November Wrap-Up (Part 1)
Earlier this month, I had the opportunity to see both Oak Hill (7-1) and Marion (6-2). When they matched up against each other, Oak Hill was missing their best guard in Senior Jenessa Hasty, but Marion played very well, and…
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Continue ReadingEarlier this month, I had the opportunity to see both Oak Hill (7-1) and Marion (6-2). When they matched up against each other, Oak Hill was missing their best guard in Senior Jenessa Hasty, but Marion played very well, and the Giants got a last-second put-back by Junior post Ra’Shaya Kyle to win 36-35. Since then, Oak Hill has won six straight games, including an impressive 59-39 win over highly ranked Winchester. Oak Hill still has matchups at Fort Wayne South Side (12/20) and at Northwestern (1/9), so they will certainly be battled tested come tournament time. Marion is also having a strong season, and their schedule gets tougher as well, with games against Heritage Christian (12/18), Cathedral (12/21), and at Lafayette Jefferson (1/18). Oak Hill is back in action tonight at Elwood, while Marion travels to McCutcheon tomorrow. To follow are several prospects who stand out for each team.
Jenessa Hasty, 2019, 5-7 G, Oak Hill H.S.
Jenessa may or may not be the most talented player on Oak Hill’s roster, but she is arguably their most important player. She is tough-nosed, athletic, and she plays with great poise and focus. Her motor runs forever, and she can contribute at both ends of the floor. She isn’t a traditional point guard, but when she handles it, it definitely benefits the Lady Eagles. She has worked to make her perimeter jumper more consistent, but she is probably best attacking the basket and finishing athletically inside. Defensively she is solid on the ball and in the passing lane both. She gave a commitment to Huntington University earlier this week.
Adrianna Trexler of Oak Hill
Adrianna Trexler, 2019, 6-0 F, Oak Hill H.S.
Adrianna is a sneaky talent. She has always had upside and talent, and this year she seems to be closing in on the potential she’s always had. She is incredibly long, fluidly athletic, and she can play just about anywhere on the floor. She can handle the ball on occasion and initiate offense, she can knock down open rhythm jumpers, and she’s versatile defensively. She looks and is playing stronger than in the past, and I still think her best days are ahead of her. She has signed to play at Indiana Wesleyan University.
Kaela Robey, 2019, 5-8 F, Oak Hill H.S.
Kaela is incredibly tough, physical, and she plays with a tremendous motor. She only knows one speed…all out. She is probably a little short for how she plays, but she often outplays girls who are taller and / or more talented than her on a regular basis. She is highly productive at both ends of the floor. She could benefit by developing more of a perimeter skillset, but I still think she has a lot of value at the small college level, and she could really help someone at the next level.
Andrea Wilk, 2019, 6-0 F/C, Oak Hill H.S.
Marissa Wilk, 2019, 6-0 C, Oak Hill H.S.
This duo compliments each other and this lineup very well. Andrea is a strong, fairly physical, and hard-working front-liner who rim-runs from end-to-end with the best of them. She has some touch to about 15-feet, and she’ll get physical and battle inside for rebounds. She was huge for them in the first few games with Hasty sidelined. Marissa is more of a back-to-the-basket post. She too runs the floor very well, she’ll get physical inside and rebound / defend, but she’s not as much of an offensive threat facing the basket. Both of them can play a nice inside-out game together, or either of them pair well with Westgate, Robey, or Trexler on the frontline.
Taylor Westgate, 2020, 6-1 F/C, Oak Hill H.S.
Taylor is probably the best college prospect on this team, but she’s also a nice teammate who doesn’t force offense and gets others involved. She is strong, solid athletically, and she too rim-runs very well and just outworks more talented kids. When she asserts herself, like she did against Winchester, she can be a monster on the interior. She also has some touch around 15-feet, and she can defend forwards or posts. She is an Indiana Junior All-Star candidate, and she is drawing varied college interest from Division-I, Division-II, and NAIA schools.
Jazmyn Turner of Marion
Jazmyn Turner, 2019, 6-1 F, Marion H.S.
Jazmyn is one of the best athletic talents who very few people and college coaches know about. She is incredibly long, fluid, and very bouncy. She is more of a face-up ‘4’ than anything, but she can occasionally put it on the floor and get places, and while she isn’t a pure shooter, she has shown the ability to make shots. She blocks a lot of shots, gets her hands on a lot of passes as a defender, and she is a good pursuing rebounder. I really think she has an “it” factor as an athlete and should be drawing some Division-I interest. If she can finish the season consistently, those opportunities could present themselves.
Ra’Shaya Kyle, 2020, 6-5 F/C, Marion H.S.
Ra’Shaya has a long, wiry strong, athletic frame. She runs the floor very well for her size, she has some bounce to her as well, and when she puts her mind to it, she can be flat out dominant at times. She has touch facing the basket, good hands in the post with finishing moves, and she can even handle the ball and change directions with the dribble in transition. She is just a matchup nightmare for high school opponents. She has yet to make a college decision, but she has offers from a number of SEC, Big Ten, and Big East schools, not to mention other high-major schools and any number of mid-major schools.
Ellie Vermillion, 2020, 5-5 G, Marion H.S.
I really like Ellie, and I think she’s a kid whose recruiting should pick up significantly this next year. She is strong, tough, and she plays with a good motor. She is quick (more quick than fast), steady, and poised. She is a very good perimeter shooter when in rhythm, and she’s a solid ball-handler who can run offense. Defensively, she does a nice job of using her quickness and her strong frame to control opposing ball-handlers. In a 2020 class somewhat thin on solid point guard play, so could find herself with a lot of small college interest by April.
Header photo of Marion celebrating their 2018 Sectional Championship; photo courtesy of their Hudl account. Photo of Adrianna Trexler courtesy of her own Twitter account. Photo of Jazmyn Turner courtesy of grantcountysportsnetwork.com.