Preseason Showcase Review Part 1

Brandon Bradley September 16, 2018 @ 12:00 PM

Yesterday marked the annual IGBRR Preseason Showcase at Triton Central High School. In total 41 young ladies took the floor for the 5-hour event, participating in stations, contests, 3-on-3, and 5-on-5 games throughout. Included in this report is a look at the 2019 and 2020 prospects whose play helped them stand out from the pack during yesterday’s competition. All of these prospects remain uncommitted at this point in time.   [caption id="attachment_12220" align="alignright" width="248"] Tabby Klem of Gibson Southern[/caption] Tabatha Klem, 2019, 5-10 F, Gibson Southern H.S. Tabby is a nice combination of size, strength, and skill. She has enough power and physicality to play some on the interior, especially defensively, but skillfully she’s a really nice threat as a perimeter shooter. She needs very little time or space to get it away, and she has shot the ball well all spring and summer. She again showed that soft touch on Saturday, and she’s currently the #76 prospect on our Class of 2019 Top-150 list.   Bailee Taft, 2019, 5-3 G, Greenwood Community H.S. Bailee has always been a feisty and tough-nosed little guard who plays with a good motor, but she has typically played off the ball because of her ability to shoot / score it. While she continued to shoot / score the ball consistently on Saturday, she actually slid over and played more as a primary ball-handler throughout the course of the day. She made a couple of really nice passes and took care of it under pressure. She sits at #147 on our Class of 2019 Top-150 list.   Leah Miller, 2020, 5-5 G, Salem H.S. Leah is a nice-looking, well-balanced guard who does a little of everything for her teams. She has some length, wiry strength, and she’s a solid athlete in all directions. She is a heady player when she handles it and plays point guard, but she’s also a capable shooter / scorer when she’s asked to play off the ball. She is also a solid defensive player, and she’s at #97 on our Class of 2020 Top-100 list. She won the Hot Shot competition at this preseason event.   [caption id="attachment_12221" align="alignleft" width="280"] Sally Mortensen of Perry Meridian[/caption] Sally Mortensen, 2020, 5-9 F, Perry Meridian H.S. Sally is a really nice forward prospect who actually sits just outside of our Class of 2020 Top-100 list. She is a strong and physical kid with a nice frame, she’s a solid athlete, and she’s versatile skillfully. She can overpower smaller defenders around the block, she’s capable of handling it some around the perimeter, but I think she’s most effective in the mid-post because she can stick the 15-footer or attack the basket off the dribble.   Cherrelle Newsom, 2020, 5-2 G, Ben Davis H.S. Cherrelle is always enjoyable to watch, because she just competes at both ends of the floor every possession. She has really good length, broad shoulders and good strength, and she has really nice speed and quickness. She’s a good shooter from the perimeter, but Saturday she really flashed her creativity and playmaking ability. She left the event having won the 3-point shooting competition, and she’s currently the #99 prospect on our Class of 2020 Top-100 list.   Amber Wolf, 2020, 5-10 F, South Central H.S. (Union Mills) I’ve always liked Amber’s potential, but this was one of the better days I’ve seen her have. She is long, fluidly athletic, and somewhat bouncy. She is still a little thin, but she’s playing noticeably stronger, plus she showed a much-improved handle and creativity off the bounce. If she can just add a consistent perimeter shot, I think she will be a full-time wing, but she’s also a high-motor rebounder who is terribly effective in the mid-post.   Header photo of Triton Central High School courtesy of scalumni.org. Photo of Tabby Klem courtesy of pdclarion.com. Photo of Sally Mortensen courtesy of Perry Meridian's Hudl.com account.