End Of July Wrap-Up: Part-4
With many of the Indiana teams traveling cross-country for different events during July’s second “live” period, I remained in the Midwest and attended USJN’s Midwest Summer Showcase in Westfield July 21st & 22nd, and then went to Cincinnati for Certified…
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Continue ReadingWith many of the Indiana teams traveling cross-country for different events during July’s second “live” period, I remained in the Midwest and attended USJN’s Midwest Summer Showcase in Westfield July 21st & 22nd, and then went to Cincinnati for Certified Basketball’s The Finale on July 23rd and 24th. I saw several teams from Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, and Illinois, but below is a look at eight prospects specifically from Indiana in 2022, 2023, and 2024 who had nice performances when I was able to watch them.
Erica Bostwick, 2022, 5-10 F, Zionsville Community H.S., Indiana Flight-Duke 17U
Erica has had a very good Spring & Summer, and she seemingly improves from one viewing to the next. She has really good length, fluid athleticism, and even though she’s still somewhat slender, she’s willing to be physical, tough, and aggressive on the interior. She has shown more and more ability to play around the perimeter, but she looks like she is transitioning from being more of an interior player, because inside of 15-feet is where she seems most comfortable. However, if she can continue to work on her ball skill and extend her range a bit, I think she can develop into a true wing before she gets to college.
Kendall Harmon, 2022, 5-7 G, Bloomington H.S. South, Team Blaze Select 17U
Kendall continually impresses me with her play each time I see her. She has done a tremendous job of being one of the most skilled and versatile guards in 2022. She handles it, passes it, and has the natural feel and instincts of a point guard. She shoots it very well and with range like a 2-guard. Honestly, from a skillful standpoint, there isn’t much Kendall doesn’t do offensively. Plus she has a wiry strong frame and a nice competitive fire to her. Where she’ll need to improve a bit is her quickness and her on-ball defense. She thinks the game well enough to become an effective defensive player, because I think she’ll learn over time how to anticipate and to take angles at that end of the floor. She definitely plays hard enough though.
Kaylee Martin, 2022, 5-9 W, Evansville North H.S., DistinXion Champions Black-Butler 15U
This was my first time seeing Kaylee, and I was only able to see about half a game, so I would certainly like to evaluate her a lot more in the near future. But from what I briefly saw, she is a solidly built wing who can probably play 2-guard or even some small forward. She is strong, physical, and seems tough, and she is a solid on-the-floor athlete in most directions. Skillfully, she handled it a little, knocked down a couple of shots, and showed off some versatility from the perimeter to the mid-post. I also thought she rebounded well from the wing. Like I said, my time to watch her was limited, so I’m curious to see more soon.
Halle Shelt, 2022, 5-7 W, Park Tudor School, Nike Lady Gym Rats Gold EYBL 16U
Halle is a very intriguing wing prospect, because she has a lot of versatility and several different traits I think she can enhance a great deal over the next couple of years. She is a strong, physical wing with a great frame. She’s a nice athlete in all directions, and she plays with a great deal of toughness and a solid motor. She can handle the ball a little and run offense, she likes to attack off the dribble and get inside, but she also has a little touch from around the perimeter and can knock down the occasional open rhythm jumper. Personally, I really like her strength and tough-minded approach as a wing, so if she can continue tightening up her skillset, she could be a real problem for opponents these next three seasons.
Madison Geary, 2023, 5-8 F, Brebeuf Jesuit College Preparatory, Lady Team Teague 15U
I first saw Madison a year ago and thought she had a chance to be a really nice high school player. She has a wiry strong frame, she can play physical and tough inside, but she also has some skill facing the basket and can play comfortably around the perimeter. Right now she’s probably more of an undersized face-up ‘4’, but I think she’ll continue to develop into more of a wing throughout high school. I also really like her motor and willingness to do whatever it takes to help her team(s) win.
Adelyn Walker, 2023, 5-9 F, Martinsville H.S., Team Blaze Select 17U
I’ve seen Adelyn a handful of times throughout this Spring and Summer, and last week was by far the best I’ve seen her play. She has a great frame, wiry strength, and she’s a really nice athlete in all directions. I especially noticed her bounce last week. She can put it on the floor and attack the basket, often finishing through contact despite being a younger player. She also showed great touch in the mid-post, as she was knocking down just about everything in that 15-foot range. If she can continue to develop her handle and stretch her range consistently to beyond the arc, I think she can be a really nice college prospect long-term.
Talia Harris, 2024, 5-6 PG, Fall Creek Valley Junior High, Lady Team Teague 15U
I’ve mentioned Talia in the past, and I think she’s one of the better 2024s I’ve seen so far. She has good length, a wiry frame, and she’s a fluid and smooth athlete who glides around the floor. For her age, she has a tremendous feel of the point guard position and sees the floor well. She is a willing and capable passer, but she can also attack the basket and knock down a variety of shots, floaters, etc. As she gets older and gains strength, I think she’ll be able to finish through defenders better at the basket, and she’ll turn into a much more consistent perimeter shooter. But what I like most, is she takes as much pride defensively as she does offensively, and she can really affect the game at that end of the floor.
Chloe Spreen, 2024, 5-7 G, Bedford North Lawrence H.S., Nike Lady Gym Rats Turquoise 14U
Chloe is another one of the top guards in 2024, and she has the skill and ability to do most things well on the basketball floor. Chloe is a wiry strong kid, a solid athlete in all directions, and she has a pretty looking jumper from the perimeter. She can handle the ball and run offense, she sees the floor very well, plus she can attack and finish through contact already at her age. She is a high-level scorer who can make shots at all levels, and she plays with a quiet toughness and good physicality. I think she plays with a good motor defensively, and she’s a solid athlete, but once she understands angles, I think she can be really good at that end of the floor as well.