AAU Team Preview – WV Dream 2021
The WV Dream 2021s got the season off to a solid start a few weeks ago when they finished unblemished in pool play at the Adidas National Tip-Off Tourney in Pittsburgh. The Logan, W. Va.-based club used that tourney to…
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Continue ReadingThe WV Dream 2021s got the season off to a solid start a few weeks ago when they finished unblemished in pool play at the Adidas National Tip-Off Tourney in Pittsburgh.
The Logan, W. Va.-based club used that tourney to work off some of the rust and ready for the rigors of the schedule down the road.
That road is rapidly approached as Coach Hannah Tothe’s club is taking part in both The Clash on July 17-19 and the U.S. Junior Nationals Midwest Challenge on July 20-22.
Both are held in Indianapolis, which is functioning as the de facto tournament hub for the Midwest while surrounding states are dealing with pandemic restrictions and tournament cancellations or postponements.
What the Dream brings is a skilled roster short on numbers but deep on talent.
Sticking with the ‘deep’ theme, Dream boasts two perimeter threats hitting on better than 40 percent of their attempts in Logan’s Jill To the and Kayla Baisden from Tug Valley.
In addition, Wayne’s Alana Eves Alana Eves 5'11" | SF Wayne | 2021 State WV is a capable threat from range as well as attacking the basket off the dribble.
Point guard Kelci Blair Kelci Blair 5'6" | PG Johnson Central | 2021 State KY is also an outside threat, but what those unfamiliar with the lone Bluegrass-stater on this team will quickly appreciate is the guard’s defensive prowess.
During the tip-off tournament, Blair shut down a number of high-profile scorers accustomed to filling up the stat sheets. She’s a suffocating on-ball defender and is just as talented defending in transition.
While Dream can tend to work outside in—and given the percentages, who would blame them—Spring Valley’s Caroline Asbury Caroline Asbury 5'10" | PF Spring Valley | 2021 State WV and Tolsia’s Julie Boone give them two capable threats in the interior.
Asbury may be the team’s most athletic player and can score from multiple levels. She’s also an excellent rebounder and is great at getting position.
WV Dream 2021 Roster
No. | Name | Grad | High School |
1 | Alana Eves Alana Eves 5'11" | SF Wayne | 2021 State WV | 2021 | Wayne |
3 | Jill Tothe Jill Tothe 5'6" | SF Logan | 2021 State WV | 2021 | Logan |
4 | Kelci Blair Kelci Blair 5'6" | PG Johnson Central | 2021 State KY | 2021 | Johnson Central (Ky.) |
10 | Kaylea Baisden Kaylea Baisden 5'7" | CG Tug Valley | 2022 State WV | 2022 | Tug Valley |
20 | Abbie Myers Abbie Myers 5'4" | PG Logan | 2022 State WV | 2022 | Logan |
23 | Hannah Blankenship Hannah Blankenship 5'8" | SF Wyoming East | 2022 State WV * | 2021 | Wyoming East |
34 | Caroline Asbury Caroline Asbury 5'10" | PF Spring Valley | 2021 State WV | 2021 | Spring Valley |
52 | Julie Boone | 2021 | Tolsia |
*injured |
Players to Watch
Alana Eves Alana Eves 5'11" | SF Wayne | 2021 State WV – Alana is long, lean, athletic, and can play the 2, 3, or 4 positions. Her motor is always running. She is a great shooter and finishes well in the paint.
Jill Tothe Jill Tothe 5'6" | SF Logan | 2021 State WV – Jill is as deadly as they come from behind the arc. She has great range and has shot better than 40% from behind the arc the last two seasons of high school ball. A 90% free-throw shooter. Unselfish player, more concerned with wins than stats.
Kelci Blair Kelci Blair 5'6" | PG Johnson Central | 2021 State KY – Kelci is a hidden gem. Extremely quick is a LOCK down defender. Coach has yet to find someone she can’t guard. She is a great leader and sees the floor well. True floor general.
Kaylea Baisden Kaylea Baisden 5'7" | CG Tug Valley | 2022 State WV – Kaylea, along with Jill is a deadly threat from anywhere on the floor. Kaylea also is great at getting to the paint and finishing at the rim. Kaylea also hits better than 40% from behind the arc during the high school season.
Abbie Myers Abbie Myers 5'4" | PG Logan | 2022 State WV – Abbie is a phenomenal talent with great moves that sometimes tricks her own teammates. So shifty and quick, great range and is a great defender.
Caroline Asbury Caroline Asbury 5'10" | PF Spring Valley | 2021 State WV – Caroline is the Dream’s do-all and most athletic player. She has a ton of grit, can lock you down inside, can take you off the dribble, and will step up and give herself up and take the charge. She is a very underrated player and having her at the top of one of the press usually causes fits for other teams.
Julie Boone – Julie has great moves as a big and runs the floor well. She defends the paint as good as anyone and is the team’s leading rebounder. Teams looking for a true 5 should give her a look.
Hannah Blankenship Hannah Blankenship 5'8" | SF Wyoming East | 2022 State WV – Hannah is a true teammate that we have missed. Her support and play along with her basketball IQ make her a great player. She can also light it up outside. Hannah has been out this year due to a medical condition.