Coach Kipp’s Hoopsfest: Top 2023 Performances
This Monday was Day 2 of the 2022 Coach Kipp’s Hoopsfest, hosted at Benet Academy. Several top teams from the area competed and top individual talent was on display throughout the event. Here are some Juniors who stood out on…
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Continue ReadingThis Monday was Day 2 of the 2022 Coach Kipp’s Hoopsfest, hosted at Benet Academy. Several top teams from the area competed and top individual talent was on display throughout the event. Here are some Juniors who stood out on Monday:
2023 Alyssa Latham Alyssa Latham 6'0" | PF Homewood-Flossmoor | 2023 State IL , 6’1” Forward, Homewood Flossmoor
A Top 10 Player in Illinois’ Class of 2023, Latham showed her ability to be a dominant presence in the lane against Rolling Meadows, scoring 19pts and bringing down 12rebs. She competes hard on the low block with her strength and physicality and uses a variety of post moves and nice touch to score at the rim. Alyssa is an outstanding rebounder at both ends of the court and uses her athleticism to guard multiple positions on defense.
2023 Ana Liese Torian, 6’0” Forward, Homewood Flossmoor
Torian is a multi-talented Small Forward who can impact the game on the perimeter with her natural scoring ability as well as in the lane with her athleticism and defense. Ana Liese shoots the ball well from deep with good confidence and uses her quickness to attack the lane where she uses her length to finish high near the rim.
2023 Lenee Beaumont Lenee Beaumont 6'0" | SG Benet Academy | 2023 State IL , 6’0” Guard, Benet Academy
Beaumont continues to play as well as anyone around, collecting 16pts in around three quarters of playing time in a win over Waukesha West. The high-level athlete creates good separation with her polished ball-handling skills and uses her length to knock down jumpers consistently from the mid-range and beyond the three-point line. Lenee is as smooth as it gets when she attacks the basket and doesn’t shy away from contact when finishing at the rim.
2023 Lisa Thompson Lisa Thompson 5'9" | PG Example Academy | 2023 State IL , 5’8” Guard, Joliet West
The Number One ranked player in Illinois’ Class of 2023, Thompson battled foul trouble in a tough game against Bolingbrook, but still showed why she’s among the best prospects in the nation. She scored 10pts while knocking down jumpers and showing her lightning speed in transition and high-level finishing abilities at the basket. Lisa is as quick as anyone with or without the ball and uses her athleticism to alter shots in the paint and sky in the air for rebounds.
2023 Ciara Gentle, 6’4” Forward, Evanston
Gentle is a tall and lengthy interior post player who has really become a solid option on the low block. She is a strong defender in the post, using her length to block/alter shots often and creates a strong base so opponents can’t back her down near the hoop. Ciara continues to show an improved array of post moves and touch in the lane, and she runs the floor well in transition so her teammates can dish her the ball for easy buckets.
2023 Taija Banks, 5’7” Guard, Evanston
Banks is a versatile Small Forward who can matchup with a number of opponents well due to her strength and skillset. The talented athlete scored a team-high 16pts in Evanston’s win over Thornwood with a few tough finishes in the lane and a handful of second-chance points. Taija plays with good toughness and physicality on the defensive end against both Guards and Forwards and rebounds the ball well at both ends of the court.
2023 Emily Fisher Emily Fisher 6'0" | SF Libertyville | 2023 State #48 Nation IL , 6’0” Guard, Libertyville
The Number Five ranked player in Illinois’ Class of 2023, Fisher scored a game high 20pts in a comeback win over Willowbrook, controlling the lane at both ends of the floor and converting on a handful of jump shots. The Maryland commit is a versatile Small Forward with the skills and athleticism to play and defend multiple positions at a very high level. Emily uses her strength and physicality to out-tough her opponents and consistently comes away with rebounds and loose balls.
2023 Layla Henderson Layla Henderson 5'10" | CG Naperville North | 2023 State IL , 5’8” Guard, Naperville North
Henderson is a tough and reliable Combo Guard who really impressed with her defense on a pair of D1 prospects Monday night. She is an intelligent player who knows and learns her opponents’ tendencies so that she can get stops as the game goes on. Layla is a talented shooter from beyond the three-point line and uses a quick first step on the perimeter to blow by her defender and make plays in the lane.
2023 Abby Drendel Abby Drendel 5'9" | SG Naperville North | 2023 State IL , 5’9” Guard, Naperville North
Constantly a threat on the offensive end of the floor, Drendel went for an easy 19pts in Naperville Norths’ big win over Butler College Prep. She is a knockdown shooter from beyond the three-point line with great confidence and a quick and fluid shooting motion. Abby plays physical on the defensive end with her toughness and communicates well with her teammates throughout the possession.