MVC Top Post Players
photo courtesy of Dan Cruz One of the strengths of the top teams in the MVC this year is a group of talented post players. Highland and CM each will have an advantage over other teams in the paint. Each…
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Continue Readingphoto courtesy of Dan Cruz
One of the strengths of the top teams in the MVC this year is a group of talented post players. Highland and CM each will have an advantage over other teams in the paint. Each player is a bit different but all of them have the potential to be special. In this article I will cover some of the girls to watch in the post in the MVC this year.
- Anna Hall is a 5’11 2020 forward from Civic Memorial. Anna has been a big part of the team at CM since her freshman year. She has become the go to scoring option over the past two years. Anna is very strong and gets great position in the lane. She can fight through contact to finish. Anna averaged 17.4 points per game last year and with an improved outside game she could do even better as a senior.
- Taylor Kesner is a 5’11 2021 post from Highland. Taylor looked excellent each time I saw her this summer. She worked very well in the high/low game at sealing her defender and scoring one on one. She finishes well around the basket with either hand. Taylor is very strong and uses that strength well in the lane.
- Bella LaPorta is a 6’0 2021 forward from Highland. Bella is a very athletic player that can excel in the high post. She did an excellent job this summer in passing into the post and getting to the offensive boards. Bella averaged 9.1 points per game last year while shooting over 50% from the field. She will need to work well with Kesner to exploit a height advantage Highland will have over many teams.
- Ella Bockhorn is a 5’10 2022 forward from Waterloo. Ella really came on strong at the end of her freshman campaign. She was able to score in double figures in her last 4 games. Ella works hard every day and has a huge upside. Her footwork is strong and she has very good touch around the lane.
- Ashlyn Hughes is a 6’3 2023 post from Mascoutah. Ashlyn is another strong player in the class of 2023 for Mascoutah. She has a solid skill set that includes the mid range jump shot. Ashlyn finishes well around the basket and has the potential to become a dominant player.
- Lauren Brown is a 5’11 2020 forward from Jerseyville. Lauren is long and active. She does a good job finishing her chances in the paint. She made 50% of her shots and got 2 offensive boards per game. Lauren is not a focal point of the offense but is capable of having some good nights.
- Claire Christeson is a 6’0 2022 forward from Civic Memorial. Claire had a very good summer playing with the SI Hawks Elite 16u team. She was a force inside in many games showing an ability to score in the lane. Claire has shown great improvement over the past 14 months. She played well at times in a small role as a freshman. Claire should have a chance at a bigger role this year and should provide a boost off the bench.
Anna Hall is the class of this group and will be a big part of how far CM goes. If Highland is going to make the run that Coach Hamilton hopes for they will need Kesner and LaPorta to have a big junior campaign.These post players are well coached and work hard. The rest of the conference has some up and coming talent that will be fun to watch.