Future Prospects: Millard South and Fremont
Some of the state’s best players, including two Division I commit’s and perhaps the state’s top sophomore, took the court Saturday night in Fremont when the top-ranked Millard South Patriots visted the Tigers in front of a full house at…
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Continue ReadingSome of the state’s best players, including two Division I commit’s and perhaps the state’s top sophomore, took the court Saturday night in Fremont when the top-ranked Millard South Patriots visted the Tigers in front of a full house at Fremont High. Millard South led the game almost wire to wire, but a game of runs left the Tigers down six with 90 seconds left. A lightning fast 10-0 run in the last 1:30 (with a couple of unforced errors in desperation) led to a 77-59 victory for Millard South, which allowed them to run their record to 21-0. This will not be the last time that these two high powered squads match up with a lot on the line the next few years.
I saw Millard South play earlier this year, and I want to give a quick update on their underclassmen:
Cora Olsen (5’8″ Freshman, Millard South): An athletic perimeter player who hunts shots, Olsen attacks off the bounce well and back door cuts with great explosion. She reads defenses well and hunts shots, looking to score on every touch. She has very good length and attacks the ball well, getting alot of tips on defense. Averaging 8.6 points a night for the Patriots, Olsen has a chance to be the next great player in the Millard South program.
–Update: Olsen has improved since December. She is cutting with more of a purpose, but cutting smarter. Defensively, she is rotating with more confidence in the Patriot’s run and jump. I would still like to see her create more off the dribble.
Mya Babbitt (5’6″ Freshman, Millard South): Babbitt is a strong player for a freshman who looks to get to the rim and attacks it well. She also has a very nice catch and shoot game, with a very smooth shot from the perimeter. She needs to work on her 2nd level, off the bounce game, but she makes up for it by attacking the ball on defense (as do all the Patriots in their run and jump pressure system), but she has a chance to be an outstanding player.
–Update: Like Olsen, she has improved and looks more comfortable. She was perhaps the difference in this game, sticking multiple three point shots off of the penetration Krull and Horan. Like Olsen, I want to see her attack of the bounce to really round out her offensive game.
Khloe Lemon (5’7″ Freshman, Millard South): Lemon came off the bench for the Patriots to hit three three’s in this game, and she has a very nice high release on her jump shot. She did not attack as much off the bounce on offense as I would have liked, but it is a small sample size. She is instant offense off the bench, averaging 10.2 points a night coming into the Metro tournament, and Lemon will continue to grow in her role and has a chance to be an outstanding player.
-Update: Lemon is still coming off the bench, but could be stepping into more minutes for the Patriots with the potential injury to sophomore Megan Belt, who walked gingerly off the floor in the third quarter. Lemon guarded Taylor McCabe consistenly in the fourth quarter and did about as good of job on her as one can, and she is not afraid to mix things up.
Juliana Jones (5’9″ Freshman, Millard South): Jones is a very nice player to line up next to the three freshman that have played alot for the Patriots. She is consistently getting minutes in Varsity action, but she is not quite as quick and as athletic as the three other freshman in the rotation. She is a good shooter who can string together alot of points in a short amount of time, and she is in a perfect situation where she can develop slowly rather than being thrown into the fire. She has nice potential for down the line.
Amari Laing (6’0″ Freshman, Millard South): Right now, Laing is playing JV for the Patriots, but she has a chance to shine starting next year. She’s got a great wing span and crashes the offensive glass really well, and she does a nice job in attacking the ball defensively. She does not have the shooting range of the other Patriots listed in this article, but she has a level of athleticism that the Patriots will need year when graduation hits.
Taylor McCabe (5’9″ Sophomore, Fremont): McCabe is probably the state’s best sophomore, and she did not disappoing Saturday night. She is obviously a great shooter, but she can also attack off the bounce and finish around the hoop with either hand. She is not physically dominant, but she passes the ball well and gets her looks within the team concept. McCabe has a great basketball IQ and is a terrific teammate, and her offers will only increase as time moves forward. It’s hard to say that someone finished with a quiet 25 points, but that’s what she did the other night, including multiple three pointers at least one step behind the three point line.
Sydney Golladay (5’9″ Senior, Fremont): Golladay is a late addition to the prospect list, largely because this is the first time I have had a chance to watch her play, but I came away very impressed with her leadership and game skills. She is a great passer who is strong and can also hit the step back three with a high skill level. She has a good understanding of when to attack and when to distribute, and she did a really, really good job in handling suffocating pressure. A Fort Hays State committ, Golladay has a chance to push for all-state status this year.
Charli Earth (5’10” Junior, Fremont): A very nice player who compliments McCabe and Golladay very well, Earth is a capable shooter who is also a very good defensive player. Strong and athletic, she has three point range and is capable of guarding 1-4 with effectiveness. She also has a good game IQ and finishes well around the rim. She is going to be the type of player that the top level NAIA schools in the area will be battling over the next few months.
Macy Bryant (5’10” Sophomore, Fremont): A long, lanky athletic player, Bryant finishes well around the rim and plays more physical than her build would indicate. As she comes into her body, she will improve and get better. She had a tough match-up against Jayme Horan the other night, and she needs to learn to play through mistakes a little better, but that will come with maturity. Bryant has a great upside and if she puts the work in, she will also be a player that many small schools will be looking at the next couple of years.