W.Va. players who made the most of May: Part 1
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Avery Lilly Avery Lilly 5'7" | SG Summers County | 2025 State WV , Summers County, 5-7, Fr., SG – I love Lilly’s (pictured above) approach to the summer. She’s putting everything on the line in getting better. No matter…
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Continue ReadingAvery Lilly Avery Lilly 5'7" | SG Summers County | 2025 State WV , Summers County, 5-7, Fr., SG – I love Lilly’s (pictured above) approach to the summer. She’s putting everything on the line in getting better. No matter who she’s playing, she’s giving maximum effort and her confidence is soaring. When she’s needed her best, she’s gone to get it. When she needed 110%, she found that too. It’s inspirational really. Playing basketball at Summers County is not an easy feat. Following in the footsteps of the Justice sisters as well as Gavin Pivont and Taylor Issacs and the long string of success the Bobcats have enjoyed, well … it’s enough to take the wind out of someone’s sails. Still, Lilly’s played like she wants to be among that group when her time’s done in Hinton.
Jayda Allie Jayda Allie 5'8" | SG Cabell Midland | 2023 State WV , Cabell Midland, SG, Jr., 5-8 – Though she’s not been especially happy about the first month, there are bright spots all around for Allie. First off, she’s shone defensively on a team full of multiple talented and ESPN-ranked players. Her footwork helped her really stay in front of some of the best players on the Under Armour Circuit, and she’s kept up her defensive intensity for the entire game. There have been no lapses. Offensively, she’s continued maturing as not just a shot-maker, but a playmaker as well. On a team as blessed as W.Va. Thunder 17u UAA group, it’s imperative players mesh together rather seamlessly. And she’s done just that with her ability to find her teammates and set them up for great open looks, in fact, she’s really displayed a great feel for setting her teammates up for success.
Sophie Nichols Sophie Nichols 5'11" | SG Ripley | 2024 State WV , Ripley, SG, So., 5-10 – You would be hard-pressed to find someone whose grown more in the state than the Vikings’ shooting guard. During the first month of the AAU season, she really matured in more than just one area. First off, and maybe the most exciting part, she slid into the clutch scoring role she showed during the section championship game against Winfield. In more than one tournament, she’s taken home multiple player of the game accolades, thanks to some big performances. One of those displayed her ability to score in the clutch and lead her team back from a 20-point deficit. Everything came together for her from her 3-point shot to her ability to make it to and convert at the basket in multiple ways. Scoring came off screens, right down the lane, after tough bumps, from and ones and just about anything else you could imagine. Defensively, she’s growing into a stopper capable of defending many girls without help from teammates.
Sophi Aldridge Sophi Aldridge 5'5" | CG Cabell Midland | 2024 State WV , Cabell Midland, SG, So., 5-5 –
Aldridge really turned herself into an all-around player during her tournaments with the Ohio Valley Dragons. Known mainly as a shooter and bulk scorer at the beginning of the AAU period, she doesn’t project that lone energy anymore. Instead, when asked to flash her light, she’s really matured into an all-around player who understands the finer points of the game, including help defense and an affinity for running around and causing problems without the ball on the offensive end.
Ashlyne (Lala) Woods Ashlyne (Lala) Woods 5'6" | PG Wheeling Park | 2025 State WV , Wheeling Park, PG, Fr., 5-6 – What can you say about Lala that hasn’t already been said this summer? She’s really shown that much improvement in her overall game. Where she was a heavy penetrate and kick slasher who drove to the basket in her first year at Wheeling Park, that’s just a small part of her game now. Adding even more to her offensive attack is a three-point shooting weapon that’s been on point in the opening AAU month. She’s shown a willingness and consistent capability to get open and knock down some deep 3s with or without someone in her face. The biggest thing is that her heart’s grown three times it seems on the court. She throws everything she has into whatever she’s doing on the court and it’s making her game that much better.
Addie Adkins Addie Adkins 5'11" | PF Wayne | 2025 State WV , Wayne, PF, Fr., 5-11 – Already a menace from the 3-point line, she’s shown an even great consistency from behind the arc, as well as an increased willingness at driving the ball inside and shooting short shots with the W.Va. Thunder. But that’s not all. On top of her offensive game, her defensive game, which didn’t need any help, climbed up another level. She’s moving her feet and fitting into different defensive positions and could realistically defend all 5 spots when she returns to the court for Wayne in November. In terms of excitement, there are very few players I want to see back hardwood with the way they are playing more than Addie.