TeamPSB Stock Risers: Real Deal in the ‘Ville, Sept. 12, 2012

Darby Maggard of Larwill, Ind., makes up what she lacks in height with intelligence and skill at the point. *Photo by Ty Freeman

FRANKLIN, Tenn. – The second annual Real Deal in the ‘Ville exceeded expectations. With coaches from over 100 colleges and universities, the stage was set for unprecedented exposure on a small stage. And with the stage set, teams took full advantage of the opportunity to put on a great show. Here are a few of the players who stood out during the tournament at the A-Game facility.

By: Stephen Peck

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Darby Maggard (Larwill, Ind.) Spiece Lady Gym Rats Silver-2015

Good things come in small packages, and 5-foot-4 point guard Darby Maggard is no exception. She is a true floor general with excellent basketball I.Q. The crafty playmaker plays the game with maturity beyond her years.  She has superb court vision and is a sharpshooter from the perimeter. We were really impressed with her ability to create scoring opportunities off the bounce and equally impressed with her activity and anticipation on defense. Maggard was instrumental in leading the Lady Gym Rats to the championship of the TeamPSB division.

Spotlight Players

Avery Queen (Boerne, Texas) — San Antonios Finest White — 2014

We always take notice when we see a kid with a good set of tools at her disposal and uses them effectively. Avery Queen, a 6-2 power forward, caught our attention with her length and her ability to score inside and out. She plays big in the post and the combination of solid footwork and a soft touch around the rim make her a scoring threat in the paint. Versatility is on her side as her game continues to improve. The Super 64 West camper brought her game east to help her team take the championship in the PeachState Bracket.

Kaylan Pugh (Collierville, Tenn.) — Team Arkansas Elite Jr. — 2015

One of the quickest combo guards that we saw at this event was 5-9 Kaylan Pugh. She is equipped with crafty handles and the ability to get to the rim with her explosive first step. Pugh has the ability to run the show from the point guard position, but is more effective off the ball where she attack from the extended elbow. Pugh is definitely one to watch in the near future.

Parting Thoughts

The Missouri Phenoms come with a lot of good talent top to bottom. This team boasts eight players at 6-0 or better including Napheesa Collier at 6-1. She drew a lot of attention from college coaches during this event with her length and activity around the ball. She has soft touch around the rim and can knock down shots to 15 feet. Although Collier isn’t a dominant scorer to date, she has great shooting form and a good foundation of skills with good upside. She had a solid performance against a strong GA Hoopstars Black team in the TeamEBA championship game.

Krystaline McCune (KY-16) garnered much attention with her size and activity. At 6-4, she has real size that is coupled with good hands around the basket. She can even score with her off hand. McCune’s great frame paired with her solid foundational skill set, is a sign of great things for the 2016 post.

This was the first time for a lot of us to see the Maine Firecrackers in action. Post player Olivia Smith has good length at 6-3 and has a nice turn around jumper to 10 feet. She is joined by Allie Clement, a 5-9 wing with good basketball I.Q. and a knack for getting to the open spot. Clement worked well off ball screens and has the ability to step out knock down the three. These are just a couple of names from the solid team from Maine.

Stephen Peck is a National Evaluator for the JumpOffPlus.com. He also serves on the selection committee for the EBA All-American, Fab Five and Super 64 Camps. He has been involved in the community since 2009 as a national evaluator. You can reach him via email at [email protected] and follow him on twitter @scpeck2