High school basketball concluded a couple of weeks ago and now this becomes the time of year when many All-Star games start taking place to give players a fun/memorable way of representing their program for a final time. The annual 804 All-Star Game occurred in Henrico County, VA recently on 3/16 and about 3-4 more such games happened in different areas of Virginia during this past weekend. I decided to make the trip again toward the way of Henrico County (specifically, Hermitage High School) for an all-day event of all-star games, hosted by Coach William Carter, CEO of the ‘ASSIST Student-Athletes’ organization. Coach Carter’s held this showcase for eight years now, as five games take place with both men and women players arriving from around the state. As usual, I enjoyed time spending my Saturday in the gym; seeing both familiar and new faces on the hardwood and in the stands. Coaches also made their way into the gym for a final look at the great number of 2019 talent that has made up the region this year. It’s been a joy both getting to know and cover these seniors for the last several months!
The Women’s Regional game finished in the West team’s favor by a wide margin, 111-50. Later in the afternoon, the South won the National All-American game 111-75. While the two contests obviously weren’t played closely, I again had the chance to see some ladies compete for the first time, along with ones I’m already familiar with.
Available 2019 Standout Prospects
*College coaches still trying to fill in spots of their 2019 recruiting class should take a look below.
Kayla Cabiness ’19 – Magna Vista HS: Whether it involved her own scoring or setting up others, Cabiness was electrifying from the day’s start to the end. As one of the only players to suit up for both games, she took great advantage of the opportunity to show audiences what she can bring to the table as a combo guard. Even in using that term ‘combo guard,’ I say it a bit loosely due to the fact that Cabiness performs so strongly as a scorer before anything else. She really lit it up from behind the arc, with a quick release that gave opponents grief if they allowed her any inch of space. In the Regional game, she led her West team with 15 points in the first half. When not looking for her own shot, the 5’6” guard impressed equally by her court vision; she recognized her open teammates immediately after crossing half-court. You always know a play will happen with the ball in her hands; Cabiness’ wizardry with the ball makes her become a crowd favorite.
Inari Jones ’19 – Norcom HS: Jones has strong versatility as a 6’0” wing on the floor; the type of player who can create many mismatches at that position. She never stops competing and shows a great motor in her hustle to make winning plays. That notion fits in nicely with her skillset, as she has displayed a natural scoring game from different levels on the floor. If Jones finds herself going against a slower defense, she can get into the lane for close shots. If opponents leave her open, she won’t hesitate to take what’s given. I think her competitive edge serves as her most lethal attribute. One can quickly take note of her business-approach…something that will translate well to the college environment.
Caly Lassiter ’19 – Veritas Academy: Nobody made more hustle plays than the 5’9” guard/wing during Saturday. She always ended up winning 50-50 balls and never stopped fighting to give her team second-chance opportunities. That relentless play seemed to feed off on her teammates and proved a big reason for the West’s dominant showing in the Regional game. On the scoring side of things, Lassiter looked great last Saturday in her shooting, both in the midrange and three-point areas. She also moves well as a cutter to earn points, having a way of luring her opponents to sleep when they guard off the ball. From my own observations/past experience, coaches always appreciate players like Lassiter: ones that simply play hard and the right way, without doing much else.
Jada Richardson ’19 – Deep Creek HS: At 6’2,” the Hornets’ forward gives an immediate presence in the post and uses her tools nicely to protect the interior. She’s a hard worker who denies the other team’s big(s), boxes out to go after rebounds, and establishes position to consistently become available on the block. I think she can play a bit too unselfishly at times, but nevertheless has shown herself to be a good passer out of the post. If one places Richardson around some knockdown shooters on the perimeter, I’m sure she could rack up a good number of assists. The more she becomes confident in her scoring looks (a reliable short jumper could help especially), the more of a threat she’ll turn into.
Carsyn Lassiter ’19 – Veritas Academy: The twin sister of the aforementioned Lassiter, Carsyn similarly performs well in specific areas but distinguishes herself as more of a primary ball-handler. This position suits her well, as she has a very good IQ to quickly determine ways of exploiting a defense. She’s definitely a ‘pass-first’ player, who sets up others around her; I noted her and Caly having some of the best chemistry on the floor. Of course, this doesn’t really come as a surprise… twins have a different type of connection. Carsyn also can pull-up nicely from around 15 feet for jumpers, along with sometimes deciding to just strongly attack her way to the rim. A combo deal of the Lassiter sisters would result in a huge get for a next-level program. The two know how to do necessary things to win and use their brains to have an impact likewise to their undeniable skills.
Syniyah Parker ’19 – Varina HS: A smooth shooter, Parker aggressively hunts down her shots and can put points on the board from pretty much any spot on the floor. She has solid control of the ball and knows how to break free of defenses that try to neutralize her. When it comes to hot streaks, the 5’8” Blue Devil guard can heat up as well as any other area player at her position. I remember her showing this back in the ‘Richmond Times-Dispatch Invitational’ tournament (December 2018) and it emerged once again during this past weekend. She plays with a chip on her shoulder that’s quite satisfying to see; one won’t ever have to question her focus once the ball starts rolling.
Be sure to also checkout my recaps on both the ‘I-95 vs. I-64 Game’ and ‘Boys Regional and All-American Games’ from this past Saturday (3/23)!