Midwest Madness: Most Improved
This past weekend I headed over to Omaha, Nebraska to take in All Iowa Attack’s Midwest Madness event. This brought together a host of in state programs as well as some top out of state teams. I saw teams from…
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Continue ReadingThis past weekend I headed over to Omaha, Nebraska to take in All Iowa Attack’s Midwest Madness event. This brought together a host of in state programs as well as some top out of state teams. I saw teams from Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Minnesota perform at a high level. To recap the event, as I was only able to stay for Saturday, I will be putting together lists of the top players that I saw, regardless of class, over the next few days. Here are my top five overall most improved since I saw them in the high school season.
Reagan Barkema – 5’11 PF/W – 2022 – Roland-Story HS (IA) – All Iowa Attack Nike 2022 Jones
Barkema has always had that mold of being a player whose game was almost there but hadn’t yet quite came together. Since the last time I saw her in high school and now, it has came together. She’s always looked like a player who can make the jumper consistently while getting to the basket and this past weekend she did just that. Barkema is a point forward type player who is going to be a very versatile player over the next seven years of her career.
Emma Dighton – 5’7 W/2G – 2021 – Boone HS (IA) – All Iowa Attack 2021 Mauro
Dighton was playing really well when I saw her. Unfortunately she went down with a knee injury which ended her weekend but prior to that I thought that she played really well. She’s just so fluid and athletic with the ball that it is tough to stop her. She is developing her outside game more and knocked a few shots down in this one. Dighton has a great feel for the game and ability to play positions 1-3 without giving away any strength. I think she was heading to a really solid weekend before the injury. I don’t think it is that serious, but you might not see Dighton out much more this spring.
Annika Headington – 5’7 W/PG – 2021 – Waukon HS (IA) – Iowa Prep Red 2021
I like Headington’s game as she has a great feel and knowledge of the game. I do think that she ends up pushing it a bit, but had it reigned in a bit this weekend. Her ability to defend and get to the rim are great traits, but she tends to overshoot the ball sometimes during high school play. This weekend I didn’t think she did that and I thought that she played well to her strengths. Solid passer and knows where to go with the ball. I think she will end up on the wing, but wouldn’t be surprised if some teams used her as a point guard with her playmaking.
Katie Currans – 5’7 PG/2G – 2021 – Gilbert HS (IA) – All Iowa Attack Multi-Sport
Currans might have improved the most since I last saw her. She is a player who is on a crowded Gilbert roster of sophomores and is kind of overshadowed by more skilled players. This weekend showed me that she can play right with those players and possibly better. She shot the ball well in rhythm, passed it well, and made good decisions. Solid ball handler under pressure who can create for herself and others. Currans is starting to come into her own and should be able to take her game to the next level this summer.
Teagan Lipsey – 5’9 W – 2020 – Ames HS (IA) – All Iowa Attack Nike 2020 Carpenter
Lipsey was kind of the fourth wheel on a very talented, but young, Ames squad. They need one more piece to make that leap and I think Lipsey is starting to turn into that player. She was very active on both ends and brought a bit more of a scoring touch this weekend. I think that she is really starting to come into her own and has the ability to be solid on both ends. Lipsey is one of those players that scare you once she puts it together. After this weekend, I think she might be starting to do so.