Friday Night Highlights
As the travel season begins to wind down, today was a great way to put a cap on July. While I’m still looking forward to more action to come in August, it will consist of a few tournaments but will…
Access all of Prep Girls Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingAs the travel season begins to wind down, today was a great way to put a cap on July. While I’m still looking forward to more action to come in August, it will consist of a few tournaments but will be aimed more towards showcase events and Fall leagues. Below are a few prospects who stood out above and beyond what I expected in what I was able to see today at the Convention Center in downtown Indianapolis.
Catherine Madden, 2023, 5-9 PF, Cathdral H.S.
With a number of her normal teammates not in attendance for one reason or another, Catherine seemed to go from a nice role player to a leader and top producer tonight. She played with much greater confidence, she made a number of offensive plays and scored the ball in ways I had yet to see out of her, and of course she brought the intensity and energy I’ve gotten used to seeing out of her each time she takes the floor. I really like her grit, motor, and toughness, and I think as she continues to develop her skillset, she’ll draw a lot of interest as a versatile mid-post to perimeter forward.
Amber Tretter
Amber
Tretter
6'1" | PF
Forest Park | 2023
State
IN
, 2023, 6-0 PF, Forest Park H.S.
When I spoke with Amber’s high school coach during the season, he was absolutely thrilled with both her skillful development and her potential to continue improving over the next few years. Now that I have finally seen her live, I can certainly see why. She is extremely long, bouncy, and very active at both ends of the floor. For a kid who is somewhat slender still, I was very impressed with her willingness to be the first one on the floor for loose balls, her physicality in the post, plus the way she battles against stronger kids for rebounds. She is extremely tough-nosed and highly productive, plus she runs like a deer. She has a bright future.
Sophie Johnson
Sophie
Johnson
6'0" | PF
Evansville Memorial | 2024
State
IN
, 2024, 5-9 SF, Evansville Memorial H.S.
I had heard things about Sophie in conversations with her own high school coach and other area coaches, but this was my first opportunity to see her up close. She is very long, fluidly athletic, and somewhat bouncy. She plays with a good motor, she has a nice overall feel of the game, and she takes on the role of primary ball-handler as almost a point forward for her Indiana Ambition Elite travel team. I really like her upside athletically, especially if she can prove to be a consistent perimeter shooter as well (I didn’t see her take any/many jumpers). I’m sure Memorial fans are excited about a number of young, talented prospects in 2023 and 2024 on their roster, as well they should be.
Sydney Waldron, 2024, 5-6 CG, Our Lady of Providence H.S.
Sydney is someone I was completely unfamiliar with coming into this tournament, but she stood out to me for one specific reason…she played nearly as tough as anyone I saw tonight. She has some length, wiry strength, and she just plays ball. She isn’t overly emotional and doesn’t react to a lot, but she takes contact well, even seeks it at times, plus she does a nice job of completing plays most young kids don’t because of how she plays. She can handle the ball and initiate the offense, she’s good attacking the basket off the dribble, and she was very active at the defensive end of the floor. She is a nice, Southern Indiana guard.
Kamarah Banks, 2026, 5-6 PG, Franklin Central M.S.
While our site is focused more on those prospects currently in high school or heading into high school soon, I had to make note of this young lady. She played “up” three age groups in the 15U division and was really good. She is extremely long, quick, fast, and athletic. She plays with zero fear and ice water in her veins. She didn’t force shots but she took open shots without hesitation, she found teammates on the fly and in the half-court, and she got after it defensively. I was really impressed with the fact that she looked like she fit right in with girls three years older than her. You’ll be hearing a lot about her in a couple of years.