Turnbow Summer 07 Recap

Taylor Turnbow is the No. 55  ranked player in the HoopGurlz Top 100 for the class of 2008 and largely due to how she projects at the next level.  Looking back at her USA Basketball Youth Developmental Festival her weaknesses and strengths remained largely the same throughout the summer. 

She showed in spots a willingness to shoot some mid range jumpers but didn't show the confidence in it you'd expect from a player with her physical gifts.  She can do a lot of damage slashing and scoring or attacking with the ball from the short corners along the baseline.  She rebounds well so the next evolution for her is to knock down the 12-15 footer when defenses back off of her.  Expanding her ball handling would also open her game up.  She is capable now but could be an even better face up scorer if she tightens her handle up.  She really just needs some confidence and aggressiveness which she has plenty of on the defensive end of the floor.

As a defender she has tremendous gifts in her athleticism, length and an "it" factor.  She can defend almost any position at the high school level.  In her defensive stance she is so long and covers so much ground that she can be distruptive up top on the ball or in passing lanes.  Her length also leads to some blocked shots.  She doesn't always seal off the baseline when helping, sometimes allowing the ball by her and then trying to block the shot which she gets away with here but will not with stronger players in college, especially in the SEC.  Strength will be another area for improvement.  She rebounds well, elevating up and using her length to grab the ball at its highest point.

Her upside is tremendous.  She probably pencils in as a power forward right now but is one of the few that will give you some versatility to play some wing if she works on her handle and range.  The natural athleticism is there.  Even if she stays as just a power forward she has the mobility to create mismatches.  Confidence and aggression are the keys for that talent to shine at the next level.  The shooting range should improve with repetition and the strength training will be mandatory in college.  Her areas for improvment are not areas which are uncommon to see improvement in.  She has the size and athleticism and has shown great talent on the high school level.