“The Classic” Review (Part 3)

Last weekend was an incredibly busy time for me, as I travelled to Louisville Friday, back to Westfield for Saturday’s action, only to return to Louisville again Sunday.  Being from Indiana, I spent my time watching several Indiana teams and prospects I had yet to see, plus I checked in on some kids I felt like I needed to view one more time.  I also spent some time watching several non-Indiana teams.  Below is a look at eight non-Indiana prospects in the classes of 2020 and 2021 who I thought played well Friday &amp; Sunday at The Classic in Louisville, Kentucky, when I was able to see them in action. &nbsp; <strong>Makira Cook, 2020, 5-6 PG, Mount Notre Dame H.S. (OH), Sports City U</strong> Makira is an incredibly dynamic point guard prospect, and I feel like she is what makes this Sports City U team go at times.  She is strong, quick/fast, and athletic in all directions.  She's a tough-nosed kid who will mix it up, and she's a gritty defender who can disrupt opposing ball-handlers.  She can hit shots at all levels, even finish inside against contact, but it's the fact she takes it upon herself to take and make big shots in games.  I really like how she plays and her competitive fire.  She had given a verbal commitment to Miami University (Ohio) back in the Fall, but with the coaching change, that has changed as well.  Look for her to draw plenty of interest throughout the rest of the grassroots season. &nbsp; <strong>Kelly Levering, 2020, 5-10 W, Olentangy Liberty H.S. (OH), Capital City Stars White</strong> I'm glad I stayed and watched the duration of their game, because it took Kelly a little while to get going, but once she did, she was really effective.  She has some length, a wiry strong frame, and she moves fluidly around the court.  She's a very good perimeter shooter who likes to hide on the wings and in the long-corners, but whenever a defender closes out poorly, she's able to put it on the deck and glide to the basket.  I do think she'll need to learn how to absorb contact better for the next level, but I also think she's a fairly smooth, versatile scorer, who with a little more strength could be a really nice college wing. &nbsp; <strong>Madeline Westbeld, 2020, 6-3 F, Kettering Fairmont H.S. (OH), Sports City U</strong> When you watch Maddy play, it's obvious to see why she's a top National prospect, and why college coaches are lined up to recruit her.  She has height, strength, and an athletic frame.  She's big enough and physical enough to play in the post, but at her size, she has good athleticism, great balance and body control, and she has a perimeter skillset.  She can handle the ball in transition at times, though she could work on change-of-direction stuff, and she is a very good shooter with range beyond the arc.  Just the potential to play with such versatility is impressive.  If you have to label her, she's probably a face-up '4', but there are situations where you can play her as a '3' in a big lineup or as a '5' in a small lineup and really exploit the opponent. &nbsp; <strong>Delaney Gardner, 2021, 5-8 F, Christian Academy of Louisville (KY), Sky Digg Elite-Phillips 15U</strong> Delaney is a tough-nosed, strong, and physical forward.  She is a solid on-the-floor athlete who definitely plays much bigger than she is.  She is an aggressive rebounder, she is great scoring it in the mid-post, but she can also score the ball on the low-block and finish through contact, plus she's comfortable enough to play outside around the perimeter.  When I saw her, I really liked her motor and her "don't quit" mentality.  She truly battles at both ends of the floor with consistency.  At her size, she will need to continue developing her perimeter skillset, but I think she's a kid small colleges will really like. &nbsp; <strong>E'Laiyah Heard, 2021, 6-1 F/C, Thornton Township H.S. (IL), Chicago Meanstreets-Ivory 16U</strong> I actually went to watch this Meanstreets team to see a couple of other girls, and I was extremely intrigued by E'Laiyah's ability and potential.  She has a wiry strong, athletic frame, broad shoulders, and good length.  She is a run and jump athlete, and she seemed to play hard and didn't mind contact whatsoever.  Skillfully she will still need some work scoring the basketball, but she is definitely a quality rebounder/defender type of front-liner right now.  If she can develop a go-to move on the low-block and a little more touch in the mid-post, I think she has enough talent to have several Division-I schools interested. &nbsp; <strong>Adison Novosel, 2021, 5-9 W, Revere H.S. (OH), SMAC-Fitz 16U</strong> Adison stood out to me initially, because it seemed like every time a 3-pointer went in, it had left her hand.  The more I watched her, the more I realized there's a lot of substance to her game.  She has length, wiry strength, and fluid athleticism.  She can glide to the basket to finish, and she's solid in the mid-range game.  Defensively, she battled as well, defended hard, and she does have enough quickness to play in a full-court system, if necessary.  I'm guessing here, but I would imagine her interest ranges from a few Division-I schools to some of the better small colleges in the Midwest.  She is a really nice, versatile basketball player. &nbsp; <strong>Bailee Smith, 2021, 5-6 PG, Maysville H.S. (OH), Capital City Stars White 17U</strong> Sometimes you watch a kid you aren't at all familiar with, and they are just entertaining.  Bailee was that kid for me last weekend.  As she took on the Gym Rats Tan team with guards who are longer, a little taller, and a more athletic, she didn't back down one bit.  She is an extremely tough-nosed, strong-for-her-size point guard prospect, and she was a real difference-maker for this Capital City Stars team, helping to keep it close throughout.  She is quick/fast, she can handle and create, but she can also hit shots outside or attack the basket and finish inside against contact.  She rebounds her position very well and has a great motor, plus she was solid at the defensive end of the floor.  I can see her drawing a little Division-I interest, but I also think she's the type of kid the better small colleges recruit to win 25-30 games each season. &nbsp; <strong>Taylor Thierry, 2021, 5-8 G, Laurel School (OH), SMAC-Fitz 16U</strong> Taylor really stood out to me last Sunday as a break-you-down type of athletic guard/wing.  She is sort of a scoring guard, sort of a point forward type, but at the end of the day, she's just a ballplayer.  She has good length, wiry strength, and she is a really nice athlete in all directions.  In the open floor, she does a nice job of making plays for herself or others.  In the half-court, she prefers to attack the basket with a dribble-move here &amp; there, but she does have a nice mid-range game, and she can consistently knock down open perimeter jumpers when in rhythm.  She's also very versatile defensively, as she can guard multiple positions and pressure the ball full-court.  I really like her upside/potential, and think she's a kid who will draw her share of Division-I and high-level small college interest.