PGH Ohio Rankings 2023 – On the rise (part 3)
As the season begins, there will be several incoming freshmen who are expected to shine on area basketball courts in Ohio this winter. More and more opportunities are becoming available for the younger players to master their craft before getting…
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Continue ReadingAs the season begins, there will be several incoming freshmen who are expected to shine on area basketball courts in Ohio this winter. More and more opportunities are becoming available for the younger players to master their craft before getting to high school. These players are ready to showcase their skills on the varsity court this coming season.
Bel Rodriguez (Chippewa)- A number of basketball followers in Northeast Ohio are aware of the outstanding freshman class at Chippewa – as they never lost a game in junior high and have been very active on the AAU circuit. Bel should help take this familiarity from a regional level to a state-wide level, as the guard is a splendid shooter from all over the floor. Her frame should allow her to continue to develop as an all-around player, particularly as a rebounder and on the defensive end of the floor. She is a true combo-perimeter player that had a good exposure season, where a number of colleges were surprised that she was only a freshman.
Lexi Howe – pictured above; photo credit; Ohio Summer Showcase (Tri Valley)- With Tri Valley returning so much talent from their past few seasons – in which they enjoyed a lot of success – one would assume that it would be very difficult for a freshman to get minutes this year on Varsity. That is exactly what we expect out of Lexi Howe, though. Howe is a long and lanky guard with elite court vision and playmaking skills. She is a tremendous athlete who can guard each of the perimeter spots at a high level, at this point in her career. Howe can finish with both hands around the rim and does an outstanding job of breaking down defenses.
Leena Patibandla (Massillon Jackson)- Leena is an athletic guard who is a nightmare for opponents in the open floor. She has the size to finish over smaller defenders in the paint and her length gives her the ability to alter a number of passes and shots on the defensive end of the floor. Patibandla is a blur in transition and her toolbox of finishing moves is impressive for a player of any age – let alone a freshman. It will be fun to see how she transitions to the high school game, playing at Jackson with some very talented teammates – in the Federal League.
Rylee Bennett (Akron Manchester)- Rylee is a stretch 4 who has the potential and skill-set to play inside and out. She can take smaller defenders on the block and go to work, but she can also play on the perimeter and shoot the ball or drive around slower defenders. Bennett is a good rebounder and can guard positions 1-5 on the court when called upon to do so.