In the world of AAU basketball, the one constant is change. Individuals playing with programs are essentially one-year deals, and teams can quickly rise from fledgling to a true contender in a short amount of time. While out at the Hidden Gems Spring Showcase in Foxboro, MA on Friday & Saturday and New Jersey Sparks tournament in Paterson, NJ Sunday, many of the players that caught my eye from teams in upstate NY were making their live period debuts for those particular programs. Some were new to the national AAU scene; others were in front of the coaches wearing different colors last year. A list of those new program additions that made major differences for their team in front of me, in order of graduating class:
Alexandra Tudor (Shenendehowa 2018/I-90 Elite Wright) - Tudor, an uber-athletic 5'11" wing that an extensive list of Division I
programs are intrigued by, is the pure 3 that Randy Wright's team
needed; a player that can guard multiple positions, score in a variety
of ways, and above all, the fastest player in the gym just about every
time she walks in the building. Tudor went a long way to answer
questions & concerns that coaches have had about her, as she did a
good job scoring in half-court sets, creating her own shot and hitting
teammates on feeds off the drive, and knocking down mid-range &
perimeter jumpers off the catch and off the dribble. Look for her recruitment to hit the next level in the very near future.
Cameron Tooley (Shenendehowa 2018/I-90 Elite Wright) - Tooley's presence also makes a major difference and will likely lead to more wins in close games for I-90. Currently holding a Division II offer from Le Moyne and Division I interest from UMass Lowell and St. Francis (Brooklyn) among others, her steady presence at the PG spot not only provides a change of pace, but it provides a ballhandler & decision maker that can be trusted at any point of any game. She seemingly always makes the right play, can knock down the perimeter J at a high clip, gets to the rim off screens, and has consistently been an 85%+ free throw shooter in HS and AAU ball over the last two years. The calming presence & basketball IQ she brings while running the show for I-90, who often plays at a frenetic pace, was easily noticed.
Jenna Zimmerman (South Jefferson 2018/NY Havoc Blue) - Whenever a coach asks me what Zimmerman can do on the court, I instantly respond by telling them to ask me what she can't do because that list will be much, much shorter. On Sunday, perhaps no one in the gym aided their stock more than her. In a short stretch in the 1st half of a Sunday afternoon game against Exodus EYBL, she scored 12 points by hitting two threes, two free throws after getting fouled on a putback attempt, getting a layup rolling off a screen she set, and getting by a defender off a perimeter shot fake & finishing at backboard level. She defended all 5 positions in multiple games, going from guard standouts Jenna Annecchiarico, Aziah Hudson, Dara Mabrey, and Erica Martinsen (Virginia commit) to 6'9" post & Oregon State commit Andrea Aquino & 6'3" Tennessee commit Amira Collins. She shot it well, handled it, rebounded well, and averaged close to a handful of blocks per game against elite competition. The scary thing? She's still growing. From 6'1" last year to 6'3" now, along with a 6'8" wingspan, and a young 2018 at that (having turned 16 in the fall) - this is a player that coaches will have to keep both eyes on as this spring progresses.
Haille Hart (Albany 2018/I-90 Elite Wright) - Activity, ability to defend the post, and rebound the ball to spark the break provided a major lift off the bench for their team. Her ability to play strong post defense, rebound at a high rate, and slide to the right spot on guard penetration, catch, & finish was needed throughout the weekend, especially against a bigger & stronger City Rocks team in the morning featuring 6'4" high major recruit Olivia Owens. Hart did a great job playing within herself and doing what was needed, which was the work that many players don't want to do. In doing so, she certainly caught my eye.
Traiva Breedlove (Our Lady of Mercy 2018/City Rocks) - On a team with 7 out of the 9 players being new to the program, Breedlove's (along with others mentioned below) contributions were desperately needed and easily noticed. Traiva, a wing that can seemingly score from anywhere on the court,
kept her group in it for a long stretch because of her ability to put it
in the basket at will. Her mix of skill, strength, and deception with
jabs and ball/head fakes makes her a tough cover for any one person.
When the going gets tough, every team needs a player that can be trusted
to go and get a bucket - Breedlove, along with her vocal leadership,
can flat out do that in bunches. She's already been on the radar of Division I programs, but her performance Saturday opened eyes of numerous other D1s that I spoke with at the event.
Stephanie Jankovic (Averill Park 2018/NY Havoc Blue) - Jankovic made
her presence felt especially in their first game on Sunday, as they battled
DC-based EYBL squad Team Takeover to a 9 point loss. Jankovic can be
aptly described as a pitbull with a jump shot, and both of those sides
came in handy. Her pressure on Takeover's guards turned into a handful
of steals throughout the game, leading to layups or open shots on the
break for teammates. She also worked hard on the glass, proving to be a
sound rebounding guard by grabbing numerous offensive boards. When it
was time for her number to be called, she had success knocking down the
three or beating a closing-out defender off the dribble.
Makaila Wilson (Penfield 2018/City Rocks) - As players on this team get used to each other and start fitting into roles, Wilson's versatility will prove to be very important. While most players here have a true primary position, the athletic 6'0" swing player can seamlessly transition from the wing to the 4. If a coach is feeling really adventurous, she could even slide to the 5 in a Golden State Warriors 'death lineup' setup. Her athleticism & ability to defend most players, regardless of position, can make her a 'glue girl' on this team. On Saturday, she flashed an improving ability to knock down the perimeter jumper. Continued improvement with that can make her an exponentially tougher cover, as she'll be able to burn defenders more easily getting to the rack.
Brianna Rozzi (Highland 2019/NY Havoc Blue) - Usually, you have to watch a team play for a little while to realize where an individual make a difference. The impact Rozzi makes for her team slaps you in the face. At her best, she's a certified game changer at the PG spot. Her ability to handle the ball - and her wanting the ball in her hands, willing to battle anyone pressuring her - provides a great deal of pressure relief for others like Grace Heeps, or allows Heeps to move to the 2 spot, depending on the lineup. She can heat up at a moment's notice, and her ability to score 8-10 points in the blink of an eye can change the momentum of a game. She really brought it in a Saturday game against the NJ Sparks EYBL team, where she broke their press several times in a row on her own and either scored or assisted a teammate's basket on every one of those occasions. A relative unknown to Division I coaches before this stage, look for her recruitment to hit another level in the near future.
Kerry Flaherty (Saratoga Springs 2019/City Rocks) - Flaherty, a 2 guard with a pure stroke, scored 5 quick points upon entry against I-90 Elite. These points were important, as they helped settle the team down and get them into the game. She did so early by getting to the rim, a part of her game that has noticeably been improving of late and is making her an even tougher cover. Flaherty's elite perimeter shooting ability, especially off the catch, still showed itself throughout the day - being able to knock shots down at a high clip from deep means defenses can't help off her, which opens up room for other players to penetrate or post.
EmmaLee Morgan (Averill Park 2019/I-90 Elite Kinch) - Morgan, a 6'1" natural wing, provides Tony Kinch's team with a versatile player that can (and did) split much of her time between the 3 & 4 spots. She can knock down the three, attack the rim from the perimeter and hit mid-range jumpers & floaters, or she can get all the way to the rim and finish higher than most girls can get up to. The versatility and ability to slide her in different spots, both offensively & defensively, man or zone, allows them to hit the opposition with a variety of different lineup looks.
Alyssa Stevenson (South Jefferson 2019/I-90 Elite Kinch) - Stevenson also showed what she brought to the table, as the 6'1" forward gave them a physical presence on the blocks that they don't get from anyone else on the roster. Her post defense & rebounding ability helps spring their high-octane fast break offense, spearheaded by returners Mackenzie & Madison Smith and Angel Parker. Look for Stevenson's role to expand as she gets more acclimated to the style of play, as this is her first year of high level AAU ball.
Dolly Cairns (Saratoga Springs 2020/City Rocks) - It was also
easy to see how important Cairns, along with fellow Blue Streak teammate
Flaherty, were to this group. I-90 Elite jumped out to a quick 13-0
lead with the Saratoga pair on the bench, and City Rocks had a great
deal of trouble with I-90's press. Dolly's ability to control the
defense with the ball in her hands, unmatched by any guard in upstate NY
in the 2020 class, changed City Rocks' luck against the press instantly
upon her checking in. Cairns is also getting noticeably stronger, which
helped her immensely against physical pressure defense. She can score
against anyone and create for others, and most importantly, knows when
to do what so others are constantly involved while still making the
defense respect her scoring ability.
Kelsey Wood (Averill Park 2020/NY Havoc 9 Silver) - Wood, a powerful yet versatile 6'1" F, was a highly coveted player on the AAU scene that Terrance Florence. There are very good reasons why she was wanted so badly, and she showed a lot of that in Paterson on Sunday. She's an elite rebounder at any level, and you can put her down for double-digit boards in Sharpie before the game starts. Off of those rebounds, her high motor and ability to run the floor often means layups in transition for her at the other end. Not only did she use her strength to post up & score, but she also showed the ability to step outside and knock down jumpers - the ability to step out beyond the 3 point line makes her an extremely difficult cover at her age group. Opposing teams learned this the hard way, and it raised her Havoc squad to a level they wouldn't have been at otherwise.
Dani Haskell (Franklinville 2020/I-90 Elite LaClair) - The 5'7" guard is riding high on confidence, coming off a freshman season that saw her blow past the 1,000 point mark while averaging well over 25 PPG. When she walks into a gym, she's usually the best shooter there. Most importantly, she has the handle & craftiness to get her shot off against even the toughest on-ball defenders. She uses that shooting ability to carve her way into the lane and wreak havoc. Her addition to this I-90 team turns them into a team that has the firepower to score against any team they go up against, and they had a great deal of success in the W/L column over the weekend. Players like her open the game up even more for people like...
Jess Cook (Cicero-North Syracuse 2021/I-90 Elite LaClair) - Another new addition to I-90 who adds a true dominant post presence that they - and most teams they play - wouldn't otherwise have. With a strong frame and standing every bit of 6'1", Cook also has post skill - good footwork, good hands, a go-to & counter move, and good finishing ability - that you rarely see at that age. Plus, the 8th grader is playing up a year. Look out for Jess, as her game is quickly expanding - she appears to be the next major player in a long line of high-level talent at CNS.
Tuesday, April 25, 2017
Monday, April 17, 2017
Skidmore College Hoop Fest Standouts
As usual, Easter weekend featured a much lighter AAU schedule than any other spring weekend. This provided a great opportunity to stay local and look for some diamonds in the rough. That being said, the land ended up not being rough at all and plenty of gems were to be had at Skidmore College. The Skidmore College Hoop Fest Girls' Basketball Classic featured a mix of teams from more prominent 518 programs like New York Havoc, Albany Capitals, and Saratoga Sparks, along with other local teams and squads from Vermont & Pennsylvania. The standouts, along with players that performed as well or better than previously seen, right here:
Alivia Paeglow (Colonie 2019) - Paeglow's skill set is an uncommon mix, as a 5'10"ish PF with the ability to put it on the deck from the perimeter and finish with layups or floaters using either hand, and she also showed the ability to pull up and hit the midrange J. When she's fully invested, and she certainly was for every minute on this day, she can be a monster on the glass with her strength and athleticism. She picked up for a Capitals team other than their top team, which is who she usually plays for, and she dominated for long stretches of all three games. Paeglow is attracting some early Division II attention, and what her potential could be was on full display throughout the day.
Hailey Ballard (Queensbury 2020) - Playing with a local South Glens Falls based team, Ballard - a Queensbury varsity starter who missed a good chunk of time late in the season - was more actively involved at both ends through the two games I saw than any time I've seen since Queensbury's season opener at Holy Names in the winter. A 5'11" F that has more athleticism than most people would know what to do with, she killed the opposition by running the floor and beating her matchup down the court for buckets, along with catching and finishing in the half-court over defenders and through contact. The most intriguing part of her performance Saturday was that she attacked from a 15'-18' mid-post area and hit a variety of midrange jumpers & a couple floaters, an ability that I didn't see over the winter. Bright future for Ballard.
Dolly Cairns (Saratoga Springs 2020) - How good is Dolly, you ask? The surefire Division I talent PG was the standout of the day/night - and this was off of two night games with CD Premier after completing a four-hour practice with City Rocks, the team coaches will see her with on the circuit. Despite being younger than most that she was playing against, she looked like a woman among girls that got what she wanted when she wanted it. A true floor general running the point, she can create for herself and for others equally well, and she has the IQ to know when to do each. In the late stages of a game that became close, she took over and scored on several possessions nearly in succession, including an acrobatic finish through contact that was the best play that I saw here. Her ability to be trusted controlling the offense with the ball - and being able to keep defenses honest with her ability to score and set up teammates - will make her an extremely valuable resource for the City Rocks this year.
Ashlyn O'Neil (Galway 2019) - Ashlyn was as good and as confident as I've seen in my handful of times watching her to date on this day. The natural 2 guard played both backcourt spots in all of the games for CDNY Westside, which could help expand her game if a consistent move. She has a bit of an old-school flare to her game, which relies much more on fakes, jabs, and 1/2 dribble moves than flashier alternatives, and she certainly hasn't forgot about the use of the midrange game. She had defenders biting on a very good shot fake all day, and knocked down countless pull-up jumpers from 13'-18' off of them. Because her game relies more on deception and intelligence than just athleticism, I could see her scoring ability translating well to higher levels of play. As her handle and ability to play some more PG comes along, look out for Ashlyn making noise beyond the small-school ranks in the very near future.
Lilly Phillips/Sophie Phillips (Cambridge 2021) - Two for the price of one! Decided to group this listing together instead of separate them, but there's a lot to say. I've went from knowing very little about them three weeks ago & only hearing about Sophie, who moved up to Cambridge's varsity team at the turn of the new year and ended up being their 2nd leading scorer, to coming to the realization that both Sophie & Lilly are the real deal. I've seen them both go at some of the better players in the Capital District, many 2-3 years older, and look like they belong. Playing closer to their age group on this day, which is a rarity, the twins dominated at both ends throughout. The sisters, who look nearly identical, are 5'8"-5'9" guards with very good athleticism and length that's rarely seen at their height. They have slightly different skill sets - Sophie has a pure jumper, crisp ballhandling ability and the court vision that makes her equally successful as a PG or SG, and Lilly also has a pure shot with a great slasher's skill set and the ability to attack and finish with either hand from the wing. Their fundamental skills set them apart from most near their age, and their basketball IQs set them apart from most at any age. Their defense turned into offense for a lot of Saturday, as length and ability to anticipate turned into tipped passes, steals, and baskets - and both ate equally on this day. In a 2021 class that has an unreal amount of standout basketball players coming from small towns, these Wasaren League up-and-comers are up next.
Asia Winney (Scotia-Glenville 2019) - Saturday was an Ice Cube-approved good day for CDNY Westside. Along with the aforementioned O'Neil, Asia Winney looked as confident as I've ever seen her throughout the day, and her contributions at both ends were a major reason her team went 3-0. She was knocking down the perimeter jumper with consistency, and once defenses closed out on her, it turned into a series of layups and close-range baskets as she got by the first defender and was able to get into the lane. Defensively, her activity helped spearhead an effort that resulted in a great deal of turnovers for opposing teams. With this continued growth, she could be due for a breakout junior season at Scotia-Glenville.
Lexi Mercier (Hoosac Valley (MA) 2019) - Mercier, a 2 guard who was a cold-blooded 3 point shooter for a Hoosac Valley squad that made a Division III state final appearance for the 3rd straight year this winter, had to wear many hats for her Berkshire Blazers squad. She often ran the point and instead of using off-ball screens, catching & shooting, she had to handle the ball more often than not and create her own shot. She hit some tough shots against a lot of defensive attention throughout the day, as she accounted for over 50% of her team's offense. Her ability to handle and get into the lane was perhaps one of the most pleasant surprises of the day - in a very successful, yet tight high school system where she plays a pure 2 guard, this was previously unseen in winter watches. As she gets physically stronger and able to battle through contact throughout the game, look for Mercier's game to explode, as she already has one of the purest shooting strokes in the region.
Alivia Paeglow (Colonie 2019) - Paeglow's skill set is an uncommon mix, as a 5'10"ish PF with the ability to put it on the deck from the perimeter and finish with layups or floaters using either hand, and she also showed the ability to pull up and hit the midrange J. When she's fully invested, and she certainly was for every minute on this day, she can be a monster on the glass with her strength and athleticism. She picked up for a Capitals team other than their top team, which is who she usually plays for, and she dominated for long stretches of all three games. Paeglow is attracting some early Division II attention, and what her potential could be was on full display throughout the day.
Hailey Ballard (Queensbury 2020) - Playing with a local South Glens Falls based team, Ballard - a Queensbury varsity starter who missed a good chunk of time late in the season - was more actively involved at both ends through the two games I saw than any time I've seen since Queensbury's season opener at Holy Names in the winter. A 5'11" F that has more athleticism than most people would know what to do with, she killed the opposition by running the floor and beating her matchup down the court for buckets, along with catching and finishing in the half-court over defenders and through contact. The most intriguing part of her performance Saturday was that she attacked from a 15'-18' mid-post area and hit a variety of midrange jumpers & a couple floaters, an ability that I didn't see over the winter. Bright future for Ballard.
Dolly Cairns (Saratoga Springs 2020) - How good is Dolly, you ask? The surefire Division I talent PG was the standout of the day/night - and this was off of two night games with CD Premier after completing a four-hour practice with City Rocks, the team coaches will see her with on the circuit. Despite being younger than most that she was playing against, she looked like a woman among girls that got what she wanted when she wanted it. A true floor general running the point, she can create for herself and for others equally well, and she has the IQ to know when to do each. In the late stages of a game that became close, she took over and scored on several possessions nearly in succession, including an acrobatic finish through contact that was the best play that I saw here. Her ability to be trusted controlling the offense with the ball - and being able to keep defenses honest with her ability to score and set up teammates - will make her an extremely valuable resource for the City Rocks this year.
Ashlyn O'Neil (Galway 2019) - Ashlyn was as good and as confident as I've seen in my handful of times watching her to date on this day. The natural 2 guard played both backcourt spots in all of the games for CDNY Westside, which could help expand her game if a consistent move. She has a bit of an old-school flare to her game, which relies much more on fakes, jabs, and 1/2 dribble moves than flashier alternatives, and she certainly hasn't forgot about the use of the midrange game. She had defenders biting on a very good shot fake all day, and knocked down countless pull-up jumpers from 13'-18' off of them. Because her game relies more on deception and intelligence than just athleticism, I could see her scoring ability translating well to higher levels of play. As her handle and ability to play some more PG comes along, look out for Ashlyn making noise beyond the small-school ranks in the very near future.
Lilly Phillips/Sophie Phillips (Cambridge 2021) - Two for the price of one! Decided to group this listing together instead of separate them, but there's a lot to say. I've went from knowing very little about them three weeks ago & only hearing about Sophie, who moved up to Cambridge's varsity team at the turn of the new year and ended up being their 2nd leading scorer, to coming to the realization that both Sophie & Lilly are the real deal. I've seen them both go at some of the better players in the Capital District, many 2-3 years older, and look like they belong. Playing closer to their age group on this day, which is a rarity, the twins dominated at both ends throughout. The sisters, who look nearly identical, are 5'8"-5'9" guards with very good athleticism and length that's rarely seen at their height. They have slightly different skill sets - Sophie has a pure jumper, crisp ballhandling ability and the court vision that makes her equally successful as a PG or SG, and Lilly also has a pure shot with a great slasher's skill set and the ability to attack and finish with either hand from the wing. Their fundamental skills set them apart from most near their age, and their basketball IQs set them apart from most at any age. Their defense turned into offense for a lot of Saturday, as length and ability to anticipate turned into tipped passes, steals, and baskets - and both ate equally on this day. In a 2021 class that has an unreal amount of standout basketball players coming from small towns, these Wasaren League up-and-comers are up next.
Asia Winney (Scotia-Glenville 2019) - Saturday was an Ice Cube-approved good day for CDNY Westside. Along with the aforementioned O'Neil, Asia Winney looked as confident as I've ever seen her throughout the day, and her contributions at both ends were a major reason her team went 3-0. She was knocking down the perimeter jumper with consistency, and once defenses closed out on her, it turned into a series of layups and close-range baskets as she got by the first defender and was able to get into the lane. Defensively, her activity helped spearhead an effort that resulted in a great deal of turnovers for opposing teams. With this continued growth, she could be due for a breakout junior season at Scotia-Glenville.
Lexi Mercier (Hoosac Valley (MA) 2019) - Mercier, a 2 guard who was a cold-blooded 3 point shooter for a Hoosac Valley squad that made a Division III state final appearance for the 3rd straight year this winter, had to wear many hats for her Berkshire Blazers squad. She often ran the point and instead of using off-ball screens, catching & shooting, she had to handle the ball more often than not and create her own shot. She hit some tough shots against a lot of defensive attention throughout the day, as she accounted for over 50% of her team's offense. Her ability to handle and get into the lane was perhaps one of the most pleasant surprises of the day - in a very successful, yet tight high school system where she plays a pure 2 guard, this was previously unseen in winter watches. As she gets physically stronger and able to battle through contact throughout the game, look for Mercier's game to explode, as she already has one of the purest shooting strokes in the region.
Tuesday, April 4, 2017
Because I Didn't Tweet Much... Syracuse Nets NBC Spring Classic Standouts
The first weekend of April brought me to Syracuse, a place I've spending nearly as much time in as I have Albany, for good reason. Basketball is thriving in the area, with a very solid core of talent headlining the 2018 & 2019 classes and elite young standouts in 2020 & 2021 as well. The NBC Spring Classic, put on by the Syracuse Nets, was a prime example of the depth of talent in Section III.
Many of the region's big names - Danielle Rauch, Meg Hair, Azariah Wade, etc. in older classes, Momo LaClair & Jess Cook in younger classes - weren't at the tournament, although they were playing basketball in Syracuse for I-90 Elite practice (a practice I attended Saturday - as always, thanks to I-90 for their hospitality and allowing me to swing through and check it out!). Even without some of the usual headliners, the tournament had many solid players and current & future EST targets, especially as you went into the 8th & 9th grade brackets. Some players that stood out to me, by graduating class, below:
2018
Samantha Doupe (Phoenix/Lake Effect Storm) - Last year, Doupe was more of a secondary guard with the presence of Paige Leonard. With Paige off to I-90 Elite and playing a very limited schedule with LES, Doupe has the chance to step into the forefront and took full advantage of it at this tournament. Although on the short end, you'll rarely find someone anywhere that can match her speed. She was able to turn the corner on anyone here when she turned on the jets, and used the speed at both ends to wreak havoc getting into the lane and jump passing lanes. Once defenders gave her the couple steps they needed in order to stay in front, she knocked down the perimeter J. Strong weekend for Doupe, who helped LES win the 11th grade championship.
Ashlyn Eyles (Thousand Islands/Lady Vikings) - Wing with above-average height & length for her position, and her well-rounded skill set was on display over many stretches of play this weekend. Eyles' ability to shoot, handle, get out in transition and make quick moves from the perimeter allows her to score well both in the open court and in the half court. She can score at all three levels & also played unselfishly. Section III Class C champion Thousand Islands had as well-balanced of a team as any I saw in the winter, but Eyles separated herself a little over the weekend. She could make many D3 programs very happy in a couple years.
Anna Hoover (Thousand Islands/Lady Vikings) - Lefty post also had a strong showing for the Lady Vikings, a crew that was predominantly Thousand Islands players but had a couple others from other Frontier League schools. She has a little more of an unorthodox game, but it works for her and keeps defenses off balance. Hoover does good work attacking from the high post area, where a deceptively quick first step helped her beat defenders to the rim with one dribble from around 15' away. She also has a soft touch, and letting her go over her right shoulder ended up being a nearly guaranteed 2 points. Another potential quality D3 player from the jump.
2019
Olivia Dobrovosky (Skaneateles/Lake Effect Storm) - Dobrovosky, a point guard, really stood out off the bat on Saturday. She had her hand in nearly every play for a long stretch of their 1st game, a game they played shorthanded for a long stretch. She looks more comfortable attacking the rim and drawing contact, but also knocked down the perimeter jumper when given a little space. She has shown marked improvement in her game from this point last year, a welcome sign for her AAU squad, high school team that has heavily depended on her output the last couple years, and going forward, college coaches.
2020
Paige Keeler (Jamesville-DeWitt/Syracuse Nets Pascale) - Speed kills, especially if you have Paige Keeler speed. She was able to change the game throughout the weekend by going faster than anyone up against her could go. She killed teams in the open court, even getting by and around sprinting defenders that had a head start on her on numerous occasions. She was able to get to the rim often and finish against taller defenders, and like the aforementioned Sam Doupe, she made the D pay by knocking down threes when they decided to sag off and play the drive. Probably would play a starring role for many Section III high schools, but is part of the J-D machine - which is part of what makes them so good.
Abby Piddock (Watertown IHC/Lake Effect Storm) - One of a dynamite pair of sisters that is already starting to garner as heavy of attention to Watertown area basketball as there's been in a while, Abby stood out as one of the youngest players on the court. In the 5'9"-5'10" range, she has a skill set that truly blurs the lines between positions. She's like a 2 guard with her ability to knock down the long-range J with consistency, yet she can score in the post and actively rebound like a strong 4. To add to that, she moves her feet well enough to lock down perimeter players and has the strength & footwork to guard bigger posts. Abby will certainly be an intriguing player to keep an attentive eye on going forward.
Ally Shoemaker (Chittenango/Syracuse Nets Edson) - Proved to be this weekend's standout on a solid Nets-Edson team that features plenty of girls that were major contributors on their varsity teams as freshmen. Shoemaker is another guard that can change the game with her speed and anticipation, and was good for a handful of steals in each game that I saw. She did a good job leading the break, knowing when to finish herself and when to hit teammates and doing each with a high rate of success. Her game appears to be getting more refined, as her handle and shot looked smoother this tournament. Mix that with her court vision and athleticism, and it's safe to say that she has a bright future.
Andrea Sumida (Jamesville-DeWitt/Syracuse Nets Pascale) - Along with J-D teammate Paige Keeler, they effectively led their Nets team to a 10th grade division championship with relative ease. Andrea is someone I really started to like in the winter, backing up Bryant commit Julia Kelner on J-D's Class A state champion & Federation finalist basketball team. She really flourished in this outlet, doing something I truly didn't know she could do that well - scoring the ball. Sumida is a player that produced real value coming off the bench during HS basketball season because of her exceptional post defense & rebounding ability, which she continued to do over the weekend, perhaps being the best rebounder at any division. She showed much more confidence putting the ball in the basket though, even killing teams from the wing on drives. I'm probably more on the Sumida bandwagon going forward than most, but certainly a legitimate upside for her going forward.
2021
Kennady Amo (Thousand Islands/Lady Vikings) - 'K' was the only 8th grader playing in the 11th grade division, and you wouldn't have any idea she was 'the young kid' unless you were told it or knew already. Undersized, but very solid PG that isn't afraid of anything. She'll get into the lane and beat defenders to the rim or pull up for a short floater, and she's a knockdown perimeter shooter. Amo is also a scrappy defender that can be a pest going after the ball. Height is never going to be a strength for her, but ask girls like McKayla Roberts & Hanna Strawn how much that matters. Kennady has shades of players like that in her game. Look for her to potentially take the Frontier League by storm next year.
Catie Cunningham (West Genesee/Syracuse Nets Chairmonte) - This is a player that I've been hearing a lot about lately, and at first watch, I see exactly why. Extremely bright future for a girl that I've been told is relatively new to the game of basketball. Taller guard - looks to be around 5'9" - that has game-changing speed and athleticism. Had a coast-to-coast take and full extension finish off a Euro step in the 9th grade division championship game that had the place buzzing. May have the highest upside of anyone in this tournament at any level. With continued improvement in the game, she could be a stud sooner rather than later. Will likely be an instant major contributor for West Genesee varsity next winter.
Lexie Roe (Fayetteville-Manlius/Syracuse Nets Chairmonte) - She's got the pedigree as the daughter of local legend and Syracuse/Maryland/overseas pro Matt Roe, and she's got the skill to back it up. Although she's a guard that's a little on the shorter end now, something tells me that (especially with a 6'6" father) she's far from done growing. Roe has a jumper that could already be classified as deadly, and unlike many girls, she has the true ability to create her own shot. She has the handle and ability to use change of speed to free herself up - and when she got any space, it was a death sentence over the weekend. Will likely be a game changer for Fayetteville-Manlius varsity next winter and a scoring punch that they desperately need. Looking forward to seeing her growth over the next year or two.
Reese Vaughan (Seton Catholic/Elmira Lady Fusion) - We had a Federation champ in the building at Jamesville-DeWitt with Reese. With the talent on Seton's roster, sometimes the best work they could get in was going against each other in practice, and Reese looked like someone who spent nearly every day over the last 4 months going up against Lexi Levy (GW signee) and Hanna Strawn (Brown & UVM offers). Her confidence was at another level, and her game in general just looked like it was at another level. The long guard scored at all 3 levels, and her activity on defense caused more than its share of turnovers as well. She flexed her muscle and made her case as the best player on the court in the 9th grade division championship, going off for 23 in a 55-42 W. She's ahead of the curve that I anticipated, and hopefully this is a sign of things to come.
Isabella Wilbur (Red Creek/Syracuse Nets-Waldron) - Since the first time I saw Wilbur in the Section V Class C1 semis with Red Creek, I've been calling her the next coming of Danielle Migliore. Her similarities to the former Frankfort-Schuyler standout and now St. Bonaventure basketball player are uncanny - from physical appearance to mannerisms, even her voice, they could be sisters. Her game also bears a striking resemblance, and if you remember Migliore, you know that means you better not let Wilbur get even an inch of room. Playing at age level in this tournament, she made the game look extremely easy. After her team fell behind by 16 in the 2nd half of the 8th grade championship, she completely took the game over at both ends in what turned into a 57-54 victory. She knocked down 4 threes after halftime, including on back-to-back possessions to cut their deficit to 2 and put serious pressure on their opponent. She also secured two steals late, one coming on their last defensive possession, to wrap up the game. Could've played in the 11th grade division and made noise as well. Likely to hear a lot more buzz from this player in years to come.
Other players that made noise included:
Jenna Zimmerman (South Jefferson 2018/Lake Effect Storm)
Emma Puddington (Beaver River 2018/Lady Vikings)
Brooke Jarvis (CBA 2020/Syracuse Nets Edson)
Kiley Snow (Whitesboro 2020/Syracuse Nets Edson)
Sydney Brown (Lowville 2020/Lady Vikings)
Julia Mann (Central Square 2021/Syracuse Nets Waldron)
Victoria Morgan (Liverpool 2021/Syracuse Nets Waldron)
Very good crop of talent, especially young players, in Syracuse over the weekend. I had a chance to go to the Final 4 in Dallas and passed on it to recruit for the EST summer leagues coming up. All-in-all, I wish Dallas' weather could've hit Syracuse, but I'm happy that I stayed because of how productive the weekend became. Maybe you'll catch me out this week for AAU practices, but besides that, see you next weekend!
Many of the region's big names - Danielle Rauch, Meg Hair, Azariah Wade, etc. in older classes, Momo LaClair & Jess Cook in younger classes - weren't at the tournament, although they were playing basketball in Syracuse for I-90 Elite practice (a practice I attended Saturday - as always, thanks to I-90 for their hospitality and allowing me to swing through and check it out!). Even without some of the usual headliners, the tournament had many solid players and current & future EST targets, especially as you went into the 8th & 9th grade brackets. Some players that stood out to me, by graduating class, below:
2018
Samantha Doupe (Phoenix/Lake Effect Storm) - Last year, Doupe was more of a secondary guard with the presence of Paige Leonard. With Paige off to I-90 Elite and playing a very limited schedule with LES, Doupe has the chance to step into the forefront and took full advantage of it at this tournament. Although on the short end, you'll rarely find someone anywhere that can match her speed. She was able to turn the corner on anyone here when she turned on the jets, and used the speed at both ends to wreak havoc getting into the lane and jump passing lanes. Once defenders gave her the couple steps they needed in order to stay in front, she knocked down the perimeter J. Strong weekend for Doupe, who helped LES win the 11th grade championship.
Ashlyn Eyles (Thousand Islands/Lady Vikings) - Wing with above-average height & length for her position, and her well-rounded skill set was on display over many stretches of play this weekend. Eyles' ability to shoot, handle, get out in transition and make quick moves from the perimeter allows her to score well both in the open court and in the half court. She can score at all three levels & also played unselfishly. Section III Class C champion Thousand Islands had as well-balanced of a team as any I saw in the winter, but Eyles separated herself a little over the weekend. She could make many D3 programs very happy in a couple years.
Anna Hoover (Thousand Islands/Lady Vikings) - Lefty post also had a strong showing for the Lady Vikings, a crew that was predominantly Thousand Islands players but had a couple others from other Frontier League schools. She has a little more of an unorthodox game, but it works for her and keeps defenses off balance. Hoover does good work attacking from the high post area, where a deceptively quick first step helped her beat defenders to the rim with one dribble from around 15' away. She also has a soft touch, and letting her go over her right shoulder ended up being a nearly guaranteed 2 points. Another potential quality D3 player from the jump.
2019
Olivia Dobrovosky (Skaneateles/Lake Effect Storm) - Dobrovosky, a point guard, really stood out off the bat on Saturday. She had her hand in nearly every play for a long stretch of their 1st game, a game they played shorthanded for a long stretch. She looks more comfortable attacking the rim and drawing contact, but also knocked down the perimeter jumper when given a little space. She has shown marked improvement in her game from this point last year, a welcome sign for her AAU squad, high school team that has heavily depended on her output the last couple years, and going forward, college coaches.
2020
Paige Keeler (Jamesville-DeWitt/Syracuse Nets Pascale) - Speed kills, especially if you have Paige Keeler speed. She was able to change the game throughout the weekend by going faster than anyone up against her could go. She killed teams in the open court, even getting by and around sprinting defenders that had a head start on her on numerous occasions. She was able to get to the rim often and finish against taller defenders, and like the aforementioned Sam Doupe, she made the D pay by knocking down threes when they decided to sag off and play the drive. Probably would play a starring role for many Section III high schools, but is part of the J-D machine - which is part of what makes them so good.
Abby Piddock (Watertown IHC/Lake Effect Storm) - One of a dynamite pair of sisters that is already starting to garner as heavy of attention to Watertown area basketball as there's been in a while, Abby stood out as one of the youngest players on the court. In the 5'9"-5'10" range, she has a skill set that truly blurs the lines between positions. She's like a 2 guard with her ability to knock down the long-range J with consistency, yet she can score in the post and actively rebound like a strong 4. To add to that, she moves her feet well enough to lock down perimeter players and has the strength & footwork to guard bigger posts. Abby will certainly be an intriguing player to keep an attentive eye on going forward.
Ally Shoemaker (Chittenango/Syracuse Nets Edson) - Proved to be this weekend's standout on a solid Nets-Edson team that features plenty of girls that were major contributors on their varsity teams as freshmen. Shoemaker is another guard that can change the game with her speed and anticipation, and was good for a handful of steals in each game that I saw. She did a good job leading the break, knowing when to finish herself and when to hit teammates and doing each with a high rate of success. Her game appears to be getting more refined, as her handle and shot looked smoother this tournament. Mix that with her court vision and athleticism, and it's safe to say that she has a bright future.
Andrea Sumida (Jamesville-DeWitt/Syracuse Nets Pascale) - Along with J-D teammate Paige Keeler, they effectively led their Nets team to a 10th grade division championship with relative ease. Andrea is someone I really started to like in the winter, backing up Bryant commit Julia Kelner on J-D's Class A state champion & Federation finalist basketball team. She really flourished in this outlet, doing something I truly didn't know she could do that well - scoring the ball. Sumida is a player that produced real value coming off the bench during HS basketball season because of her exceptional post defense & rebounding ability, which she continued to do over the weekend, perhaps being the best rebounder at any division. She showed much more confidence putting the ball in the basket though, even killing teams from the wing on drives. I'm probably more on the Sumida bandwagon going forward than most, but certainly a legitimate upside for her going forward.
2021
Kennady Amo (Thousand Islands/Lady Vikings) - 'K' was the only 8th grader playing in the 11th grade division, and you wouldn't have any idea she was 'the young kid' unless you were told it or knew already. Undersized, but very solid PG that isn't afraid of anything. She'll get into the lane and beat defenders to the rim or pull up for a short floater, and she's a knockdown perimeter shooter. Amo is also a scrappy defender that can be a pest going after the ball. Height is never going to be a strength for her, but ask girls like McKayla Roberts & Hanna Strawn how much that matters. Kennady has shades of players like that in her game. Look for her to potentially take the Frontier League by storm next year.
Catie Cunningham (West Genesee/Syracuse Nets Chairmonte) - This is a player that I've been hearing a lot about lately, and at first watch, I see exactly why. Extremely bright future for a girl that I've been told is relatively new to the game of basketball. Taller guard - looks to be around 5'9" - that has game-changing speed and athleticism. Had a coast-to-coast take and full extension finish off a Euro step in the 9th grade division championship game that had the place buzzing. May have the highest upside of anyone in this tournament at any level. With continued improvement in the game, she could be a stud sooner rather than later. Will likely be an instant major contributor for West Genesee varsity next winter.
Lexie Roe (Fayetteville-Manlius/Syracuse Nets Chairmonte) - She's got the pedigree as the daughter of local legend and Syracuse/Maryland/overseas pro Matt Roe, and she's got the skill to back it up. Although she's a guard that's a little on the shorter end now, something tells me that (especially with a 6'6" father) she's far from done growing. Roe has a jumper that could already be classified as deadly, and unlike many girls, she has the true ability to create her own shot. She has the handle and ability to use change of speed to free herself up - and when she got any space, it was a death sentence over the weekend. Will likely be a game changer for Fayetteville-Manlius varsity next winter and a scoring punch that they desperately need. Looking forward to seeing her growth over the next year or two.
Reese Vaughan (Seton Catholic/Elmira Lady Fusion) - We had a Federation champ in the building at Jamesville-DeWitt with Reese. With the talent on Seton's roster, sometimes the best work they could get in was going against each other in practice, and Reese looked like someone who spent nearly every day over the last 4 months going up against Lexi Levy (GW signee) and Hanna Strawn (Brown & UVM offers). Her confidence was at another level, and her game in general just looked like it was at another level. The long guard scored at all 3 levels, and her activity on defense caused more than its share of turnovers as well. She flexed her muscle and made her case as the best player on the court in the 9th grade division championship, going off for 23 in a 55-42 W. She's ahead of the curve that I anticipated, and hopefully this is a sign of things to come.
Isabella Wilbur (Red Creek/Syracuse Nets-Waldron) - Since the first time I saw Wilbur in the Section V Class C1 semis with Red Creek, I've been calling her the next coming of Danielle Migliore. Her similarities to the former Frankfort-Schuyler standout and now St. Bonaventure basketball player are uncanny - from physical appearance to mannerisms, even her voice, they could be sisters. Her game also bears a striking resemblance, and if you remember Migliore, you know that means you better not let Wilbur get even an inch of room. Playing at age level in this tournament, she made the game look extremely easy. After her team fell behind by 16 in the 2nd half of the 8th grade championship, she completely took the game over at both ends in what turned into a 57-54 victory. She knocked down 4 threes after halftime, including on back-to-back possessions to cut their deficit to 2 and put serious pressure on their opponent. She also secured two steals late, one coming on their last defensive possession, to wrap up the game. Could've played in the 11th grade division and made noise as well. Likely to hear a lot more buzz from this player in years to come.
Other players that made noise included:
Jenna Zimmerman (South Jefferson 2018/Lake Effect Storm)
Emma Puddington (Beaver River 2018/Lady Vikings)
Brooke Jarvis (CBA 2020/Syracuse Nets Edson)
Kiley Snow (Whitesboro 2020/Syracuse Nets Edson)
Sydney Brown (Lowville 2020/Lady Vikings)
Julia Mann (Central Square 2021/Syracuse Nets Waldron)
Victoria Morgan (Liverpool 2021/Syracuse Nets Waldron)
Very good crop of talent, especially young players, in Syracuse over the weekend. I had a chance to go to the Final 4 in Dallas and passed on it to recruit for the EST summer leagues coming up. All-in-all, I wish Dallas' weather could've hit Syracuse, but I'm happy that I stayed because of how productive the weekend became. Maybe you'll catch me out this week for AAU practices, but besides that, see you next weekend!
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