The “Nice” List: Part 1
Happy Holidays hoop fans! This is the first edition of the District of Buckets holiday nice list, highlighting hoopers, I’ve covered in person to raise awareness about some names to watch in college basketball after the break.
There will be more coverage and highlights after the holidays, so stay locked into District of Buckets.
Nice List
Addi Mack - G -Maryland
Mack is a shifty, talented guard who displays a tremendous amount of poise, not just for a freshman, but for any level of basketball player. She has stepped up for Brenda Frese’s Terrapins as they’ve battled key injuries throughout the season.
Mack found her way to Maryland from Minnesota via Minnehaha Academy and possesses the skill set to be the next in line of elite guards from the land of 10,000 lakes.
Oluchi Okananwa - G -Maryland
“Gucci Lucci,” as she is colloquially known by fans, is a tone-setter for the currently seventh-ranked, undefeated Maryland Terrapins.
There’s a lot to enjoy about her game, but the way Okananwa can speed up opponents makes Maryland a very dangerous team in the Big Ten. In every game I’ve seen, she’s pressuring defensively and is one of the first players flying up and down the floor in transition.
Okananwa’s discipline and intensity embody the standard of Maryland basketball: tough, smart, and energetic.
Saylor Poffenbarger — G— Maryland
After finding her way back to her home state of Maryland, Poffenbarger has shown an ability to be a matchup nightmare due to her length at the guard position.
She’s a lethal shooter boasting a 42.6 percent clip from three, who can also put the ball on the floor. Combine that with her size and competitive willingness to guard anyone on the court, and Maryland has a constant, reliable piece of its rotation.
Caleb Williams - Forward- Georgetown
The Team Takeover product exemplifies the importance of doing the little things that can impact a game. The lefty forward has no issue taking on tough defensive assignments or putting his body on the line to secure key rebounds.
Going forward, he’s a key piece of Georgetown’s success in conference play and currently stands as the one of the team’s most efficient 3-point shooters.
Malik Mack - Guard - Georgetown
Another lefty representing Team Takeover, Mack recently crossed the 1,000-career-point threshold against Xavier.
Mack is a relentless attacker who can get hot in a hurry. He’s carried his scoring ability from his high school days to the Ivy League at Harvard and now into the Big East with Georgetown.
Julius Halaifonua - Center -Georgetown
The New Zealander big man has found his stride as a very consistent piece of the Hoyas’ offense, and I’ve been impressed with his play as teams begin to game-plan specifically for him.
He shows good touch around the rim and solid footwork, but what stands out are his hands. He has no issue catching the ball in traffic, a small but important skill many bigs struggle with.
Khia Miller - Guard -Georgetown
A local Sidwell Friends product, Miller returned to the area for Georgetown after a stint at ECU.
She emphatically represents a Georgetown rotation filled with players who can give you a little bit of everything on the floor.
She’s also very active in passing lanes, averaging 1.5 steals per game.
Brianna Scott - Forward— Georgetown
Scott has consistently shown strong footwork and toughness for the Hoyas. After a double-double against Delaware State, she credited her ability to play through contact to “Bertha,” the team’s blocking pad used in practice.
Brianna is able to do plenty of things on the court that don’t always reflect in the box score, but when she’s having a good game, it’s indicative of success the team is having.
