Coach Wootten’s Top 150: Talent High in Quality and Depth!
The 2024 Wootten Camp Participants.
Wootten 150: Player Focused
September 28-29, 2024 | Las Vegas, NV
Held September 28 and 29, 2024, at the Las Vegas (Nevada) Basketball Center, Coach Wooten’s Top 150 consisted of top-level boys and girls (75 of each invited) taking the court over the weekend. The camp was designed (girls ended at 11am) that all could take late day flights home on Sunday. Due to a variety of reasons for dropping out late, only 66 girls took to the court on Saturday morning. In its second year in Las Vegas and 5th year overall, the event sponsors included Morgan Stanley Global Sports and Entertainment (did a presentation on NIL and financial issues facing young athletes), Under Armour (provided uniforms for the event) and Electrolit (provided sports drinks).
Strong McDonald’s All-American committee membership present
Close to half of the individuals who vote on the selection of the girls for McDonald’s All-American honors were present at the camp. If a player wanted to improve their chances of obtaining this honor (considered by most the top recognition in girls high school basketball), this camp provides such a platform. For the talented player, any opportunity to go against the best of your peers will only make you better!
(LT-RT): Kenneth Pannell, Bob Corwin, Shane Laflin, Jason Key. PC: Twin Vizuals
What went on
This was a relatively short yet intense camp. The first one hour and 15 minutes (half of session one) was spent in team prep. The eight 5x5 and 16 3x3 coaches were given time to evaluate and connect with their teams and put in some offensive and defensive foundations. Most of the rest of the time (5 1/4 hours) was spent on 3x3 [story here] and 5x5 play [5on5 stor]. With a lot of players to see, an observer may not catch a player’s best showing. I would advise all not to put their full evaluation stock into what was seen here, but consider it a significant piece of data given the strength of the competition.
The winning 3X3 team is interviewed post-game. (LT-RT: Jemini Mitchell, Jessie Moses, Mia Pauldo, Jhai Johnson). PC: Twin Vizuals
NBA out in force, WNBA absent
There were 28 credentials issued for NBA scouts to watch the boys’ sessions. The WNBA had zero continuing to insist on non-involvement with high-school-age players. They claim there is more than enough time to identify and evaluate prospects at the college level. By collective bargaining agreements, domestic players cannot be drafted by the WNBA until four years after their class has graduated high school or the individual player has reached 22 years of age in or before a draft year. Conversely, the NBA can draft players one year removed from high school.
WNBA involvement might be very useful in offering and providing player development wisdom as well as giving insight into what it takes to be a professional basketball player. Of course, non-WNBA sources can discuss these issues but coming from someone associated with the league might have greater impact.
Present and absent
Going in for the first time, I expected the field to be very heavy to rising seniors (class of 2025). However, for various reasons not as many as I expected were in attendance but instead were replaced by high level recruits from the 2026 and 2027 classes. The breakdown of attendees by class:
2025 - 30
2026 - 24
2027 - 12
Unofficial awards from this writer’s perspective (players discussed below)
Camp MVP: Mia Pauldo
Best prospect present (at least amongst older players): Jasmine Davidson
Jazzy Davidson. PC: Twim Vizuals
The following players had strong performances at this camp but were discussed in one or more of the following linked articles. See those articles for more on them. Links to those four articles [Overtime Select; GUAA Session Stop 2; NCAA College Basketball Academy Part 2; Summer standouts: Select Super Showcase].
Kaelyn Carroll 2025
Kelis Fisher 2025
Autumn Fleary 2026
Chamiah Francis 2026
Maddyn Greenway 2026
The matchups were elite: Maddyn Greenway guarded by Destiny Jackson. PC: Twin Vizuals.
Khalia Hartwell 2027
Haylen McElhiney Ayers 2027
Sydney Mobley 2027
LA Sneed 2025
Lilly Williams 2026
Lilly Williams. PC: Twin Vizuals.
Below some of the many outstanding players at the camp are mentioned within graduation class with listed height, position, and school. State location of school and home state (if different) are in parenthesis.
2025
Jasmine Davidson, 6-2, guard, Clackamas High School (Oregon)
Committed to Southern Cal, Davidson continues to show an ability to score at all three levels. She combines great perimeter size, above average athleticism and high basketball IQ making her one of the very top prospects in this class.
Addison Deal, 6-0, wing, Mater Dei High School (Santa Ana, California)
Committed to Iowa, Deal impressed with physical presence scoring in the wing to baseline area.
Avery Hjelmstad, 6-1, wing, Edmond Memorial High School (Oklahoma)
Committed to Utah, Hjelmstad (strongly built) can stroke the three but also hit the glass hard. She provided major assistance to Mia Pauldo (see below) in winning the 5x5 camp title.
Destiny Jackson, 5-6, point guard, Whitney Young High School (Illinois)
Committed to Illinois, Jackson showed crafty handles able to get to the rim or distribute the ball.
Jordan Ode, 6-0, guard, Maple Grove High School (Minnesota)
Committed to Michigan State, Ode gained notice hitting perimeter shots in multiple sessions. She combines good size and motor.
Mia Pauldo, 5-7, guard, Morris Catholic High School (New Jersey)
Committed to Tennessee along with twin Mya, Mia Pauldo was on the winning 3x3 team and led her 5x5 squad to that title bringing them back from a double-digit deficit in the latter half of the final.
Aubrey Shaw, 6-2, wing, Blue Valley North High School (Kansas)
Committed to Harvard, Shaw combines above average perimeter size and athleticism with ability to shoot from the perimeter or take it to the rim.
Lara Somfai, 6-4, power forward, IMG Academy (Florida; from Adelaide, South Australia)
Somfai was an unknown to many in the gym having come from Australia this past January. She then returned before the May observation period to prepare to represent Australia in the U17s in Mexico and in the U18s in Asia. She presents a versatile skill package combining size, post up skill and ability to face up on the perimeter.
Lara Somfai. PC: Twin Vizuals
Camille Williams, 6-0, guard, Boswell High School (Texas)
Committed to Miami of Florida, Williams was noticeable making shots and playing hard with good all-around play in multiple viewings.
Camille Williams. PC: Twin Vizuals.
Nylah Wilson, 5-9, guard, IMG Academy (Florida; home state Virginia)
Having recently transferred to IMG, Wilson had a breakout summer and continued it at this camp. She showed an ability to attack the rim in the quarter court and score in transition. Her perimeter stroke showed it needs to be respected.
2026
Noelle Bofia, 6-4, center, Xavier College Prep (Arizona)
Bofia showed ability to protect the rim and rebound defensively at a high level. Poised with the ball, offensive skills are still developing.
Brooklyn Hayward, 5-9, guard, Union High School (Washington)
Hayward has been known as a knock-down shooter for several years. That she showed some driving ability versus strong competition was a new plus for this observer.
KK Holman, 5-9, point guard, Hamilton Southeastern High School (Indiana)
Holman showed an ability to make good things happen playing hard and attacking the basket.
Jordyn Jackson, 6-1, shooting guard, Sidwell School (DC)
Jackson has long been known as a tall perimeter player with stroke. Her passing ability at this event stood out to several observers (including this one).
Jhai Johnson, 6-3, power forward, Oakland Tech (California)
Johnson is a long, rangy athlete. She was part of the winning 3x3 team.
Gabrieal Minus, 6-2, forward, Hebron Christian Academy (Georgia)
Recently transferred to Georgia power Hebron Christian, Minus played with high energy more inclined to positively effect game on the perimeter than in the lower paint.
Tori Oehrlein, 5-11, guard, Crosby-Ironton High School (Minnesota)
Some might question how good Oehrlein is scoring 3000+ points in a smaller class in Minnesota. Here, playing against some of the best in the USA, she showed she had major division one mobility and ability to score (and as they say hang) against that level of opposition. Case closed!
Savvy Swords, 6-2, forward, Long Island Lutheran High School (New York)
Swords just knows what to do and when to do it whether it be driving to the rim or shooting from the wing to baseline area or just disrupting the opposing defense moving without the ball. Her international experience playing for Canada has been a plus toward her development.
Savvy Swords. PC: Twin Vizuals.
Kaeli Wynn, 6-1, forward, Mater Dei High School (Santa Ana, California)
Daughter of basketball coaches, Wynn made plays and showed a solid stroke within the team setting.
2027
Harper Dunn, 6-6, center, Corona High School (New Mexico)
Very few players combine the height, general athleticism and developing skills of this player. As a 2027, a work in progress!
Jemini Mitchell, 6-2, small forward, Cy Springs High School (Texas)
Mitchell is ranked at #14 in the latest HoopGurlz 2027 rankings. This may be the strongest as to depth of elite talent of classes from 2025 to 2027. Still, Mitchell’s ability to score from the perimeter combined with her understanding and mobility may justify a move up amongst 2027 prospects. She was part of the winning 3x3 team.
Jessie Moses, 5-10, guard, Westtown School (Pennsylvania)
Moses’s online nickname is ‘Jessiebuckets.’ At this camp, she showed she can score the ball versus elite competition demonstrating stroke, mobility, and ability to play either guard slot. Like Mitchell above, she was part of the winning 3x3 team.
Nation Williams, 6-3, power forward, Centennial High School (Nevada)
A strongly built lefty, Williams seems to add something new every time I see her. She has expanded her range to beyond the lower key. Always physical, her mobility appears to have increased as she has grown into her body.