These Hoopers Showed Out at OT Select Week One
Anwar Stetson
OT Select Season 2 kicked off over the weekend in Atlanta, Georgia, showcasing some of the best girls hoopers in the nation. Eight teams convened for a weekend of top-tier basketball as the brightest stars made some internet-breaking plays. Before they become household names, check out the two standout players at the tournament so far.
Jezelle “GG” Banks
Jezelle “GG” Banks already has her foes thinking “game over” when she steps onto the court. The Class of 2027 superstar is the Prep Girl’s Hoops number one ranked player out of the state of Virginia.
The 5 foot 8 point guard reps Wilmington, Delaware, but will shock the DMV area as a junior at St. James Academy in Springfield, Virginia this season. Prep Girl’s Hoops Scout Tink Butler calls Banks “one of the top performers during the club season and is set to shake up some local and national rankings as well as disrupt some high school teams records.”
As the captain of YGE, Banks and her squad defeated Aaliah Spaight, Jenica Lewis and Royal Reign in a double-overtime showdown 79-76.
On day two, YGE lost to Kate Harping’s Cold Hearts team 80-67, but not before this game-breaking behind-the back-pass at OT select.
Her style and swagger on the court are exemplified by beautiful dimes like those, but don’t get it twisted, she can also break hearts when necessary. Check out her game-winning deep three against Royal Reign, as she reminds the Atlanta crowd exactly who she is.
With plays like these, GG Banks will make bank at the next level.
Aaliah Spaight
If at first you don’t succeed, dust yourself off and try again. Class of 2026 point guard Aaliah Spaight might be too young to know that reference to the singer of the same name, but the Bishop Gorman (Nev.) star got the last laugh at OT Select week one.
Spaight’s team, Royal Reign, lost to Banks and the YGE squad in the first game of the weekend, but Spaight got revenge with her own game-winner in the “Bubble Breaker” rematch. With next-level vision, Spaight led Banks into her screener, Bella Owumi. Creating just enough space, Spaight first looked for Owumi on the roll, and then swiftly decided to take fate into her own hands. In one motion, Spaight picked up her dribble and nailed the game-winning three-pointer to put a bow on week one.
Spaight won player of the game in the 84-70 win over Jordyn Palmer’s RWE, finishing with 21 points, nine assists, and six rebounds. She also turned heads last month dropping 42 points at EYBL Nike Nationals.
Though she’s only the 77th ranked player in her class according to ESPN, Spaight has been putting in the work to climb the hoops world. They won’t sleep on her for long.
OT Select continues on August 9 in Atlanta.