Championship Day At TOC

Championship Day At TOC
Championship Day At TOCMeme Jackson

The unflappable play of Andee Velasco at the point for Mater Dei helped the Monarchs win four straight games at the TOC. *Photo by Chris Hansen.

CHANDLER, Ariz. – The final day of the Nike Tournament of Champions is always a little different as each bracket championship takes place at Hamilton High School and builds up to the nightcap, the Joe Smith Division championship.

The finale saw two Connecticut commits, senior Katie Lou Samuelson of Mater Dei and junior Crystal Dangerfield of Blackman squaring off. We discussed the evolution of Samuelson in our day one recap and the dynamic playmaking of Dangerfield in our bracket roundup. Samuelson capped off her tournament MVP performance with 36 points, including five first half 3-pointers to push Mater Dei ahead to a lead that would serve as enough to weather the Blackman second half runs. Dangerfield scored nine of her team high 14 in the second half.

While the two stars of the top two teams were impressive, here’s a look at some of the other standouts from the final day in the desert.

Andee Velasco (Yorba Linda, Calif.), Mater Dei – 2015

Pairing Samuelson with a floor general like Velasco almost seems unfair. As Blackman turned up the heat defensively in the second half it was the steady and smart play of this 5-foot-8 Loyola Marymount signee that allowed the Monarchs to weather the storm. She made timely baskets and made a no-look pass that got the crowd on its feet. Coming off a terrific final summer on the travel circuit, Velasco is looking to be the next great point guard in the West Coast Conference and it would not be a shock to see her step right in and start for Charity Elliott as a freshman.

Meme Jackson (Murfreesboro, Tenn.), Blackman – 2015

With her team struggling to score early and with Mater Dei knocking down threes right and left, this 5-10 University of Tennessee signee stepped up and made some plays to keep the game within reach. She hit two big threes in the second quarter but more importantly she was a big part of her team’s ability to slow down Samuelson in the second half. When her team switched out of its zone, Jackson found herself charged with denying the No. 2 prospect in the ELITE 150. She did a great job of bodying her up and making every touch and every shot require maximum effort.

DiJonai’ Carrington (San Diego, Calif.), Horizon Christian – 2016

Carrington helped lead her squad to a championship Monday morning in the Black Division. The 6-0 wing guard is charged with leading her team’s offensive attack, but for Horizon Christian it happens different than with her Cal Sparks club team. During the winter Carrington does a lot of her damage in the post. She often found herself double-teamed before she got the ball. She was smart in continuing to move without the basketball and with her athleticism and strength she was able to convert around and over the multiple defenders.

Micole Cayton (Stockton, Calif.), St. Mary’s – 2016

If there was an award for most improved player on the west coast in the past year, Cayton would definitely be on the ballot. She infused tempo and energy into her team. This St. Mary’s squad already plays the game fast and furious but with Cayton in charge the pace accelerates as her quickness with the ball was unmatched here. She has become a really accurate catch and shoot threat from behind the arc. She’s a player that is going to push the issue and take some tough shots now and again but her ability to impact the game is well beyond what we saw from her nine months ago when her sophomore year was winding down.

Aquira DeCosta (Sacramento, Calif.), St. Mary’s – 2018

Where East Coast folks know Honesty Grayson as a must-know player in the freshman class, those of us on the West Coast have to be aware of DeCosta. The 6-1 forward is already highly productive even as she find ways to sharpen up her game. She can keep up with the fast run-and-gun pace of St. Mary’s and her team’s affinity for shooting the three as helped her become an elite offensive rebounder. In addition to the scoring she does from working the glass, she is also a handful facing up from the high post. She is quick in her first step and a quick leaper as well. There are no shortage of offers for this wunder-frosh already.

 

Hansen is managing editor of ProspectsNation.com and a McDonald’s All-American selection committee member. He was the national director of scouting for ESPN HoopGurlz from 2005 until 2012. He can be reached at chris@prospectsnation.com.

 

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