Maggie Proffitt sensed the chemistry.
Instead of questioning their roles on the Kenner (La.) Angels Amateur Athletic Union girls basketball team, Proffitt could feel all of the players coming together and developing an ability to play with each other.
That team chemistry recently played a key role in the Angels’ run the Louisiana state championship.
It reared its head again this past weekend. The result was another championship.
Proffitt, a rising senior at Starkville Academy, played a key part in helping the Angels go 7-0 and win the AAU Nationals at ESPN’s Wide World of Sports in Lake Buena Vista Fla. The Angels completed their run Sunday with a 53-46 victory against the Saratoga Sparks.
“It was really exciting,” Proffitt said. “At the beginning, all of us were questioning whether we could do it, but we really came together as a team, and after we won the state championship we felt we could accomplish it, so we were ready to go get it.”
Angels coach Denis Aidoo didn’t have statistics compiled from his team’s tournament run, which began Wednesday, but he said Proffitt hit seven 3-pointers in one game and helped facilitate the offense for her teammates. He said Proffitt also did a solid job rebounding and playing defense.
“She had a very good tournament,” Aidoo said. “She shot the ball very well and gave us great spacing. Everybody on the team contributed, and she definitely played a huge part.”
Proffitt’s performance was important because the event came during a national evaluation period for college coaches. The AAU Nationals typically is a tournament that attracts hundreds of college coaches. Although NCAA rules prevented those coaches from speaking to the players or coaches, Aidoo anticipates Proffitt’s performance will help her attract plenty of more interest in hopes of earning a scholarship to play basketball in college.
“I felt a lot of people were able to see her,” Aidoo said. “I think she also played well in the (AAU Silver) Showcase before (the AAU Nationals) and had a lot of people out to see our players. I think a lot of our players put on a great show for themselves and for the team. (Maggie) is definitely one of them. She definitely helped herself and people saw her and know she is a phenomenal shooter. I think this is a big stage and she came through.”
Earlier this month, Aidoo said Proffitt has attracted interest from Austin Peay University, the University of Southern Mississippi, Tulane University, and the University of Mississippi. While pleased with her effort at the AAU Nationals, Proffitt knows she has plenty of work left to do this month (the Angels will play in Basketball on the Bayou, another AAU showcase tournament, later this month) and in her senior year of high school to realize her goal.
“I definitely felt I made an impression on the people who were there,” Proffitt said. “I tried not to focus on who was watching. I just wanted to play the game, and just play my game. At the state tournament, we started to come together and started to really trust in each other. When my teammates saw how I could shoot the ball, they trusted me and ran plays for me and tried to get me the ball when I was open. … I feel like I was able to help contribute to the team.”
Adam Minichino is the former Sports Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
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