Grassroots Preview: WV Thunder 16U
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The West Virginia Thunder 16U squad is off to a great start after winning their 1st 5 games and bringing home the 2024 Championship at the 2022 Grand Opening. This team is loaded with talent, but it’s the things that…
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Continue ReadingThe West Virginia Thunder 16U squad is off to a great start after winning their 1st 5 games and bringing home the 2024 Championship at the 2022 Grand Opening. This team is loaded with talent, but it’s the things that can’t be taught, like basketball IQ and effort, that really make this team special. I was planning on starting this article off by mentioning the key players to watch, but I quickly learned that every single name on this roster is a key player to watch, so let’s take a look at the team.
The Roster
#0 Lanie Grant | James River HS | 2025
Grant is a sniper. The UNC commit has deep range, a quick release, and someone running at her or getting a hand in her face isn’t going to keep her from knocking them down.
#2 Shaelyn Steele Shaelyn Steele 5'5" | PG Russell | 2024 State KY | Russell HS | 2024
Steele is a great shooter, but she can really put the ball in the basket in a variety of ways. She’s got great speed and control with the ball in her hands.
#5 Finley Lohan Finley Lohan 5'11" | SF George Washington | 2024 State WV | George Washington HS | 2024
Lohan knows exactly when to pass it, when to shoot it, and when to put it on the ground. She can shoot the 3 and she’s a fantastic driver and finisher.
#11 Trinity Rowe Trinity Rowe 5'7" | PG Pikeville | 2024 State KY | Pikeville | 2024
Having Rowe on your team is like always having an assistant coach on the court because her IQ is off the charts. She takes smart shots, has great ball handling moves, and she can flat out shoot the ball.
#20 Hayden Barrier Hayden Barrier 5'6" | SG Montgomery County | 2024 State KY | Montgomery County | 2025
Barrier is such a versatile player. She’s an efficient scorer at all 3 levels and she plays so hard every second she’s on the floor. She has literally added more to her game every single time I’ve gotten to watch her play.
#21 Ella Sellars Ella Sellars 5'9" | SG Ashland Blazer | 2024 State KY | Ashland HS | 2024
To put it simply, Sellars makes things happen when the ball is in her hands. She can score inside or out, and she can score in clutch moments. Her effort also stands out when you watch her play.
#22 Angelina Pelayo Angelina Pelayo 6'3" | C Sacred Heart | 2024 State KY | Sacred Heart | 2024
Pelayo needs to be on everyone’s radar because she’s got the ideal height, strength, and touch inside. She’s smart about when to kick it to shooters and when to put it up herself. She has great moves around the rim and doesn’t give up on the play.
#23 Audrey Biggs Audrey Biggs 6'0" | SF Boyd County | 2024 State KY | Boyd County | 2024
Biggs can handle, pass, score, and shoot at a high level. She utilizes her moves so well and she really makes opponents work. She’s strong and can finish really well with contact.
#32 Macie Mallory Macie Mallory 5'9" | SG George Washington | 2024 WV | George Washington HS | 2024
Mallory is one of the most pure shooters I’ve ever seen. She can get her shot off quick and has extremely deep range. She is always putting herself in the correct positions/spots on both ends of the floor.
#50 Sarah Baker Sarah Baker 6'2" | C Ryle | 2024 State KY | Ryle | 2024
If you want someone who can rebound and defend down low, Baker is your dream player. She’s long and has great touch around the rim. She can finish well with contact also.
The Team
When you see a team that has 10 players that will all go on to play at the Division 1 level, it can be a disaster. Egos and jealousy can cause even the most talented teams to collapse, and I’ve watched that happen more times than I can count. I’ve also experienced firsthand how hard it is to get some players to buy in and do the little things. Getting a player to do things that require pure effort, such as consistently boxing out or playing hard defense, can be a difficult task. However, this squad makes it look easy and the concern for jealousy is tossed aside when you watch the way they interact.
They all seem to value and take pride in their defense. They don’t just play defense when they want to, but rather, they play hard-nosed defense from the time they step foot on the court until the final whistle blows. They all slide their feet well and work extremely hard. I’ve watched college teams that don’t play with the intensity and effort that this squad does. You’re simply not going to see players taking plays off.
It is very clear to me that Coach Mallory and WV Thunder were careful and intentional in the players they selected for this team. You have 10 high-level players that are unselfish and all play for one another. They genuinely get just as excited for their teammates success as they do their own. Heck, some of them may even get more excited for their teammates than themselves. You don’t see that often, but when you do, it’s incredible.
When I asked Coach Brian Mallory about this team, he said, “I’ve been coaching since the late 90s and I’ve coached every level, from 5 year olds at Upward all the way to D1 men in the NCAA tournament. Yet, this is by far the most enjoyable team I’ve ever coached because of their will to win and unselfish character.”
For anyone that is looking to play at the next level, I advise you to watch this team because they are the absolute blueprint for what college coaches are looking for.