Independence is Coming for the Top Spot in the Southwestern 4A Conference
Last season, Independence finished with their first 20+ win season in over 15 years. With 6 seniors graduating in 2020 (4 of which are playing college basketball), the remaining Patriots are looking to continue their stellar performances to obtain the…
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Continue ReadingLast season, Independence finished with their first 20+ win season in over 15 years. With 6 seniors graduating in 2020 (4 of which are playing college basketball), the remaining Patriots are looking to continue their stellar performances to obtain the top spot in the Southwestern 4A Conference.
Braylyn Milton | G | 2021
Saying Braylyn has already been a 3 time All-Conference and All-State player is only the beginning of what this girl can do. She is a long and active guard who scores from all areas of the court. She has an incredibly high basketball IQ which is obvious by the more than fifteen Division I offers that she was fielding until she recently committed to the University of Cincinatti. In addition to her scoring ability, she makes plays for others averaging 4 assists a game last season. It is not unusual for her to make defenders lose their footing when trying to guard her. On the other side of the court, she ends possessions for opponents stealing the ball from a dribbling guard or getting in the passing lanes to prevent a play from happening. She knows how to track the ball well, too, creating blocks for her team. This girl is certainly a threat to anyone she plays against, and her leadership skills will be on full display during her senior season.
Averie DiBenedetto | PG | 2021
Averie is a shifty guard who moves quickly to make plays for her teammates. She has great vision for the floor to get her teammates involved. She uses this speed to also create space for herself to show off her 3 point shooting ability. Averie shows no fear of contact when driving straight to the basket, and she has a nice finish no matter what pressure is put on her. When she isn’t the one controlling the ball, she always positions herself to contribute to her team and shows that she stays ready to shoot. On defense, she shows how she is a ball hawk running down guards to steal the ball from them and pick pocketing the ball right out from underneath them. She will continue to thrive as one of the leaders on her team next season.
Gracie Breckenridge | F | 2021
Gracie is a true rim protector standing at 6’2” and showing the length to go with that. She averaged 9 rebounds and 4 blocks a game last season. These blocks consistently turn into steals, too, for her team. She is a major presence in the paint making it difficult for anyone to score close to the basket. She has been using the quarantine time to build strength and increase her skillset with her footwork. She shows strong moves by the basket making it nearly impossible to defend her. Her quick decision making ability makes it hard to predict what move or direction she is planning to go to score. Gracie knows how to position herself to get the ball from her teammates. She will certainly be an exciting player to watch next season.
Trinity Benjamin | PG | 2022
Trinity is a scrappy and active guard, especially on defense. She keeps guards in front of her making it difficult for them to go by her or pass the ball to their teammates. On offense, she looks to get her teammates involved, especially when it comes to feeding the ball to the post players. Defenders should keep an eye on her at all times because she has a way of sneaking by them to make a backdoor layup or pull up for the jumper. Look for her to make many contributions for Independence over the next several seasons.
Mariah Washington | G | 2022
Mariah has a great midrange jumpshot and will continue to show a consistency in scoring for her team. She has great speed and moves well with the ball blowing by defenders who try to close out on her. She is consistently one of the first ones up and down the court showing hustle and desire to contribute to her team in all areas. She isn’t scared to run inside, box out players who are bigger than her, and grab a rebound for her team. She will continue to show her playmaking abilities as she plays her last two season of high school basketball.
Kaylee Carson | G | 2024
Kaylee will likely be an immediate contributor for the Patriots as a freshman next season. Last season, she averaged over 20 points and 7 steals a game. She even contributed 6 rebounds and multiple assists a game showing that she is a great all around player who does what it takes to help her team succeed. She has a great shot and already shows great court vision. This will only continue to grow as she progresses through high school.