Victory Region Kick Off: 16U First Team All-Tournament
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We held our PGH Victory Region Kick-Off over the weekend at the renowned Romeoville Athletic and Event Center… and the amount of talent in the building was endless. Here are the 5 players selected for 16U Division First Team All-Tournament …
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Continue ReadingWe held our PGH Victory Region Kick-Off over the weekend at the renowned Romeoville Athletic and Event Center… and the amount of talent in the building was endless. Here are the 5 players selected for 16U Division First Team All-Tournament
’24 Olivia Austin Olivia Austin 6'0" | PF Nazareth Academy | 2024 State IL | 5’10 Forward | Chicago Force
Easily one of the most versatile & dominant players throughout both days of the Kick-Off. Austin’s mix of quickness, strength, and agility gives her the ability to impact the game on both sides of the ball. On the boards she’s relentless, and her second jump is just as powerful as the first. In the open court, she runs well and can attack the rim with the best of them. Her skillset on the low block is deep and she finishes with a great touch and footwork. She can play with her back to the basket, or face you up and go to work. On defense, her presence is felt immediately. If Olivia doesn’t alter the shot, she will most definitely block it. An overall matchup mismatch. The potential is crazy.
’24 Hannah Laub Hannah Laub 5'11" | CG Waubonsie Valley | 2024 State IL | 5’11 Wing | Sunbadgers
Versatility and strength are the main attributes that enhance Laub’s wide range of skills. She’s a legit three-level scorer who can play 1-4 without skipping a step. The smooth-playing lefty has the frame to play through contact and dish it out on the opposite side as well. At each level, she shows her strength. Deep threes, the ability to maneuver and create space at the mid, and the body control to finish at the rim through traffic… with both hands. She plays with tremendous pace and tempo, which allows her to be the main facilitator as well. Strong ball handling and high IQ. Her strength and athleticism also allow her to guard every position on the court. Laub’s talent screams high-level and next-level ready.
’24 Kailey Starks Kailey Starks 5'8" | CG Evanston | 2024 State IL | 5’7 Combo Guard | Full Package
Starks is a spark on the court.. and that might be an understatement. The talent level of Kailey is high and it’s on notice the moment she walks onto the court. On both ends of the floor, Kailey plays each possession like it’s the last one. On offensive possessions, this kid can score on and break down anyone. Her vision and awareness are just as lethal. She sets up her teammates from all angles and can completely control the offense with her tempo. On defense… there is not a single drop-off, she shows the same aggression and locked-in mentality. Tremendous upside for the young talent.
’24 Makayla Kelley | 5’7 Combo Guard | Illinois Dream
One of my favorite guards throughout the entire weekend. The ball is on a string when Kelley is dribbling. The moves aren’t flashy, but she knows how to set her defender up to score or to make a play for a teammate. Her length and patience mixed with her high-level feel for the game create problems for those guarding her. She maneuvers through traffic with grace and control and can finish over or around any type of defender. Outside the arc, she’s just as accurate. On the opposite side, her length and foot speed gives her the ability to guard multiple positions and completely disrupt an offense. Her potential of being a high-level playmaking guard is sky-high. Remember the name.
’24 Victoria Matulevicius Victoria Matulevicius 5'8" | CG Montini | 2024 State IL | 5’8 Combo Guard | Lady Meanstreets
In the open court, off the dribble, or isolation ball… Viki is not who you want in front of you. She’s quick, elusive, and has the ball-handling ability to finish with creativity around the rim. She can attack the defense in many ways and was one of the most skilled three-level scorers in the building all weekend. She has a high IQ of the game, and her feel for the court, angles, and her team was second to none. Her overseas experience is well noticed too, she can affect the game from everywhere on the court or can be the primary facilitator or scorer depending on what the team needs. She can adjust and adapt to any situation or scheme and still be just as impactful.