Gym Rat Challenge 15'

Saratoga Spring, NY- The GymRat Challenge turned Albany’s capital region into girl’s basketball heaven this past weekend, locking down 6 locations between Troy, Saratoga & Loudonville to host over 200 teams. NYGHoops was on hand to take in much of the action, but will concentrate solely on players that participated in U16 in this recap.
 
 
Jalina Sachez  5’06” PG Springfield Lady Ballers 2019 (pictured)
 
No denying Sanchez’s talents as a lead guard. As a youngster playing up the only thing that indicates she does not belong was the coaching packet that read 2019. Jalina was a natural ball handler, showed good basketball IQ and smoothness in her game. She continuously took her defender off the dribble, finished at the hoop or found an open teammate. She has everything that coaches look for in a playmaker at the PG position.
 
Saeeda Abdul-Aziz 5’11”G Albany City Rocks 2017
 
Saeeda is a smooth inside/out player that labeling her at one position would do her a disservice. Although she only stands 5-foot-11 she has the physical tools needed to battle with taller girls in the lane area, but also has the perimeter skills of a guard. This weekend she shot the ball well from the perimeter more specially from behind the arc.
 
Angelique Rodriguez 5’11’ G New Heights 2017
 
Every time I looked over at her games she was knocking down the trey ball. Maybe not a true natural 2 or 3 but one thing is for sure she can flat out shoot it. As she continues to work on her ball handling she is someone to keep an eye on as a BCS school.
 
Nicole Jorgensen 6’04” P South Shore Elite 2016
 
She showed short area quickness playing mostly with her back to the basket finishing at a high percent at the rim. She did a good job hitting her guards with outlet passes. She is also a good shot blocker; as her conditioning gets better she will be for sure a D1 Player.
 
Emily Esposito 5’09” G Maine Firecrackers 2016
 
The southern Maine athletic association player of the year her freshman & sophomore years, had a solid showing at the GymRat’s. Skilled scoring guard that played with confidence and swagger against older player. She is a good enough ball handler that she played both guards positions at a high level.
 
Corrin Baggs 5’10’ W/F New York Metro’s 2016
 
The Wagner College commit is what I would call an old school player. In the era of mix tapes and specialist she was entirely different. She contributed on both ends of the court and played extremely hard. Baggs created scoring  situation with her nice first step, mid range shot but what I was left most impressed with was her motor. She did a good job rebounding and defend bigger players.
 
 
Destiny Jefferson 5’05” PG Keystone Karma 2017
 
Crafty PG that just flat out got it done. Jefferson continuously beat her defender and created havoc in the lane in dish situations. She showed nice quickness and a solid understanding of basketball.
 
 
Stephany Karcz 5’09” G Jersey Shore Elite Gold 2016
 
Karcz did a very good job this weekend doing  all the little things needed to help her team go undefeated in pool play. Karcz was very patient on the offensive end taking what the defense gave her however she showed the ability to be a capable scorer. Karcz showed the ability to handle the ball, rebound defend as well as has a good feel for the game.  Most of her points came from  mid range jumpers and scoring in the lane over taller players.
 
 
Deja Ross 6’01” F Boston Showstoppers 2016
 
The aggressive enthusiastic Ross did a good job defending, rebounding and scoring. Ross’s size, ability to get to the basket instantly makes her a commodity. At this point she is not a slasher in the truest sense but more of a 4 that can play facing and with her back to the basket.
 
 
Aneisha Lyons 5’09” G Westchester Hoopers 2016
 
Lyons is a lefty guard with some talent. Her best skill was her ability to score at all three levels. She can handle the ball well enough; attacking the basket, scoring on the inside and did a great job playing the passing lanes coming up with steals.