Prospect Spotlight: Caroline Waite (2021)
Through seven games this season, Ames sophomore Caroline Waite is averaging 22 points; only Zoe Young and Caitlyn Clark are scoring at a better clip in Class 5A. Waite’s ability to get buckets was on full display earlier this week…
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Continue ReadingThrough seven games this season, Ames sophomore Caroline Waite is averaging 22 points; only Zoe Young and Caitlyn Clark are scoring at a better clip in Class 5A.
Waite’s ability to get buckets was on full display earlier this week when she poured in 17 first quarter points against Des Moines Lincoln. She ended that game with a co-season-high 29 points (she also scored 29 in a win over Ottumwa).
Ames coach Joel Sullivan says it’s his sophomore guard’s effort in all facets of the game that helps to make her such a dynamic young prospect.
“She’s got a tremendous motor, she plays so hard in transition, in the half-court, on defense,” said Sullivan “And she’s a really, really good rebounder, which leads to a lot of transition buckets for our team, but also for her.”
Waite was scoring in a variety of ways in the Lincoln win. Her jumper was pure and precise, but, even as the smallest player on the court (listed as 5’4), she was able to score nearer to the rim, too.
“I’ve just been working on other ways to score,” said Waite. “Like If there’s big girls under the rim, just pulling up for a jumper or even a floater.”
A true student of the game, it’s clear that Waite has put in the time and effort to elevate her game. And despite being a small guard, she’s doing a fine job this season of justifying her No. 5 ranking in the PGHIA 2021 prospect rankings.
“She works really, really hard on the game of basketball, so (her success) is not a surprise at all,” Sullivan said. “There’s very few players that we’ve ever had who play the game as hard as she does, and who work as hard as she does.”
An All Iowa Attack product in the offseason, Waite has been playing with the program since third grade. She’ll have a big 16U season ahead with them, where she hopes to see her recruitment spike.
Early Division I interest has already started to materialize, and the promising young prospect says she’s taken unofficial visits to Wisconsin, Iowa State, Lipscomb and Belmont.
“I do want to play Division I, and I’m just working hard right now, said Waite. “But also making everyone else better is something I want to do; and helping my teammates get offers, not just me.”