Naima Morales Solivan… D1 COACHES, I TOLD YOU LAST WINTER

See today I’m going to revisit a player who seems to never stop developing. Today I’m going to explain to you the difference between one player developing and fulfilling her potential vs say others kids who often are as skilled and talented, even better at one point. But the world of sports as we all know are filled with athletes who do not fulfill their promise. I told many last winter that Naima Morales Solivan one day may be the best player in the 2029 class. These days I’m starting to believe I just may be right!

Two years ago Naima Morales Solivan was a skinny 7th grader. She was filled with potential. But she hadn’t hit her stride yet. There were players in her class who were bigger, stronger and more athletic. She traveled sometimes 90 mins one way just to get in the gym vs competition. Some in her grade and some older. She had an elite work ethic and a real desire to to get better. Naima Morales Solivan was a sponge, willing to be led. She also had thick skin and her parents wanted her to be pushed. So it was only natural that she improved and started to gain confidence not arrogance. But it was not until last winter that I knew Naima Morales Solivan was going to jump ahead of most of peers in the 2029 class.

See last year I noticed something. You see Naima Morales Solivan improvement curve was huge. In fact bigger than “ANY” kid in the 2029 class. That’s because unlike many of her peers she stayed focused. Didn’t allow her ego to make her make bad decisions. Her parents were seen and not heard. They were not in search of hype and status. They were searching for greatness and folks I’m here to tell you, greatness is not knocking on her door. It trying to kick the door in.

While many so called top rising 9th graders last summer skipped real camp. Naima Morales Solivan was busy at camp every week. While other Top 2029 players were busy solely focusing in on AAU, talking and bragging about hype that won’t matter when the high school season starts. Naima Morales Solivan put in her 6 hours of camp. Then worked on her right hand at lunch time and after camp. She is a lefty and knew her right hand was a weakness. Well it no longer is a weakness. She also made herself into a knock it out shooter. Her ball handling has gone next level because she was challenged all summer by older D1 bound seniors. Not playing against cones and doing drills that will never see the light of day in a game. See while many in her class were worried about hype or in their feelings. Training in low competitive environments or drilling and drilling vs nobody. Naima Morales Solivan was leaving her peers with and without reputations in the rear mirror. Naima Morales Solivan just may be the class GOAT one day. She’ll have to run down MISS AMONTE. But if any kid can do it, it’s her. She has clearly run down everyone else.

I watch Naima Morales Solivan this fall at NBS. I watched how in 1 v 1 she takes rising seniors going D1. I watch her take out one of the most recruited juniors in the state. I watch her in the 3 v 3 .. 4 v 4 and fast break drills at times take over the gym. She is doing all this and is not close to reaching her growth spurt or physical maturity. She shows up at NBS with a Spain ankle to watch. She is training her mind and body constantly. She without question is the most mature player in the 2029 class. D1 coaches are looking for older players. Well Naima Morales Solivan is an old soul, no joking around, talking, dancing and taking short cuts once she in the gym. She knows there is plenty of time for that later. She and her family have made too sacrifices in terms of travel, time and finances.

There are not many impact freshman in the state this year. In fact many freshman will not see the floor in real games. The excuses will surely come. Like my favorite, they have seniors in front her her. Folks I don’t care who is in front of who, you either good enough to play or not. History says great Freshman play regardless of where they attend school or who is there. It’s because they paid the price. Made the right decisions. Not part of drama and nonsense. The great ones don’t try to win the hype game. They win the development game.Naima Morales Solivan has won the most important game of all… THE DEVELOPMENT GAME and she is crushing the competition. GIL ST BERNARD HAS A WINNER AND TRUE STAR ON THEIR HANDS

THIS THURSDAY AND FRIDAY