LBI Hoosier Summer Invitational Review
Last weekend Lady Ballers Insider hosted another event in Northern Indiana. This time it was the Hoosier Summer Invitational at Warsaw High School’s campus, including using their beautiful new 4-court fieldhouse. The event was loaded with most of the best…
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Continue ReadingLast weekend Lady Ballers Insider hosted another event in Northern Indiana. This time it was the Hoosier Summer Invitational at Warsaw High School’s campus, including using their beautiful new 4-court fieldhouse. The event was loaded with most of the best teams/programs from the state of Michigan, and while there were only a handful of teams from Illinois present, there were several nice prospects from the Land of Lincoln. Below is a look at eight Illinois prospects who stood out in Saturday’s action when I was able to see them.
Khaniah Gardner
Khaniah
Gardner
6'2" | PF
Simeon | 2021
State
IL
, 2021, 6-1 C, Neal F. Simeon Career Academy
Khaniah is a very intriguing frontline prospect with a lot of athletic talent/upside. She is very long, wiry strong, bouncy, and she runs the floor well North/South. She has all the makings of a really nice Division-I rebounder/shot-blocker. She didn’t hesitate offensively on the low-block or in the mid-post, but she will need to continue adding to her skillset to be a more complete scorer. At the same time, she can be such an intimidating presence at the defensive end of the floor, that she could/should see early minutes as a Freshman in college.
Anna Griffin
Anna
Griffin
6'1" | SF
Aurora Christian | 2021
State
#60
Nation
IL
, 2021, 6-1 SF, Aurora Christian H.S.
Anna is a really nice, complete basketball player. She has a great frame, some length, strength, and a little bounce. She plays with a nice motor, and she puts forth effort at both ends of the floor. She almost looks like a ‘4’, but she has perimeter skill and can play exclusively on the wing. She could stand to be a little quicker laterally, but she works hard and understands angles defensively, so she isn’t easily beaten off the bounce. I think she’s somewhat underappreciated, and she will be one of those collegians who is just steady and productive year-in and year-out.
Aneesah Morrow
Aneesah
Morrow
6'1" | SG
Simeon | 2021
State
#46
Nation
IL
, 2021, 6-0 CF, Neal F. Simeon Career Academy
This was my first time seeing Aneesah after hearing a lot about her. She is a powerful, deceptive forward who does a little of everything well. She is a really nice, one-directional athlete who powers her way to the basket. She is physical inside and out, and she can post smaller defenders and dominate them on the block. At the same time, she has the skill and ability to grab a rebound, push it in transition, make a dribble-move or two, and finish/find open teammates at the other end. She’s so versatile, strong, and athletic that she can fit into a variety of situations.
Timia Ware
Timia
Ware
5'5" | PG
Whitney Young | 2021
State
#58
Nation
IL
, 2021, 5-6 PG, Whitney M. Young Magnet H.S.
Whatever Timia is missing in size, she more than makes up for with dynamic play. She is strong for her size, she has good length, and she’s a quick, fast, and explosive point guard prospect. She is an absolute playmaker off the bounce, whether she’s looking to score it herself or collapse defenses and find teammates. I also like her potential to become an elite defender at the next level. She can knock down shots outside, but if she makes that a little more consistent, she’ll be incredibly tough to defend. Timia has already committed to Louisiana State University.
Natasha Barnes
Natasha
Barnes
5'9" | CG
Kenwood | 2023
State
IL
, 2023, 5-9 SF, Robert Lindblom Math & Science Academy
Natasha is a nice, strong, physical wing forward prospect. She is a nice North/South, one-directional athlete who can attack the basket and finish through contact. She has a decent handle as well, and she can knock down the occasional perimeter jumper. I like her motor, and she seems like a quiet kid who plays with a great deal of toughness. As she continues to grow her game, I’d anticipate her drawing her share of Division-I interest, especially if her skillset steadily improves each year. Natasha is a well-rounded, productive ballplayer.
Jasmine Brown
Jasmine
Brown
5'8" | CG
Example Academy | 2023
State
IL
, 2023, 5-8 CG, Joliet Catholic Academy
I was as impressed with Jasmine as much as anyone Saturday. She is a strong, physical, and athletic perimeter player. She is so strong and physical, when she doesn’t have the ball she almost looks like a power forward physically. However, once you see her handle it and make plays off the bounce, she is that much more impressive. She is creative, she’s a strong North/South driver, but she also has good balance and change-of-direction, and you aren’t taking the ball from her. I didn’t see her shoot a lot of jumpers, but she was a playmaker off the bounce.
Janae Kent
Janae
Kent
6'0" | SG
Oak Forest | 2023
State
IL
, 2023, 6-1 SF, Oak Forest H.S.
Janae is an impressive young talent with a great deal of upside for the next level. She is a long, wiry strong, broad-shouldered, and athletic forward. At her height/size, she has tremendous ball skill and creativity, and she is always looking to make plays off the dribble. At times she even plays a point forward role and initiates the offense for her travel team. She is playing at the 17U level and looks like any other player out there, meaning she has a mature game and plays with a great deal of poise. It will be fun following her progression the next three years.
Morgan McDermott
Morgan
McDermott
5'11" | SG
Beecher | 2023
State
FL
, 2023, 5-10 W, Beecher H.S.
Morgan is an intriguing young wing who will likely continue to get better and better each year, especially as she gains strength. She has great length, fluid athleticism, and she’s a skillful kid who can knock down shot after shot from the perimeter. For her travel team, she tends to hide in the long-corners and on the wings hunting jump-shots, but once she gets it, she’s capable of attacking the basket and changing directions off the dribble. She plays hard defensively and is effective in traps, but I’d like to see her maybe pursue rebounds a little more aggressively.