Grassroots Review: Indiana Showcase
The 2019 grassroots season has come and gone, and teams are already starting to take shape for 2020. But before that happens, I wanted to have a little fun and take the time to reflect on some of the notable…
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Continue ReadingThe 2019 grassroots season has come and gone, and teams are already starting to take shape for 2020. But before that happens, I wanted to have a little fun and take the time to reflect on some of the notable players from this past season. These aren’t necessarily the most talented prospects in their respective programs, as much as they are ladies who stood out for one reason or another because of their play. Also, there are likely a few players who could qualify for multiple categories, but I have decided to limit each person to just one accolade. Below is a look into some of the Indiana Showcase girls who stood out in 2019.
BIGGEST STOCK-RISER
Ellie Wilkerson, 2022, 5-9 W, Plainfield H.S., Indiana Showcase-Sinclair 17U
Just entering her Sophomore year, it’s kind of difficult to choose a 2022 prospect for this award, because compared to older prospects, Ellie had a limited resume entering this past grassroots season. But by playing “up” two age groups at the 17U level, it really helped her to be seen/known by college programs of all levels, and she performed well throughout the grassroots season. Ellie is a wiry strong, solid, on-the-floor athlete with a really nice skillset. She can handle the ball some and run offense or attack the basket straight-line. She’s a very good perimeter shooter with some range, she has a nice basketball IQ, and she’s a tough-nosed kid who plays with a motor. After leading Plainfield in both scoring and rebounding as a Freshman, I look forward to seeing Ellie’s progression over the next three seasons.
MOST IMPROVED PLAYER
Aubrey Burgess, 2021, 5-6 PG, Linton-Stockton H.S., Indiana Showcase-Sinclair 17U
I have mentioned Aubrey on more than one occasion, and I wanted to point her out once again because her play throughout the Spring really caught my attention. Whether it was last Summer during the grassroots season or this past Winter during the high school season, I had never really viewed her as a primary ball-handler. Some of that could be attributed to other players on her teams just handling the ball more, but this Spring, especially with a couple of injuries on her grassroots team, she was the primary ball-handler a lot of the time, and she played very well. She is a good athlete at the point guard position, she is a solid ball-handler, and she is a willing and capable passer who looks for teammates first. She can attack the basket and make shots around the perimeter, but her improved ability to run offense this grassroots season really showed, and that’s why I chose her for this award.
MOST INTANGIBLE PLAYER
Karsyn Norman, 2023, 5-5 PG, Bedford North Lawrence H.S., Indiana Showcase-Johnson 14U
I wanted to issue this award instead of a most valuable player, because I feel like the kids who do a lot of the “blue-collared” work don’t get enough credit. With regards to Karsyn, however, she has gotten plenty of attention (both media and college) over the last five months, but I also think there is a part of her game that people don’t readily identify with. We can sit here and talk about her physical talent, her high-level skillset, or her natural feel for the point guard position. But I think there are more elements to her all-around game that make her a unique player. Of all the games I saw this Spring & Summer, she was one of the most communicative players I can recall. She was incredibly vocal while the game was in motion, she was talkative during dead balls, and she was engaged from the bench. She showed toughness, a great motor, and she was a fierce competitor who did the little things to win. That’s what can make her special.
MOST INTRIGUING YOUNGSTER
Sydney Warren, 2023, 5-10 W, Cascade H.S., Indiana Showcase-Gage 14U
For this category, I limited my choices to those young ladies who are in the classes of 2023 or 2024, and who displayed a nice combination of substance in their game, as well as the potential to really improve over the next few seasons. I was instantly drawn to Sydney’s game when I first saw her play. She has a lot of upside, some work to be done as well, but she is a skillful wing with a bright future. She has a long, slender frame where it looks like she still might grow another 2-3 inches. She is fluid & smooth, and she moves around the floor in a gliding, effortless fashion. She has ball skills and can play a point forward position, she can slice through gaps and get to the basket, and she can knock down an open rhythm jumper. I think she’s already a nice prospect, but she could be completely different in a couple of years, once she’s done growing and gaining strength.
TOUGHEST PLAYER
Samara Douglas, 2022, 5-9 F, Covenant Christian School, Indiana Showcase-Kirby 16U
Samara is another kid I have mentioned on multiple occasions, and for good reason. You’ll see me say things like “undersized for her position” with more than one prospect, but in the case of Samara it doesn’t matter…she is just a ballplayer. She is strong, tough-nosed, and she plays with a great motor. She is willing to do a lot of things other kids just aren’t. She’ll defend the post effectively and with effort, she can defend wings around the perimeter, she rebounds the basketball outside of her area, and she’s a capable screener when called upon. She has a developing offensive game, and she’s a really nice athlete, but my hope is that while she is working on her perimeter game, her physical nature and grit on the interior never leave her, because I feel like that’s what makes her such a productive player/prospect.
BEST MOTOR
McKenzie Cooper, 2020, 5-6 W, Eastern H.S. (Greentown), Indiana Showcase-Eber 17U
This is a very difficult award to hand out, because if you look up and down this article, I bet you can easily find four or five players worthy, not to mention a couple of players I haven’t included. The one thing you can always say about McKenzie, whether she has a good game or not, is that she always brings great effort. She is a physical, tough-nosed wing, she is a solid on-the-floor athlete, she has a well-balanced perimeter skillset, and she is usually a highly productive wing prospect. But once again, I feel like it’s her motor that gives her an advantage when she’s facing kids who are maybe a bit more talented than her athletically.
MOST ENJOYABLE BACKCOURT
Indiana Showcase-Kirby 16U
This was not the tallest or most talented backcourt in the state, or maybe even in the Indiana Showcase program, but they were incredibly fun to watch every game, and they all play with great motors. This was a very interesting, young group, with a nice mixture of versatile guards able to play multiple positions. Kenna Kirby (2022) of Tri-West had a nice Freshman season last Winter, and she’s a very skillful combo guard who can really shoot it from the perimeter when she has any semblance of rhythm. Chloe Gould (2021) of Danville Community had a really nice grassroots season, and she was in consideration for Most Improved Player. This long, slender, fluid athlete can handle the ball and run offense or create opportunities for herself and others. Ella Wolfe (2022) of Tipton is a prospect still coming into her own, but she is a long and bouncy athlete who plays with a great motor. She has a versatile skillset and can play any of about three positions fairly well. Kayla Hinshaw (2022) of Hamilton Southeastern saw action in a handful of Varsity games last Winter, and she’ll have a much greater opportunity this November. She’s a wiry strong athlete who has garnered praise for her defensive abilities. And Abigail Young (2022) of Mooresville is another solid athlete with some wiry strength and a well-balanced skillset around the perimeter. This group plays well together, and they play with a youthful energy that makes them enjoyable to watch.
MOST ENJOYABLE FRONTCOURT
Indiana Showcase-Sinclair 17U
This Showcase frontcourt had some really nice, standout performances throughout the Spring & Summer. I already mentioned Ellie Wilkerson (2022) of Plainfield above. Add to that four solid front-liners with talent and skill, and you have the makings of a well-rounded group. Megan Mills (2020) of Pendleton Heights had some great games throughout the grassroots season. She is an extremely long and bouncy prospect who plays with a great deal of energy. She is most effective in the mid-post, but she can play a little around the perimeter as well. Madison Kerrigan (2022) of Westfield has always intrigued me, and she is starting to gain that necessary strength to be consistently productive. She has good height and length, and she is skilled facing the basket to the perimeter, but she can play inside some as well. Haley Rose (2021) of Linton-Stockton was another consideration for Most Improved Player. She is an extremely long, somewhat bouncy, and effortful post who moves around the floor much more fluidly than in the past. She showed off an improved skillset as well, and she can play outside a little or play around the basket. And then there’s Marlayna Kemp (2020) of Martinsville. Unfortunately, she missed much of the season with an injury, but she is back now, and she has as much upside as any of these girls. At 6-2, with the size, strength, and hands to play around the block, but also with the touch and mobility to play in the mid-post, she will get a lot of interest once colleges can see her in open gyms/practices/games this Fall & Winter.