Rylie HurstBUFORD, Georgia – The first stop on the Brandon Clay Training Academy Fall Tour was on point from start to finish combining details with execution. Led by multiple Brandon Clay Recruiting Program members, the Academy was action packed. Here’s a look at some of the notable players from the Spotlight Shooting Sessions:
Mattie Chambers – Pendleton High School (Pendleton, SC) – 2023
Chambers has fantastic size at the position showing here that she can be a shooter in that regard on the perimeter. As she gets more and more comfortable talking on the floor, we expect to see even more production from her by being in the right spot even before the play unfolds as a result of talking it out.
Clarkson is an absolute joy to work with. She flew across the country to train with some of the best. As a result, her ability to score consistently is improving from our first eval 18 months ago. Since then we’ve worked on her game in Iowa and Clarkson shined at a team event in front of Chris Hansen in Arizona. The next step is to be more vocal on both ends of the floor.
Collins was in her bag on Sunday here going back and forth with Emily Monson inside of gameplay. When she gets a chance to play in these situations, Collins is as talented of a point guard as any we’ve seen in the class nationally. She is a driver with a tough pull up and the skill needed to hit the open 3-pointer too. For Collins, being in a position to play this freely is vital to showcasing her full arsenal of offensive and defensive tools.
Ellison is in a fantastic place overall based on her play here. She is getting more and more comfortable taking the open drive and kick looks that she is receiving. Ellison is a capable option as a position defender as well. She understands what she’s seeing. Continuing to build on her half court ball handling will be a major key.
Rylie Hurst – Reagan Middle School (Haymarket, VA) – 2026
This was our staff’s first chance to train with the talented middle school prospect. Hurst showed plenty of prowess on the offensive end already. She has a confidence that most young players don’t possess especially late in games. That said, Hurst will be able to keep growing with her on-ball defense too.
Melious has all the tools to be effective when she arrives at Georgia Tech in a couple of years. For now, her growth and development will be all about getting stronger in the weight room and taking her conditioning, recovery to the next level. In that way, Melious natural talent at this age reminds me of current Indiana standout guard Ali Patberg.
Monson has emerged as one of my favorite prospects in the country at the hybrid forward position. In a literal sense, she does some of everything on the floor. Monson’s game has evolved to the point where she is a capable three level scorer by finishing consistently at the rim then hitting midrange jumpers and 3-pointers. Ball handling is the next point of emphasis.
Proffitt’s work ethic is never in question. We’ve worked with her on multiple occasions this summer from Atlanta to Chicago to Knoxville. She keeps showing growth especially in her ability to make the right read at the point guard position. Continuing to improve her deep shooting range is key.
Our staff would be hard pressed to find a player who has been in the gym with us more than Smith has over the past three years. As a result, her game continues to level up in seemingly all aspects. A true lead point guard now, Smith can continue to get physically stronger to add to her shooting range.
The sky is seemingly the limit for Thompson. She has the length and confidence to be a sniper from the outside. Thompson is starting to score the ball consistently as she starts to round the corner at the end of her middle school days. For now, continuing to learn when and where to assert herself offensively is a major
Thompson is coming off of a summer where she exploded onto the national scene. As a result, she’s primed for a major sophomore season with an emphasis on attacking the basket going in either direction. Her jumper is much improved from this time a year ago. Thompson is a prospect to keep a close eye on.
Brandon Clay serves as the Director of Scouting for ProspectsNation.com and owns The BrandonClayScouting.com Evaluation Report, which is read by more than 200 colleges and universities nationwide. He also serves as the Executive Skills Director for the Brandon Clay Scouting Academy Series.
