Winter Primer: VT D1 Prospects Pt. 4/7
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Check out a Metro heavy selection of important D1 names to know! Bianca Williams Bianca Williams 5'10" | SG Essex | 2024 State NewE , 5’11 G/W – Essex high School Class of 2024 With impressive inside/out capabilities, Bianca turns…
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Continue ReadingCheck out a Metro heavy selection of important D1 names to know!
Bianca Williams Bianca Williams 5'10" | SG Essex | 2024 State NewE , 5’11 G/W – Essex high School Class of 2024
With impressive inside/out capabilities, Bianca turns heads. Williams knocks down jumpers at all three-levels, taking advantage of ball screen coverage by pulling up or snaking into the second layer with hesitation dribbles and crossovers. Nonetheless, she doesn’t have to dominate the ball to be effective, as she has good off-ball instincts, making hard cuts and screens to open up teammates and herself as well. Defensively tough, Bianca’s length, athleticism, and strength make her super switchable, capable of handling forwards and wings all over the floor. Williams is one of 24’s strongest prospects in an already stacked class.
Samara Ashooh Samara Ashooh 6'0" | PF Champlain Valley Union | 2024 State NewE , 6’1 F – Champlain Valley Union High School Class of 2024
Ashooh has a classic forward feel yet is comfortable stepping out on the wing. Samara does the bulk of her damage offensively around the paint, occupying the short corner and mid to high-post with savvy passing and a strong face-up game. Ashooh can hit the jumper, drive hard and finish off of a dribble, and facilitate with her crisp vision. On the defensive end, Samara has great paint presence, bothering shots and hauling in boards with her length. Her ball screen coverage is solid too, as she has the length to contest shots without overcommitting. Samara has great potential and hoop IQ.
Brianna Brownell, 5’9 W/F – Mount Mansfield Union High School Class of 2024
With Brianna, we have someone who blurs positional categories. Brownell’s physicality and determination make her incredibly effective in and around the paint on both ends, playing much bigger than you’d expect. Yet she has sound agility to stick with perimeter players and has improved her jumper and handle to be an outside threat as a shooter and slasher. With Brianna, she’s got the skills to mix and match positions and the IQ to take advantage wherever she can. Lastly, Brianna is a hustle player. She snatches loose balls, second chance opportunities, and runs lanes hard on the break. Bri is an all-around gamer.
Nylah Mitchell, 5’9 W/F – Burlington High School Class of 2025
It’s always a treat to catch Nylah in action. Mitchell is another one who’s inside/out prowess make her an intriguing prospect. Nylah plays strong around the basket, bodying opponents well to bother shots and box out; yet she can switch out onto wings and hang with them due to her anticipation. Offensively, she’s patient and intuitive with sound footwork, making nice baby hooks and then countering with up-and-unders. Nylah is also an adept passer out of the post with impressive peripheral vision, but at the same time she can jump out to the perimeter to knock down threes, run the pick-and-roll at either position, or slip passes to cutters breaking into the interior. The bag is deep with Nylah.
Lillian Kittredge, 5’10 F – St. Johnsbury Class of 2023
Kittredge came onto my radar a little later than I’d like but better late than never. Lillian does her work in and around the bucket with stout interior defense and good pursuit of the rock as it comes off the rim. Kittredge is an aware defender too, communicating well with teammates in general from the second layer as well as in ball screen action. Offensively, Kittredge has strong post moves, runs ball screens well with hard rolls, and can pop into the mid-range with an efficient jumper. Lastly, she’s a heady passer and quick mover of the ball. I’ll be keeping tabs on Lillian.
Atika Haji, 5’11 G/W – Rice Memorial High School Class of 2025
With impressive length, agility, and a knack for putting the ball in the bucket, Atika is one of the top prospects in the 2025 class and her ceiling is as high as anybody’s. Haji can score it all three-levels, yet she is most efficient driving to the cup and finishing with her extensive lay-up/floater package. Naturally, when she gets going downhill, her perimeter and mid-range looks open up and her efficiency from outside increases. Defensively, Atika has the ability to disrupt passing lanes due to her length and quickness, often turning those deflections into fastbreak buckets. Haji also has the tools to be a defensive stopper on the ball, yet I haven’t seen it consistently. I’m interested to see what Atika brings to the table as a sophomore.