IUSABB/IGBRR State Tourney Review: Front-Liners
As an evaluator, you get to a point during a season (whether it be high school or grassroots), where you attend games & events specifically seeking out prospects you haven’t seen in a while (or even at all). This past…
Access all of Prep Girls Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingAs an evaluator, you get to a point during a season (whether it be high school or grassroots), where you attend games & events specifically seeking out prospects you haven’t seen in a while (or even at all). This past weekend I spent a great deal of time either viewing kids for the first time this Spring, or reviewing kids I didn’t feel I spent enough time watching over the last couple of months. Below are eight power forwards & centers who I wanted to highlight today for one reason or another.
Gabby Beckham, 2020, 5-10 F, Monroe Central H.S., Indiana Bears
Gabby is a really nice small college prospect who should finally get her opportunity this season to really affect the MCHS school team. She is fairly strong, she has some length, and she’s a solid athlete in most directions. I’ve seen her play physical, post up, and score it around the block and in the mid-post in the past, but this time around she was equally as dangerous from 3-point range, and even knocked down multiple 3-pointers in consecutive games. With just a little more consistency, she could develop into a nice pick-and-pop ‘4’ at the small college level, and she’d be a really nice inside-out threat.
Julia Blue, 2021, 6-1 C, Hanover Central H.S., Northwest Indiana Thunder Gold
I’ve had Julia’s name in my database for some time now, but this was my first opportunity to ever see her live. She is a very intriguing ‘big’ with good all-around mobility, some North/South speed, and really good length. She has a wiry strong frame that I think can get stronger, and she plays with a good motor. She isn’t overly assertive offensively, but she does play with some versatility and can shoot it around 15-feet or post up smaller defenders. Typically with ‘bigs’, the more they play, the better they get, and she’s someone who I think with just a little more work could be a really interesting prospect for the next level.
Bridget Dunn, 2021, 6-2 F, Carmel H.S., Indy Magic-Andrus
I have been a big fan of Bridget’s since I saw her as a 5-8 7th Grader playing a point forward role. The combination of her growth, her skill, and maintaining her athletic ability and fluidity make her one of the best prospects in Indiana in the 2021 class. This past weekend she was almost automatic from outside in the games I saw. She is shooting it with decisiveness and confidence, but she’s also still showing the ability to put it on the floor at her size and get places efficiently. She will need to continue gaining strength, but I think that will come once she’s ultimately done growing…which I’m not sure she is just yet.
Lauren Sandrock, 2021, 5-11 F, Franklin Community H.S., Team Indiana Rising Stars
Lauren is one of those under-the-radar kids who I think will see her stock rise after she plays through the Summer. She is long, athletic in all directions, and she plays with a motor. She’s great in the mid-post, she can take smaller defenders to the block, but she has also shown some comfort around the perimeter. I think she’s more of a mid-post ‘4’ right now, but she’s athletic enough that if she can continue developing her perimeter skillset, I think she can become more of a true wing. She definitely has some athletic tools to work with though, and that usually spells good upside.
Kassie Stanko, 2021, 5-11 F/C, Morgan Township H.S., Northwest Indiana Thunder Gold
Kassie is a big, strong, physical front-liner who does a little bit of everything well. Because of her strong frame, she is probably most comfortable around the post, and she does a nice job of burying defenders with her strength but then finishing with touch around the basket. She moves around the floor reasonably well, and she’s capable in the mid-post as well, knocking down the 15-footer comfortably. She’s still somewhat young, but at some point she will need to determine if she should be more of a low-block post who dominates there, or if she should continue really working on her skillset and being more of a pick-and-pop ‘4/5’ with versatility.
Bolanle Ayangade, 2022, 5-8 F, Valparaiso H.S., Northwest Indiana Thunder Yellow
Bolanle is just an energy-giver who plays with a tremendous motor, good all-around athleticism, and a lot of bounce. She is a little undersized for how she plays, but she’s extremely productive against her peers, always grabbing a big rebound out of her area, finishing quickly around the basket before the defense can react, and earning repeated trips to the free throw line. She does need to continue expanding her all-around skillset, but as far as talent goes, she can really affect a game because of her ability to run & jump, and her willingness to do it with a great motor.
Ella Paris, 2022, 5-11 F, Center Grove H.S., Team Indiana Red Storm 15U
This was my first time seeing Ella in person, and she definitely has some tools to work with. She is a bit taller than I was told, she’s strong and physical, but she’s also a nice athlete who moves well in most directions. She plays with a good motor, she battles at both ends of the floor for rebounds, but offensively she can play with some skill facing the basket as well. I think she’s a really nice mid-post ‘4’ who has a solid 15 to 17-foot jumper, but she’s also strong enough and likes contact enough, that she can take smaller defenders to the block and hurt them inside as well. Considering Center Grove doesn’t have a lot of players with size, she should see a lot of opportunity moving forward.
Jessie Ringen, 2022, 5-8 F, Rensselaer Central H.S., Indiana Elite Lightning
Jessie is a little undersized for how she plays, but she’s a nice all-around athlete, she has an athletic/strong frame, and she looks like she’s developing some skill and comfort around the perimeter. Jessie plays with a really good motor, she runs the floor well North/South, and she makes a lot of hustle plays and often rebounds outside of her area. She looks a bit like a ‘tweener right now, so if she can continue developing perimeter skill and a face-up jumper to at least 17 or 18-feet, she should put herself in a good position from a recruiting standpoint, because she’s a really nice athlete who gives effort.