Word on the circuit is ….. , week 2

As the first live period quickly transitions into the second coaches, players and the college coaches have no down time. A quick turnaround and the wheel starts spinning again. Some players stay hot and some new players get hot. Here is some information from my sources out in the gym. <ul> <li><strong>Olivia Demosthenes </strong>is a 5'5 2020 guard from Normal West has stayed hot. She helped lead her Illinois Pizzaz 17u team to another championship game at the Nike National Tournament of Champions. Olivia may only be 5'5 but she is strong and can hold off the bigger defenders. She is really playing great defense and has had the chance to show her game in front of many D1 and D2 schools in July.</li> <li><strong>Karrington Krabel</strong> is a 5'8 2020 guard from Paris High School. She plays with the Indiana Flight West 17u team that features mostly Illinois players despite the name. Karrington has been hot and garnering attention with her aggressive style of play on both ends of the floor. She attacks off the dribble very well on offense and creates havoc on defense.</li> <li><strong>Macy Silvey </strong>is a 5'8 2022 guard from Edwardsville high school that continues to show her ability to handle to point guard spot. She plays for the Blue Star Silvey 15u team that has been in the top brackets in two tough tournaments. Macy is known as a shooter but is showing an expanded ability to run the point and handle the constant pressure that is applied to her. Her outside shooting stroke has been on display as she has been hitting the 3 ball consistently.</li> <li><strong>Emma Ewing </strong>is a 5'5 2020 guard from Mt. Zion high school. She plays with the Central Illinois Predators 17u team. Emma stepped into the point guard starting spot and has done a great job. She is playing great defense and running the team on offense. Emma has been getting key steals on defense and scoring or dishing off in critical spots on offense.</li> <li><strong>Ashlyn Sturdy </strong>is a 5'7 2020 guard from TCSV that has continued her outstanding play for the Illinois Pizzaz 17u team. Ashlyn plays a point guard role for this team but did show her scoring abilities by making 13/19 shots from behind the 3 point line in the Nike Nationals TOC event in Chicago.</li> <li><strong>Mia Nicastro </strong>is a 5'11 2022 wing from St. Charles West high school in Missouri. She plays with the Blue Star Silvey 15u team. Mia is a strong wing player that excels playing tough defense and getting down hill to the basket. She finished very well in the Nike Nationals TOC event and played outstanding defense. Mia a tough competitor that has a very high upside. She has the ability to play D1 level basketball at both ends of the floor.</li> <li><strong>Claire Wilhour </strong>is a 5'6 2020 guard from St. Elmo-Brownstown. She plays with the 17u Indiana Flight West team. Claire has continued to show off her ability to beat the defense off the dribble because of her quickness. She can get the ball up and down the floor with her speed in the full court game. When she is playing off the dribble Claire is very good at pulling up and hitting the jumper when they play off her to try to stay in front. Claire uses her athletic ability well on the defensive end too, constantly pressuring the ball.</li> </ul> As the information comes in from my sources on their trips home and winding down from the tough 7-8 days on the circuit I will share more of the great stories on how the girls from Southern Illinois are playing.