IGBRR Preseason Showcase Review
This past weekend Triton Central High School hosted the annual IGBRR Preseason Showcase. This year’s event accounted for approximately 60 prospects in the classes of 2020 through 2023, with nearly half of them coming from the 2022 graduating class. There…
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Continue ReadingThis past weekend Triton Central High School hosted the annual IGBRR Preseason Showcase. This year’s event accounted for approximately 60 prospects in the classes of 2020 through 2023, with nearly half of them coming from the 2022 graduating class. There were a few known girls who played well, plus there were several “unknowns” and younger prospects who certainly helped put themselves on our radar moving forward. Below is a quick look at a handful of girls who stood out to me in my time there.
Emma Shelton, 2021, 5-10 F, Jasper H.S.
I first saw Emma briefly in the Spring, but it wasn’t until June at our PGH Uncommitted Showcase that I really started to understand her game and see what she was capable of, as she stood out there. This past Sunday, she continued to show a lot of those same qualities that I think make her a really interesting small college prospect who should draw a lot of attention over the next year. She is a strong kid, she doesn’t mind contact at all, she plays with an outstanding motor, and she’s a nice on-the-floor athlete who runs the floor well in transition. What I see more and more out of her each viewing, is she’s really improving her skill and comfort level around the perimeter. Initially, I thought of her as more of an interior forward, but now I think she can be a really nice face-up ‘4’ with the ability to play both inside and out.
Jennifer Tomasic, 2021, 5-7 G, Lake Central H.S.
I’ve had Jennifer’s name in my personal database for some time now, but this was my first real opportunity to see her live and in-person. She is a wiry strong and fairly athletic guard who does a little of everything well. She handles the ball well-enough to run offense on occasion, she is strong enough to absorb contact when she attacks the basket, and she’s a consistent perimeter shooter who showed off that part of her game when I saw her Sunday. What I think I liked most about her game, was that every facet seemed to just be steady and consistent throughout the day. Nothing was exceedingly good or bad, and she seemed to play hard and compete in every drill and contest. She will certainly have some small college options down the road if she continues to play like this.
Makayla Hinshaw, 2022, 5-8 G, Hamilton Southeastern H.S.
Makayla moves around the floor like a soccer player athletically, which I’ve always found as a tremendous advantage in the game of basketball. She is fluid and smooth, but she is also extremely fast North/South, she’s a long-strider in transition, and she has quick feet in the half-court. She has a very wiry frame, and she plays with a great motor. Right now, offensively, she is more of a driver who can slice to the basket, but she is working on her jump-shot and it has improved. She is better-known for her efforts and abilities at the defensive end of the floor, as she can defend most guards and wings, plus she can even slide over and contain several point guards for periods of time.
Kenna Kirby, 2022, 5-7 G, Tri-West H.S.
Over the past year or so, I’ve come to really appreciate Kenna’s game, because she plays like you’d imagine an Indiana kid playing. She has a good basketball IQ and feel for the game, she can handle it a little and run offense, and she’s a very good perimeter shooter who has learned how to score it better going to the basket. This past weekend I felt like she looked leaner, a little stronger, and a little quicker/more explosive. My concern in the past has been at the defensive end of the floor, but by improving her quickness, she has begun helping that part of her game immensely. She always plays with effort, so that was never a concern, plus she’s tough-nosed and competes each possession. I’m really intrigued to see how much more she can develop her overall game these next three years.
Christina Lamb, 2022, 5-8 W, Lebanon H.S.
This was my first time seeing (or even hearing about) Christina, and at first glance she has broad shoulders, a strong, powerful frame, and she looks like an interior player. But as you watch her play, you realize she’s a really nice on-the-floor athlete in most directions, plus she’s comfortable and fairly skilled playing around the perimeter. She can handle it a little, attack the basket and finish through contact, plus she has a soft touch and can consistently make shots to near the 3-point line. She seemed to get along with nearly everyone she played with/against, but she also competed each possession and played with a great motor. I would anticipate her having a much bigger role this year at Lebanon, after primarily being a JV player last season.
Riley Makalusky, 2023, 5-9 W, Hamilton Southeastern H.S.
The wealth of talent just continues to flow into the Hamilton County schools, and Riley looks like someone who can certainly help them down the road. Riley is extremely long but very thin right now, however she looks like she might still grow another couple of inches. You can tell she has been well-trained growing up, because she has a nice handle, she can create off the dribble, and she has a really good feel for the game and can find open teammates just about anywhere. She also shoots a nice ball, and I think her consistency/range will only continue to improve as she gains strength over the years. Her mother starred at Villanova in the late 1990s, so Riley definitely has genetics on her side.
Lilly Toppen, 2023, 5-8 W, Kankakee Valley H.S.
Year after year Kankakee Valley wins games and flies very much under-the-radar on a statewide level because of consistently producing really nice college prospects. Lilly looks like she’ll be next in line to star for them sometime in the near future. She is extremely long, fairly fluid & smooth, and she has good North/South speed. She stood out Sunday because of her ability to shoot the ball consistently from the perimeter. If I’m not mistaken, I believe she won the 3-point competition they had. She is somewhat thin right now and will need to get stronger, plus her shot-pocket could come up a bit, but she gets her feet set quickly and gets the ball away. She plays with a good motor as well, and I think once she begins gaining strength, it will help her ability to get to the basket and to defend.