Weekend Review: Wings
This past weekend I attended the USJN Mid-America Qualifier in Westfield, Indiana. I was able to see more than 30 teams in the field and evaluate more than 300 prospects at the event. Below is a look at eight wing…
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Continue ReadingThis past weekend I attended the USJN Mid-America Qualifier in Westfield, Indiana. I was able to see more than 30 teams in the field and evaluate more than 300 prospects at the event. Below is a look at eight wing prospects who caught my eye. They aren’t necessarily the eight most talented or the eight who put up the best statistics, but they did stand out to me for one reason or another.
Addie Gardner, 2020, 5-10 SF, Frankton H.S., Midwest Finest
So far I have already been able to see Addie at two different events this Spring, and so far she has been strong at each event. She is incredibly long, fluid, and fairly smooth. She is a little thin still and could use more muscle on her frame, but she is a very good perimeter shooter with the ability to create space off the dribble. She can also put it on the floor a couple of dribbles and slice through the lane for finishes. Over the years, she has improved a lot as a defender, and now instead of just trying for steals, she’s able to defend wings and some guards on the ball. I think she’ll draw a lot of small college interest because of her ability to shoot it consistently.
Mackenzie Stien, 2020, 5-10 SF, Brownsburg H.S., Grand Park Premier-Jacobsen
When I saw Mackenzie Saturday, it was probably the most I think I’ve liked her as a prospect. She looks a little taller, leaner and stronger, and she’s more explosive in all directions. She has always played with a good motor and been very active, and she has also always played with a lot of versatility at both ends of the floor…that still stands. At her size, with her length, athleticism, effort, and ability to do multiple things offensively and defensively, she is what I like to call a plug-and-play kid, because she helps solidify most lineups/rosters/systems and “fits” well in most environments. She has already given a commitment to the University of Indianapolis.
Maddie Patterson, 2021, 5-9 SF, Danville Community H.S., Indiana Flight Blue-Duke
For everything I just said about Mackenzie Stien (above), I feel like I could probably say the same about Maddie Patterson, she’s just a year younger. Maddie is a long, wiry strong, versatile forward who does a lot of different things to help contribute. Offensively, she is really good in the mid-post, using her athletic ability to get to the basket with ease. She can step out and play comfortably around the perimeter, knock down the occasional 3-pointer, and she handles it okay outside as well. Defensively, she can guard true wings, some undersized ‘4s’, and some bigger ‘2s’, and I think that brings a lot of value to be able to switch some. She’s just a nice, versatile, all-around ballplayer.
Karly Sweeney, 2021, 5-6 2G/SF, Salem H.S., Indiana Flight Grey/South
I first saw Karly online in the state tournament, and I instantly liked how she plays. Now, after seeing her live, I am even more impressed with her all-around game. She’s a strong, tough-nosed, physical, gritty, and aggressive wing guard/forward. She has a little length, she’s a nice North/South athlete, and she doesn’t seem afraid of anything. She can shoot it consistently from the perimeter, attack and finish inside through contact, and she has a solid handle and can create space or even run offense on occasion. Defensively, she is probably more of a ‘3’ than a ‘2’, and she could improve her lateral quickness a little, but she is very recruitable because of her incredible motor and competitive fire.
Maycee Woods, 2021 5-8 SF, Plainfield H.S., Indiana Flight Blue-Duke
Last year when I saw Maycee, I thought she had a lot of upside but wasn’t quite complete, plus she looked a little unassuming playing with an older team that had some dynamic personalities. Now, a year later, she looks much more confident, assertive, and polished as a prospect. She is long, fluid, and athletic, she’s shooting the ball extremely well from the perimeter, and with a quick release and good mechanics. She is aggressive scoring it, and she can put it on the floor and get to the basket as well. Defensively, she has some versatility, as she can defend both forwards and some guards, and I think she’s still figuring it out and will continue to become more dynamic.
Erica Bostwick, 2022, 5-10 SF/PF, Zionsville Community H.S., Indiana Flight Blue-Duke
Erica is someone I wasn’t terribly familiar with until this weekend, but she is certainly someone I’ll track moving forward. She is a long, fairly fluid and athletic forward, who looks like she’s transitioning from more of a power forward to the wing. She is really effective in the mid-post right now, as she can hit the 15-footer or get to the basket fairly easily. She also shows glimpses around the perimeter of potentially becoming more of a full-time small forward long-term. I think if she can continue developing into a wing prospect, at her size, it will really benefit her recruiting, and she’s still young enough that she might still grow another inch or two as well.
Montasia McAllister, 2022, 5-7 2G/SF, Lawrence North H.S., First Lady’s Green
I’m not saying she’s as skilled or talented, and maybe it’s because she attends Lawrence North that I’m thinking this, but Montasia has some physical abilities and similarities to 2021 star Jayla Smith. Montasia is extremely long, thin, but fluidly athletic with good speed and quickness. She plays with a good motor, she can knock down an open jump-shot when set and in rhythm, and she’s okay attacking the basket off the bounce. She does need to finish growing, continue getting stronger, and work on her handle a bit, but I think as strength comes for her, we’ll see her do a lot of things in a more consistent manner. She is a really nice, young talent right now with some upside.
Ellie Wilkerson, 2022, 5-9 SF, Plainfield H.S., Indiana Showcase-Sinclair
I don’t know what it is about Plainfield kids, but I feel like they have a mold out there, and their players come out long, fluid, and athletic. Ellie definitely fits those descriptions, plus she has good strength for a Freshman. She had quite the rookie season, averaging 12 points and 5.5 rebounds on a tough schedule. She has a nice perimeter stroke with range beyond the 3-point line, she plays with a solid motor, plus like I said before, she’s a strong athlete and can effectively attack the basket and finish through contact. I wish she was maybe a little quicker laterally and defended the ball a bit better, but she is still young and can get there, plus she’s such a complete offensive weapon.