Prospect Spotlight: Paige Craft (2021)
Prep Hoops Girls takes a look at #15 ranked player for the class of 2021, Paige Craft. A 5’8, junior combo guard with all the skills to be one of the top players in the state. Paige attends Blue Valley North High…
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Continue ReadingPrep Hoops Girls takes a look at #15 ranked player for the class of 2021, Paige Craft. A 5’8, junior combo guard with all the skills to be one of the top players in the state. Paige attends Blue Valley North High School and has played varsity since she was a freshman. She also is a member of the KC Dream basketball Club, which unites some of the top girls in the Kansas and Missouri area to form one of the top teams in the country.
Paige’s love for the game started at an early age of 5. The long-haired, slim framed kid from Overland Park, KS spent many of her young years being a dual-sport athlete. She built great instincts, awareness, and footwork playing soccer for a local competitive club. Those characteristics would also help her as she developed in the basketball player. Craft would do both sports until deciding to shift her focus strictly basketball at the age of 11. Focusing on one sport then allowed Paige to build skill year around.
I asked Paige what made her give up soccer and who has been her biggest influences in basketball, she answered, “Basketball and soccer was taking up to much time and I realized that I had great love for the game of basketball and I wanted to go to college for it so I decided training and just playing basketball would be best for me. My biggest influences for basketball would probably be my club and high coaches because they have pushed me to be the best I can be and give me good, honest criticism. ”
Craft has been a member KC Dream Basketball Club since the age of 11. Dream, an independent grassroots program that travels around the country every spring and summer competing in various events. These events allow girls like Paige the opportunity to play against some of the top competition and be seen by thousands of college coaches. We asked Paige what have been some favorite tournaments and she answered, ” Nike Tournament of Champions in Chicago, ATL Nike Nationals and Texas Adidas Event because they all had great competition.” She currently has high interest and or offers from some of the top D2’s in the Midwest and as she continues to develop should draw interest in other NCAA Divisions.
Paige has entered her junior season Blue Valley North. She currently is the starting point guard and will be looking to have a break year to help the Mustangs. As a sophomore, she played behind two upperclassmen who lead the team in scoring, yet during the season showed glimpses of what’s to come in the near future. Craft, a shifty right-hand guard, with the ability to use both hands to finish over and around defenders. Has deceptive speed and athleticism, which allows her to orchestrate moves and change of pace with fluidity. A great facilitator who can turn into a lethal scorer by being a consistent threat from mid-range and long-distance as well. An elite level ball-handler with a deep bag of tricks she usually tends to keep locked away. As Paige’s aggression increases look for her production and stock to as well.