Bullitt East Hooparama 2019 Top Underclassmen Performers
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As the first showcase for several of Kentucky’s top teams this season, the Lady Chargers Hooparama is a place for players to show off as well. While that includes star seniors looking to finish their careers well, it’s also an…
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Continue ReadingAs the first showcase for several of Kentucky’s top teams this season, the Lady Chargers Hooparama is a place for players to show off as well. While that includes star seniors looking to finish their careers well, it’s also an opportunity for underclassmen to show that they are worth keeping an eye on moving forward. Here are some of the younger players who impressed at Bullitt East.
Peyton Bradley, Meade County- We start out with the youngest player on this list. Despite only being a 7th grader, Bradley fit right in with a high powered Green Wave team. She played well, hustling all over the court and making smart plays. She was also able to draw fouls with her aggressive plays, an impressive skill for a younger player to have. In making an impact so early, Bradley is putting herself on the radar as a potential future star.
Raigin Price, Webster County– In a day filled with some of the top players in the state, Price may have been the most impressive defender at the Hooparama. She was all over the passing lanes, coming up with steal after steal. She was then able to make plays in transition to convert those steals into points for the Lady Trojans. While she was unfortunately forced to exit the game in the second quarter with what appeared to be an ankle injury, Price nonetheless made her mark and showed she is someone opposing teams will need to look out for this season.
Abby Holtman Abby Holtman 5'11" | SF Ryle | 2023 State KY , Ryle- As part of the defending state champions, Holtman has been thrust into the spotlight early in her high school career. The freshman played well at the Hooparama, making shots in a largely off the ball role of offense. She also showed great hustle on defense and going after loose balls. While the pressure may higher for Holtman than other underclassmen, if she keeps playing like she did on Saturday she will be able to take advantage and make sure people notice her.
Gracie Merkle Gracie Merkle 6'6" | C Bullitt East | 2022 State KY , Bullitt East- Although she played limited minutes, Merkle was absolutely unstoppable around the basket for stretches on Saturday. Defending state champion Ryle seemed to have no answer for the sophomore center’s scoring in the paint until shifting the focus of their defense to denying her the ball. An imposing physical presence with skills to match, Merkle has the ability to be dominant in the low post moving forward.
Kennedy Lee, Manual- The Lady Crimsons strength on Saturday was their defense and overall tough play, and nobody demonstrated that better than Lee. The sophomore forward was strong inside throughout, defending and rebounding at a high level. She was also best able to get a basket when the Manual offense was struggling. This kind of reliability is great to see in a younger player.
Triniti Ralston Triniti Ralston 5'7" | PG Sacred Heart | 2023 State KY , Sacred Heart- Ralston was very impressive as one of the top players for an elite Sacred Heart team. The freshman guard showcased her non-stop hustle, making plays all over the court. This combined with her natural scoring skills to allow her to get penetration and score at the rim. She is already a dangerous piece of a great team, and she has the ability to get even better over the next few years.
Gracie Helm, Mercy- Despite being overshadowed by some of the stars on her team, Helm was still able to impress with a variety of skills. The sophomore guard fit into whatever role her team needed her two, playing well inside for stretches then knocking down open shots when it fit the offensive gameplan. While she may not be a star player this, Helm looks to impress as a jack-of-all-trades and cement herself as a name to look remember in future years.