The recruiting weekend jumped off with a bang. They were lots of storylines. No question the Deep South got the the Lion’s Share of the attention. The Spark’s tournament delivered big time and the Capital City in D.C. had its fill of talented teams. But the story of the weekend was clearly the 2021 Shore Shots.
Right now, Tracey Sabino is at the top of her game and so are her kids
Tracey Sabino, has built what can only be described as the Roman Emperor of AAU basketball. Why do I say this? Tracy Sabino has allowed players of all levels to find a home to enjoy the game of basketball. She has filtered the Shore Shots organization with passionate coaches and more importantly eager young ladies. But there are no kids more eager than the very team she coaches, the 2021 Shore Shots. It was this group, this weekend that stole the show at the Deep South and had college coaches buzzing.
Deep South show stoppers
It is rare when a team of rising 9th graders and a mega Superstar 7th grader, become the talk of a live recruiting period. Especially in April, but this is exactly what the 2021 short shots became. If there was any doubt about this, the number of college coaches, following this group. Answered that question, it was surprising, even for a team loaded with future Division 1 players. It was clear on day one when the national champion South Carolina showed up along with other Big Ten and ACC schools. The 2021 SHORE SHOTS was must see basketball. What these young babies did this weekend…. had everyone smiling.
The 2021 Shore Shots played up at Deep South
The 2021 shoreshots played up this weekend. Most times when a team plays up, we can expect two things. If they win, they brag, if they lose, they remind us, there young. But this group is very different than most young talented teams. This is a group of kids who believe they can play with anyone and they are not concerned with age or bragging. This group is clearly about winning and winning as a team. The coach Tracy Sabino has made a tradition of taking kids and getting them to play together. She has created an atmosphere where sharing the wealth is a good thing. If there was one thing clear about the 2021 Shore Shot team this weekend, it was this…everyone got to eat and shine.
These two talented babies, were special
When your phone blows up from college coaches about a seventh grader, you know something is going well for a team and that kid. Justine Pissiott is no stranger to playing against older competition and playing well . It may have come as a surprise that a 7th grader is playing three ages up. What’s should not be a surprise is “socks” Pissiott, getting 14 points and making deep bomb after deep bomb in the Shore Shots opening game. When she backed up that performance the next day, with a bigger showing. College coaches were all asking, is that a mistake? Is she really a 2022? The answer to that question is a resounding yes, just like the teams facing guarding her, most of the weekend, they found out her Basketball IQ is next level.
Her partner in crime is Sophia Sabino. She is that rare point guard, who can affect the game in so many ways . It’s not easy to find a point guard who can control a team and the pace of the game; in young players. But what makes Sabino, really special is her ability to understand time and situation. Like in the semi final when she drove the lane and hit a floater with her left-hand in traffic, late. It was unscripted and you can’t teach these things, it was real next level stuff. Freshman are not supposed to be able to do such things. Just like they not supposed to be closers, as she buried two free throws to close the semi final game or run pick and roll to perfection to help win the championship game at the buzzer. Sophia Sabino was brilliant all weekend. She and her running mate Justine Pissiott are like peanut butter and jelly…They go together so well.
Allison Walters was big time all weekend
When you play on a team that is loaded with some of the best incoming freshman in the state, it’s easy to get lost. But Allison Walters, is no stranger to being on the outside looking in. She’s had to work every step of the way to just be part of such a special team. She has willed her way into being one of the best eighth graders in New Jersey. She suffered a concussion and had to miss six weeks of basketball. But that did not prevent her from making the biggest shot of the weekend. Because it was Allison Walters who buried the game trying three in the semi final game. That shot put her team in position to get to the finals. She also decided in the championship game, she would send a message to everyone, with 11 big points. Allison Walters stepped up on a big stage and had big moments. It’s what she’s been waiting for, a chance for to say ….here I am, get a good look…cause I’m a bad woman.
# 1 in the Deep South
Allie McGinn is from Long Island, she is Shore adopted. To be Shore adopted, you have to be special. Like willing to travel across the Verrazano bridge four days a week to practice and train. You have to be willing to show up after school during the week and then shoot for an hour and a half before going to practice. You have to be willing to make those sacrifices. You have to be willing to skip vacations and taking time off because you want to be special. I guess making two free throws to give your a team the lead in the semi finals, while scoring in double figures, could be considered special. Because when Ally McQuinn walked to the free-throw line with a chance to put the Shore Shots up two with under 20 seseconds, she was cool as a cucumber and buried them both. I guess you can call that special, just like the eight points, she had in the championship game. Allie McGuinn introduced herself to college coaches. She and Allison Walters, don’t have big reps…but rather BIG GAMES.
Chole and Tori back together again..
Chloe Teter will be attending RBR. She will be a little different than most 9th graders joining the RBR basketball family. She is a multi-talented guard. Who is a gym rat and playing at a high level of AAU basketball. She is taking on the challenge of training and playing against the killers. She is that player, James Young has traditionally watch go to the SJV’s and the RBC’s of the world. Chloe, could be just another player on a bad AAU team scoring tons of points. But instead she is now part of a team of stars. It’s why her 4 points in the championship game were so very important. Chloe is that kid who has allowed her teammates to eat and yet do enough to impact the 2021 Shore Shots. Because without her they do not win the championship. Madelyn Mccrea, is new to the shore. She is one of those players much like Chloe. Who can easily be a star on another team. But she likes competition and rolling with the big dogs. That’s why she drives over a hour 3 days a week to be part of the 2021 Shore Shots. She does the dirty work and is fine with that. Mccrea, will soon join a list of Shore adopted stars. Right now, she just won a title at The Deep South…something that a year ago she never expected.
They hard there backs to wall all weekend..and came out on top
Toni Panayides, scored 4 points in the championship game. But that’s not what really matters to the future RBC CASEY guard. What matters to Toni is winning and that’s why RBC has another talented player joining there program. Panayides, is that kid who makes plays without the ball. She is the kid who understands that winning plays don’t have to always show up in a box score. It’s why this weekend she was so impressive. Because coaches love kids who unselfish, but yet also know when to show up. The 2021 Shore Shots are happy she showed up.
Who cares about Power 5… this is a Power 3!!
Destiny Adams will be the best freshman in the state of New Jersey next year. This weekend college coaches followed the 2021 Shore Shots around, like sick little puppy dogs. The biggest reason why was Destiny Adams. This weekend Destiny Adams, showed everybody, she is something we have not seen in years. She showed us her entire Arsenal. It was she that made the dish to Allison Walters for the game-tying 3 in the semi-final. It was she that made the game-winning bucket to win the championship at the buzzer. Destiny Adams left no doubt that she is the future of basketball in the 2021 class. She proved that being a superstar, is not just about points. It’s about timing and being a good teammate. It’s about knowing when to carry a team and when to blend in.. It’s why Destiny Adams, will be recruited by every major college in America one day …no wait, that’s already happening.
The Shore Shots 20121 can expect lots of press conferences down the road.
The 2021 Shore shots are all Gym Rats, they are young kids who get it. They are that group of kids, where the light has went on earlier, than it does for most kids, their age. They also without question were the Talk of the Town this past weekend. They are on their way to big futures. They have found the way to work as a team, put aside petty jealousies and win championships. This is a group of girls, that showed what the word team, really means this weekend…..They’ll also will be right back in the gym today….WHY? NO EXCUSES ONLY RESULTS IS THERE ATHEM..
“Give me any kid on that 2021 Shore Shot team” DIVISION ONE ASST COACH
Full Live Period recap….TOMORROW
Tomorrow I will give you a full update on the live weekend. There were some great stories and players whose STOCK IS GROWING
