Empire State Takeover Girls Exposure Event Recap

On October 4, a small but talented group of 5 seniors, 6 juniors, 8 sophomores, and 2 freshmen took the court at Union College, showing what they could bring a college program in front of coaches from St. Thomas Aquinas, Hartwick, SUNY Cobleskill, Elmira, Keene St., St. John Fisher, SUNY Brockport, Clarkson, SUNY Morrisville, and Utica in a series of games and drills. Here is what they - and I - saw.

Allrich letting the 3 fly with Natalie DiSalvo defending

Olivia Allrich (Ballston Spa '16, 5'10" G/F) - Arguably had the best showing of the day. A seriously underrecruited Capital District prospect who has done her work in the shadow of the more highly touted players of the class, her skill set was on full display at Skidmore and it brought her to the forefront. Strong build which allows her to post up smaller, weaker matchups and the post footwork to really take advantage of it, but also has very deceptive quickness and handle to take any matchup on from the wing, especially a larger defender. Knockdown shooter with range well beyond the line, and has a very high basketball IQ. Smart enough to anticipate the play and does all the non-box score things. Borderline scholarship talent with all Division 3s looking at her now. Will make whatever school she lands at very happy.

Chudy sweeping across the lane between Sam Dayter (left) and Brianna Legacy

Maddie Chudy (Saratoga Springs '16, 5'11" F) - Long, agile post that runs the floor extremely well. Scored a bunch by filling the lane in the open court and beating her defender down the court. Keeps the ball high in the blocks and uses her agility in post moves too - that and her length allows the sweeping baby hook with either hand to be a go-to move. Best as a help-side defender, where she can protect the rim. The length, along with good timing, makes her a good weak side shot blocker. Like many that attended, academics are very high as well.

DiSalvo finishing off the stepback against Mykal Walters

Natalie DiSalvo (Canton '16, 5'9" G) - One of the best pure scorers in the building, and she did so in a variety of ways at Skidmore. Skilled and physically strong wing with a high motor, she excels in the open court and in a half-court setting. Great perimeter and mid-range jump shooter, both off the catch and off the dribble. Loves using the stepback going to her left. Strong enough to body up smaller matchups in the post. Tough competitor that shows the desire to win at anything in any season. Another borderline scholarship talent who is a hot name among Division III programs - she'll give job security to a coaching staff for a handful of years.

Elliott knocking down the mid-range jumper

Nakaela Elliott (Saratoga Springs '16, 5'9" F) - Good 4 with a deceptive skill set. Slightly undersized compared to other posts, but can score against more size in multiple ways. Can step back and hit the 15-17 foot jumper, and has a couple go-to moves in the post. Slippery in the blocks and is good at feeling where the defender is, even using a modified Dream Shake from time to time. A gamer that steps up her level of play against the top competition.

Nicholas getting a hand on the shot attempt from Grace Heeps

Maya Nicholas (Cobleskill-Richmondville '16, 5'10" F) - Lanky tweener with an expanding game. Most effective as a 4 right now, but with work could become a lanky college 3. Best suited offensively getting in the open court and using athleticism. She can work in the post offensively or get by slower matchups off the dribble from the perimeter. Maya's an asset defensively with ability to guard multiple positions. Good rebounder at both ends, can block shots, and can be a pest defensively against wings with her length.

Class D 2nd team all-stater Laing pulling up for the three in a late scrimmage

Brianna Laing (South Kortright '17, 5'3" G) - The most serious basketball player on a small-school program synonymous with success, and her game is expanding as such. Undersized, but doesn't let it stop her. Fearless attacking the basket, can knock down the jumper with range beyond the 3 point line, and uses the floater & pull-up jumper to her benefit. Good floor general - calms everything down and can run the show on offense. A ballhawk on defense that gets after it. Definitely could see her being a 1st team all-stater in Class D in the future.

Lyndsey McCoy (Middleburgh '17, 5'4" G) - Quickly improving guard who looks ready to tear up her small-school conference this year. Her game has flourished since beginning to play against strong competition. High basketball IQ, makes the right play and rarely turns it over. Does a lot of the little things that get overlooked. Lefty, and seems to always be able to get to her left. Good mid-range shooter and loves the 8-12 foot floater, an asset for someone undersized like her. Shoots free throws at a very high clip and has a noticeably good attitude.

Tougas attacking the rim on the break with Julianna Taylor defending

Lucy Tougas (Glens Falls '17, 5'10" G) - The best pure point guard college prospect in the building. Happier with an 8 point, 12 assist stat line than anything, and it really shows when she's playing around people who can score. Great size & strength for the position. Court vision is perhaps her biggest strength, sees everything going on and can thread the needle with a no-look pass on the move just as easily as making the simple pass. Makes teammates better - they know they're getting it if they run the floor or cut. Needs work on perimeter J, but has handle & can get to the rim easily, and mid-range J is improving steadily. Deadly in the pick & roll game. Ivy-level academics.

Caivana in recovery mode on D against Holly Manchester

Danielle Caivana (Frankfort-Schuyler '17, 5'2" G) - Small, but electric guard who can fill it up when she gets it going. Slick handle that was on full display and has deep range - much deeper than people would expect looking at her frame. 25 feet is in range, and she's a danger to hit 5 or 6 threes if she starts feeling it. Uses the pull-up J well and has an improving runner. Plays best when she's allowed to be in attack mode.

Battle of the matching shoes - Legacy off the dribble with Cameron Tooley defending

Brianna Legacy (Mount Anthony Union (VT) '17, 5'7" G) - One of the best shooters in the gym, and she was firing on all cylinders. Knocked down 10 threes in 3 games, shooting them at a high percentage, and used it to open up other parts of her game. Defenders having to respect the jumper made it much easier for her to get to the rim. Looks like she's been in the weight room - improving physical strength helped her finish better through contact. Was tough on D as well, does a good job anticipating the play and getting a hand in the passing lane. Strong showing overall for one of VT's shining juniors.

Taylor looking ahead while running the point for her squad

Julianna Taylor (Fonda-Fultonville '17, 5'5" G) - Hard-nosed guard who is a menace on defense. Offensive game is improving, especially the perimeter jumper which has turned into a strength of hers, and she's a viable scoring option on any team. That being said, what she brings defensively is still her strong suit. Quick on her feet and fearless, she can be a pest to the opposition's best perimeter player, and her long arms make it easier for her to disrupt the ballhandler or get a hand up on a shot. Has improved quite a bit over the last few months. 

Manchester off the bounce with Cameron Tooley defending

Holly Manchester (Susquehanna Valley '18, 5'0" G) - Really strong showing from the smallest girl on the court. Fearless (and effective) getting to the rim and going up against girls a foot taller. Good floater. Ambidextrous - does pretty much everything close to equally well with the left and right hand. Can knock down the 3 if given a little space. Great court vision and can slip passes into tight areas with ease. Uses her brain on defense more than anyone else there - notices her opponent's tendencies and sits on it. Her opponent was never able to go to their go-to move after the first few minutes.

Katelyn Flanagan (Canton '18, 5'5" G) - Scrappy, physical guard that became more effective throughout the afternoon as she got more comfortable. First time breaking into Capital District hoops and out of the North Country. Made her presence felt at various times and plays with heart. Probably just scratching the surface of her potential.

Dayter taking it to the rack against a defending Grace Heeps

Sam Dayter (Cohoes '18, 5'9" G) - All about upside. As a lanky, fast 5'9" combo guard, the physical tools are unmistakable. Another one who is really just scratching the surface. Tough to stay in front of with quickness and a very long first step. Can pull up and hit the mid-range J and knock down the three if given some space, but does best getting all the way to the rim. Crafty finisher, had a nice reverse around a couple defenders in the last scrimmage. Good defender in both man-to-man and zone with the physical tools. Potential for days.

Johnson defending a Brianna Legacy shot attempt with Mykal Walters helping from behind

Cheyenne Johnson (Wantagh '18, 5'5" G) - Made her mark primarily on the defensive end. The Long Islander came in with defensive toughness like she was from NYC. Not afraid to be physical and was stronger than her size let on, and was a pest by using quick hands to poke the ball away time and time again. Looked to set others up more than herself on the offensive end - almost always made the extra pass.

Colorful Cam gathering for a breakaway layup

Cameron Tooley (Shenendehowa '18, 5'6" G) - Really strong, really effective, really fun to watch lefty combo guard. Can fill either spot in the backcourt and appears to be equally comfortable with both. Tough as nails, absorbs more contact than any smaller guard here and thrives off it. Doesn't need to always go left, but always finds a way to get there. Great floater and finishes well at the rim. Lives at the free throw line and makes them count. Knockdown mid-range shooter and the three is improving. Can also set others up and knows when it's time for others & when it's time for her. Arguably the best perimeter defender at Skidmore, high basketball IQ and the quickness to smother the ballhandler. Good attitude and a very hard worker.

Walters extending on the break to beat a charging Grace Heeps to the rim

Mykal Walters (Hudson '18, 5'6" G) - Showed flashes of what to expect in the future as the afternoon went on. Did very well in the last scrimmage. Knocked down a few jumpers, got out in the open court and got some easy ones that way as well. Just recently got serious about basketball, but has made big strides forward recently. Big upside over the next couple years.

Carter on the pull-up jumper with Julianna Taylor defending

Emma Carter (Mount Abraham Union (VT) '18, 5'9" G) - Really strong showing from one of Vermont's most underrated young prospects. Wing with good size and a high release, she can stroke it from deep and a hand in the face doesn't bother her. Good stepback and can find ways to get herself open looks. Unlike many from smaller areas, she plays up to stronger levels of competition and had her shining moments throughout the day. Strength is her pure scoring ability now, but has shown improvement in every aspect of her game since spring & summer. One of the shining performances of the day.

Maya Alvarez (Hudson '18, 5'9" F) - Active & athletic tweener that had her moments in limited action. Really thin & lanky, active on both ends, and keeps a lot of balls alive on the boards at each end. Best suited in an uptempo style where she can use her strengths.

Heeps running the show on the break during an early scrimmage

Grace Heeps (Columbia '19, 5'10" G) - Serious Division I prospect already. Combo guard with legitimate range out to 23-25 feet. Capable ballhandler, especially to free herself up for a jumper, and getting quicker and more comfortable putting it on the deck to get to the rim. Also getting quicker laterally now, which is beneficial on the defensive end. Her game is best suited as a 2 guard, but can also fill the PG spot and has great court vision and the ability to snap advance passes 50-60 feet ahead on a rope. With her youth, she may even have some growing left to do. Potential high major - sky is the limit for one of the region's top freshmen.

Sophie Tougas (Glens Falls '19, 6'0" G/F) - Yet another major Division I prospect from the Class of 2019. Can either play the 2, 3, or 4 depending on lineups and will be able to run the point before all is said and done, and she can defend every position on the floor with her rare combo of height, length, and quickness. Capable shooter, especially mid-range but can also knock down the 3. Good handle, can control the play against pressure and break her defender down off the dribble. More confidence will turn her into scary good, potential high major prospect. Foot issue unfortunately kept her out for most of the day.