For Albany Lady Stars, Ava LaClair was dynamic from the opening tip. Just a 2022 at Bethlehem, she was electric with the ball in her hands, scoring & creating for others - sometimes with some flash - while keeping her turnover numbers very low. This is all while playing against girls 3-4 years older than her. Her on-ball skill set made it tough for defenders to stay in front as she got to her spots consistently, and the shot was falling on this day, both perimeter/mid-range jumpers & her patented floater. Most impressive: even when her team ran into a 2019 NY Extreme team that was firing on all cylinders and fell behind by 20+, she continued to play as if it was a tie game. A bit of competitiveness and composure not often seen from someone her age. She already holds a D1 offer, and several other coaches having eyes on her yesterday, this is only the beginning of what could be a fun ride.
Both of BNY Select's teams were clicking right from their 8:00 start, and it began with the older team's catalyst. Hanna Strawn, fresh off her commitment to Monmouth, played as loose as I've seen her play in the last three years. It helped that the shot was falling, as she knocked down a handful of threes while running the show on offense in what became a blowout victory over City Rocks International. In their second game, which was also a blowout win, it was Seton Catholic teammate Marina Maerkl that stepped up and took a bigger chunk of the offensive load. The 2019 forward scored power points & finesse points en route to a team high 17 in their second win. The strides she's making are evident as her confidence on the court is growing, and she's starting to receive more serious scholarship attention with her improved play. The younger team, at times, is a glimpse of what to expect from the Elmira Lady Express this winter, as three of their main players - Kiara Fisher, Zaria DeMember-Shazer, and Morgan Gentile, all 2020s - will carry the load for the same varsity team. The improvement in DeMember-Shazer's game is making a huge difference, and she showed off ZDS 2.0 early in their first game, a close victory. She was very active at both ends, making an impact on defense and producing on offense. She showed a handful of different crafty finishes around the rim off drives. The ability to step out to the perimeter and put it on the floor at 6'1" makes her a VERY intriguing prospect. Lexi Gruss also made her presence felt, as she cemented herself as one of upstate NY's most improved players in 2017. The Binghamton 2019 guard went from being a rotational piece to an irreplaceable force in the matter of 4 months. Gruss was a problem on the defensive end, as she was able to effectively lock up strong players in both Saturday games. Her ability to pressure the ball and turn people over while not overplaying and getting burnt is a rare combo. Offensively, her game has expanded to the point that other teams have to respect it. She'll knock down the perimeter J if you give her a little daylight, but she's comfortable putting it on the floor and getting to the rim. She's on the underrated end at this point, but something tells me her play in front of coaches on Saturday will push that in the right direction.
The City Rocks International collective is interesting, mixing talent local to the Albany area like Lexi Van Vorst, Mikyla Mitchell, and Ashlyn O'Neil with numerous players coming in from Poland and Lithuania. As the day wore on, a young local face in Caroline Iannotti made her presence felt. A 2021 PG now at Broadalbin-Perth, she settled in and had a strong outing against the Hoopers in the nightcap. She's on the small end, but has very high basketball IQ to make up for whatever lack of size she has. Her court vision is very good, and she's developing the strength to be able to make the pass through traffic with some zip, which makes her a legitimate threat at all times with the ball in her hands while with other good players. She's a knockdown perimeter shooter as well, and she hit a handful from beyond the arc over the course of the night. If she missed, it was short or long; never left or right. Once Foothills talent like Harmony Philo & Giuliana Pritchard finish off, Iannotti could be the next respected name coming through. An overseas player caught my eye as well in Agata Szmyrka. She's a 6'0" 2020 that's listed as a PF, but is more than capable of playing at the wing. She had strong stretches & other stretches where she wasn't as noticeable, but what was clear was that she has all the pieces to the jigsaw puzzle. Her skill set caught the eye of a couple scholarship programs in attendance; the potential is there.
If you give Jane McCauley any room to let it go, you might as well put the 3 points on the board as soon as it leaves her hand. That's what opposing teams found out about the Ursuline School 2019 guard playing for the Blue Flames. The basket was particularly large for her for a lot of this weekend, and the fact that defenses can't help off of her opens it up more for her teammates to work. Overall, a strong showing for Jane. I also left Saturday intrigued by Trinity Bosecker, a 6'3" 2019 post from North Rockland. There's no denying her size - not only is she tall, but she has a strong build and knows how to use it to her advantage. This was a newer face for me as I haven't seen her much; her solid motor, good touch in the post, and the ability to make an impact at both ends left me intrigued to watch her growth over the next several months. On their 2021 team, what more can be said about Melanie Daley that hasn't already been said? A rare freshman with multiple D1 offers already, and with good reason. There's no one on the court that can match her athleticism at that level, and she has good skill and high basketball IQ to go with it. In the game I watched of hers, she was seemingly everywhere, and a handful of D1s inquired about her before the game was even over.
NY Extreme's 2019 team may be the group that I left the most impressed with by the end of Saturday. Their strong performance in Ardsley a couple months ago, knocking off the likes of BNY Select, Havoc, and Blue Flames was clearly no fluke after seeing them this weekend. This is also the team that may be the most underrated at this point, with several prospects that simply don't get enough respect. Fiona Mullen, a 5'11" 2019 guard at Tappan Zee, proved to me that she was the real deal. An open look is a death sentence, and she tuned up the Lady Stars to 6 threes in their nightcap victory Saturday. It wasn't just the perimeter jumper though - which she can get off the catch or creating for herself off the dribble - it's the ability to score off the bounce as well. She attacks and finishes at the rim with either hand, including a strong right-handed baseline drive & left-handed finish through contact at one point. What enhances her game offensively is the willingness to create and find the open teammate too, so there's only so much defensive attention you can focus on her before she burns you in a different way. NY Extreme is in the land of many MAAC and NEC schools; if I was at one of them, I'd be taking a long, hard look at Fiona right now. Not far behind is Hannah Angelini, a 2019 guard at Somers. Angelini doesn't do anything that jumps off the screen at you, which likely makes her not as noticeable in the eyes of many evaluating. You definitely get a different appreciation for her after watching her play a handful of times, though, as she essentially makes their offense go by nearly always making the right play. She can take what the defense gives her, scoring and distributing as needed. She plays hard from beginning to end, and appears to be a selfless player - understanding of game situations and willing to give up the good shot for a great shot. She did just that while Mullen had the hot hand in a game, creating for her on two different occasions while in the flow of the game. I've now seen her go up against enough highly regarded players and do more than hold her own to say that she belongs in that list of names.
NY Havoc was in Ardsley on Saturday slightly on the undermanned side, missing multiple players on each team due to fall sports obligations or injuries. While it forced some girls into roles that were a little more unfamiliar, it also gave players a chance to step forward, and no one took the opportunity like Julia DeBeatham. In 18 months of seeing her consistently, this was certainly one of the top performances I've seen from her, but it's been a steady growth in the month of September that intrigues me the most. With lower numbers and guard depth lacking on Saturday, the Shaker 2020 G took matters into her own hands. She scored over 20 points in their opening game, a close win, without forcing the action. She shot at a high percentage and consistently made the right decisions at the PG spot, getting her shots entirely in the flow of the offense. She did more of that in the second game, as she was a driving force keeping them within striking distance throughout. She had the type of day that will certainly put her on the radar of a host of schools. Dipping even younger, Averill Park 2022 Amelia Wood turned heads from the word go in her first time in front of Division I schools. The 5'11" guard got after it at both ends and showed all the tools that make me so excited about her future. She has the skill & athleticism to put it on the floor, get to the rim & finish; the ability to shoot with range to the NBA 3 point line; the basketball IQ to move without the ball at the right times to the right spots and score; and the motor to be just as much of a nuisance on defense. Several coaches brought her up in conversation Saturday. I'm sure that after Saturday, Adirondack 2020 Belle Kranbuhl stuck out as a name to mark as well. Belle was put to the task of doubling up and playing three straight games; two with her normal blue team, and one with the 10th grade group, something not usually asked of a 6'2" post. She did it - all three games in succession - and seemingly got stronger through the day. She can bang with nearly any big in the post, but she can finish with finesse as well. With continued development through the rest of the fall and winter, next spring could be a breakout point for her.
Swing over to CT, and the St. Luke's crew showed out for CT Impact West on Saturday. It was a mix of older & younger, as 2018 G Maya Klein and 2022 G Caroline Lau were the straws that stirred the drink for their team. In several times watching her, Klein has shown that she can put the ball in the basket against nearly anyone, and she did much more of that Saturday. She's a crafty scorer that can carve her way to her spots and finish the job. Lau already has a bigtime name, but every time on the court, she brings the game to back it up. Her offensive ability & smooth game mixed with basketball IQ and the type of motor not often seen by someone who can make the game look as effortless as her is a deadly combo. She did a particularly good job turning defense into offense on numerous occasions on this day. Watching her growth & development will be fun.
Last but not least, Saturday was my big welcoming to Sonia Citron. Citron, a 6'0" 2021 G at Ursuline, suited up for the Westchester Lady Bears. There may have been no one that was newer to me that caught my eye like she did. Great size for a guard, strength of a 2018/2019 as a 2021, and seemingly doesn't have any weaknesses on the offensive end. She knocked down jumpers, took it to the rack and finished, and showed off a nice in-between game, all while showing just as much promise on the defensive end. Citron has a couple offers already and it appears that some HIGH majors are beginning to reach out. I'm really just starting to pay attention to places like Westchester and Rockland Counties, so it's like playing catch-up with the overflowing talent in these areas; but for someone like Citron, I'll be around the area plenty.
Stay tuned for Sunday's recap, coming soon!
SHAMELESS PLUG - registration is still open for the 3rd annual Upstate Elite Showcase, now expanded to two sessions! Openings are available for the morning (10:00-1:00) and afternoon (1:00-4:00) sessions. Show your game in front of a QUICKLY EXPANDING list of Division II & III schools, along with preps and scouting services! EST is quickly becoming a can't miss spot to test yourself with/against the best players in the region, and more coaches have already been to 2017 EST events than 2015 & 2016... combined! Check out the blog post with full, detailed information along with registration info... right here! http://empirestatetakeover.blogspot.com/2017/08/3rd-annual-upstate-elite-showcase.html
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