Prospect Spotlight: Kassidy Beam (2021)
Prospect Spotlight: Kassidy Beam (2021) One year after helping McPherson go 21-3 and a fourth place finish in the Kansas 5A state championships, Kassidy Beam is gearing up for a breakout season in 2019-20. A 5’7 2021 guard, Beam…
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Continue ReadingProspect Spotlight: Kassidy Beam (2021)
One year after helping McPherson go 21-3 and a fourth place finish in the Kansas 5A state championships, Kassidy Beam is gearing up for a breakout season in 2019-20.
A 5’7 2021 guard, Beam is known for her outside shooting but can also put the ball on the floor and drive to the basket, or stop for a pull-up jumper. She is a strong on-ball defender and brings positive leadership qualities to the floor as well.
Beam is coming off a strong offseason running with Ohlde Elite, a team coached by Craig Nicholson that played tournaments in Dallas, Kansas City, Wichita, Indianapolis, Louisville and Denver. Among her highlights this offseason was being selected as a Pool All-Star at the USJN Premier Showcase in Indianapolis and also at the Battle of the Border in Kansas City.
“I was thankful for the chance to play in these different cities and enjoyed seeing my team improve over the course of the summer season,” Beam says. “I had talented teammates, and we all worked hard to help each other get better with each game.”
She says she has spent much of the offseason working on improving her shooting percentages and becoming a more consistent shooter.
“I have also focused on hard drives to the basket and becoming a better defender,” she says.”I also have spent time tightening my ball handling.”
Beam says she began playing basketball when she started playing up with her older sister’s team in second grade. She says her dad, Todd, has had the biggest influence on her basketball career to date.
“He’s always willing to take me to the gym and rebound while coaching me along the way,” Beam said. “Even on days when I know he’s tired from work and probably cringes when he hears me ask if he will take me to the gym, he always goes and works to help me with my game.
“Craig Nicholson, from CN3 Training, has also had a huge impact and has helped me with many aspects of my game. He’s trained me the past two years and always has feedback and is continually looking for ways to help me improve my game. I also have had great coaches coming through McPherson Middle School and McPherson High School and consider myself blessed having the chance to grow up in a community that loves basketball.”
She says she enjoys watching older McPherson players and has taken elements of their game and made it her own over the years.
“Being raised in McPherson, I have always looked up to other Lady Pup players,” she says. “Some of my favorites included Tanner Hein Clemens (Butler County), Katelyn Loecker (Oklahoma State) and Taylor Robertson (Oklahoma).
“Kids in McPherson grow up dreaming of playing in the Roundhouse, and it’s so fun being able to finally be able to be a part of such a great tradition. I’m counting down the days until our first game of the season on December 6.”