Friday Notebook: Shamrock Classic
The AAU season is underway and we were out at Westfield High School for the Shamrock Classic. It is an event that brings most of the top teams in Indiana under one roof to kick off the AAU season. A…
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Continue ReadingThe AAU season is underway and we were out at Westfield High School for the Shamrock Classic. It is an event that brings most of the top teams in Indiana under one roof to kick off the AAU season. A light schedule gave us only two games, but the four teams we saw were some of the most talented in the state. Our short Friday night gave us some solid performances including a freshman-to-be, the Kate Clarke and Bridget Dunn duo, and Shae Littleford. Here is our breakdown from Friday night.
2023 5’9 PG Ashlynn Shade impressed
Playing for the IGB – Morse – Gold team which is comprised of one 2022 and the remainder 2023s, Shade was really good. Her team took on Indiana Elite WBB, a very solid Adidas team which has a number of players receiving D1 interest and many of which hold offers. I thought that she looked poise under pressure and even though her team fell in the end, I thought that she was one of the top players on the floor. Shade is very fluid with the ball already and can really shoot it. A very good finisher at the rim, Shade took multiple hits going to the basket and was able to finish over taller defenders. She scored 21 points including knocking down four 3-pointers. Heading to Noblesville (IN) for high school basketball, Shade is going to be a problem for the next four years.
Clarke and Dunn lead Indy Magic – Andrus
In what was a blowout to start, the Carmel (IN) duo of 2021 6’1 F Bridget Dunn and 6′ SF Kate Clarke willed their team to the win. After scoring just 15 first half points, Indy Magic started to feel it from behind the arc, namely Dunn and Clarke as they erased a 47-40 deficit with under two minutes to go. Dunn hit four 3-pointers in the second half and Clarke hit two as well as a jumper and two free throws. Combined these two scored 24 of the team’s 34 points in the second half. Dunn looked really solid as she was knocking down shot after shot as she was getting it in rhythm and Clarke was doing what she always does. Both a very solid shooters whereas Dunn is more of a stretch-4 and Clarke is your wing player who also likes to drive the ball and pull-up.
The Illinois product led Indiana WBB Elite
The Charleston (IL) product had a huge first game in her AAU season on Friday night. It was a little reminiscent of her high scoring games in high school that the 5’8 PG is used to. Littleford showed great patience with the ball and after struggling early on fell into her comfort level as the game progressed. She was getting to the rim with ease and in transition she was seeing the floor and making the right passes. Littleford is a tough guard with the ability to impact the game in so many different ways and she showed that in the game tonight. Really thought she played tough and showed flashes of her ceiling. She holds an offer from Eastern Illinois and has multiple other Division I schools interested in her.