CIC Showcase At The Hoosier Gym (Part 2)
On Saturday, December 15th, all eight schools in the Central Indiana Conference headed South to the Hoosier Gym in Knightstown, Indiana, to participate in a 4-game, 8-team showcase. Between the eight teams, there are several really nice basketball prospects, and…
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Continue ReadingOn Saturday, December 15th, all eight schools in the Central Indiana Conference headed South to the Hoosier Gym in Knightstown, Indiana, to participate in a 4-game, 8-team showcase. Between the eight teams, there are several really nice basketball prospects, and we’ve decided to split them up into two separate reviews. This specific article, Part-2, will focus on prospects who come from the four schools located in Madison and Blackford Counties. Part-1 focused on prospects from the four schools in Grant County. We limited it to just a player or two from each school who stood out in yesterday’s action.
Jenna Reece VanBlair
of Alexandria-Monroe
Jenna Reece VanBlair, 2021, 5-7 W, Alexandria-Monroe H.S.
Jenna Reece is a really nice athlete with wiry strong. She seemingly glides around the floor, and she plays with a solid motor and good versatility. She had been out for a little bit with a concussion, but she did some really nice things in her return to action Saturday against Eastbrook. She is capable of knocking down a perimeter jumper, but I think she’s better when she’s aggressively attacking the basket. She can finish through contact, she rebounds her position well, and she’s versatile at the defensive end of the floor as well.
Jada Stansberry, 2022, 5-2 PG, Alexandria-Monroe H.S.
Jada isn’t very tall and she’s somewhat thin, but she is a feisty, scrappy little point guard who is starting as a freshman for a guard-heavy Alexandria team. She has good speed and quickness, she has a solid handle that will get better with added physical strength, and she’s capable of knocking down an open rhythm jumper. Right now, though, she is primarily relied upon to take care of the ball, find open teammates, and cause some havoc defensively. I think she’s a really nice basketball player who will only be better once her frame catches up to her skillset.
Helen Whitesell, 2021, 5-5 G, Blackford H.S.
Blackford has taken some lumps over the past few years, but they have a really good outlook, as their new coach is playing several younger players. Helen stood out to me on Saturday, as she looked much more aggressive and confident offensively. She’s a nice little athlete, she has a solid frame, and she can knock down an open jumper when in rhythm. She can occasionally handle the ball and run offense, or she can get to the basket from the wing. Defensively she plays with a good motor and doesn’t mind physicality.
Emily Booker, 2019, 5-7 G, Elwood Community H.S.
Emily is a nice athlete who is getting her opportunity to lead ECHS this year under a new coaching regime. She has a solid frame, she’s a nice North / South athlete who can run and jump, and she can score the ball at all levels. She’s a capable perimeter shooter, but she’s probably better attacking the basket or pulling up from 15-feet. Defensively, she plays with a motor, and she can defend most guards and wings. I think she has some tools to become a nice small college guard, and there’s still room for her to develop her game.
Jaleigh Crawford, 2022, 5-11 F, Elwood Community H.S.
Jaleigh is one of the better freshmen I have seen so far this season who no one is talking about. She is incredibly long, fluid, and athletic. She is a menace defensively, and she can defend guards, wings, or forwards, plus she’s a magnet for the ball when she plays on top of their 1-3-1 defense. Offensively, she’ll need to make her perimeter shot a little more consistent to be considered a true wing scorer, but they do use her in a ball-handling capacity as a point forward type. Her frame, physical ability, and potential should have college coaches excited.
Addie Gardner of Frankton
Addie Gardner, 2020, 5-10 W, Frankton H.S.
With several key 2018 graduation losses for the Eagles, we knew there would be an opportunity for Addie to step up, and she has so far, leading them in scoring. A year ago, she was more of a wing shooter, but now she’s becoming a complete scorer, hitting shots at all levels and looking to attack the basket more off the bounce. She does still need to get stronger and absorb contact better, but that has improved for her. Defensively, she can cause problems as well, because she’s tremendously long, fluidly athletic, and she plays with a good motor.
Chloee Thomas, 2021, 6-0 C, Frankton H.S.
Chloee transferred in from Hamilton Heights this year and has given them a necessary post presence, replacing the graduated Destyne Knight. Chloee is strong, physical, and solid athletically. She plays with a good motor, she can finish inside with a variety of shots at odd angles, but she also has some skill facing the basket in the high post. Hamilton Heights actually listed her as a small forward last year. I didn’t necessarily see that, but she does have very good skill and awareness for a power player. She is definitely a welcomed addition to the Eagles roster this season.
Header photo of the tip between Frankton and Oak Hill on Saturday. Photos of Jenna Reece VanBlair and Addie Gardner courtesy of the heraldbulletin.com.