floor, Layla Clark. She’s a young, steady, unselfish wing prospect with nice size and the ability to make an impact with or without the ball in her hands. Clark is a capable shooter and penetrator with solid cutting instincts and creation skills. She works hard defensively, makes hustle plays, and pursues rebounds on either side of the ball. Clark does a great job of operating within the team structure. Next in her development process is working to get quicker, as it would make her a better defender at the point of attack. Coach Graham on Clark: “Layla is a team-first player with a good attitude. Her facial expressions never change with a bad play. She’s a gamer and made a few big plays when we needed them.” Clark enjoyed a quality showing at camp and should be able to emerge as a key piece for Providence Day over the coming years.
#57: 6’0 ’24 Cameron Williams (South Mecklenburg)
Continuing onto a player that possesses a very intriguing array of tools, Cameron Williams. She’s a long, wiry, well-rounded forward prospect with the ability to do a little bit of everything on the court. Williams is a great midrange shooter and capable threat from beyond the arc, but understands how to play within the flow of the action. She’s also a solid defender and rebounder with useful creation skills. Next in her development process is working on the use of her off-hand, as it would make her a better finisher around the basket. Coach Graham on Williams: “Cameron is a long, lanky player with plenty of upside as a prospect. She’s still developing but had glimpses of good moves. She handles the ball well, especially for her size, and can make shots consistently from the perimeter.” Williams made a solid impact during her time at camp and should be a productive piece for South Mecklenburg over the next calendar year.
#71: 5’11 ’24 Laken Powe (Hickory)
Next, we look at a player with the ability to physically overwhelm opponents on both ends of the floor, Laken Powe. She’s a strong, tough, high-motor post prospect with nice touch and the ability to effectively anchor the paint on defense. Powe utilizes her body well to secure position, finish through contact, and battle on the glass. She passes and handles the ball pretty well for her size. Powe also knocks down midrange jumpers, alters shots well defensively, and runs the floor hard in transition. Next in her development process is working to get quicker, as it would make her a better defender along the perimeter. Coach Graham on Powe: “Laken is a big-bodied post with great strength. She accepts coaching and criticism very well. Laken boxes-out well and clears out space effectively on rebounds.” Powe consistently made her presence felt during her time at camp and should be a key piece for Hickory throughout her upcoming senior season.
#76: 6’2 ’24 Sarah Strong (Grace Christian)
Finishing up, we look at a player who was utterly dominant throughout her time at camp, Sarah Strong. She’s a smart, skilled, all-around forward prospect with the ability to absolutely annihilate opposing teams in a variety of different ways. Strong is a brilliant playmaker, crafty ball-handler, and unbelievably polished scorer who can generate offense from legitimately anywhere on the court. She can comfortably dictate the action as a primary creator from the block, high post, or when bringing the ball up the court. Strong possesses strength, toughness, touch with both hands, and knockdown shooting prowess. Her combination of IQ, size, and versatility makes her basically unstoppable. Strong rebounds the ball at a high volume and causes a ton of problems for opponents with her defensive instincts. Next in her development process is working to get quicker, as it would make her an even bigger mismatch. Coach Graham on Strong: “Sarah possesses unlimited range. She blocks shots at a constant rate, can play any position on the court, and has the ability to create any shot she wants. Sarah displays great court vision and the ability to distribute the ball. She’s able to finish from anywhere in the paint.” Strong was incredibly impressive at camp, securing the MVP Award, and truly has all the necessary tools to be a noteworthy player at the next level and beyond.