Triad Area Sleepers Outside Top 100 But Not For Long Class of 2021
With only one year left in their high school career expect these sleepers to come out of the gate running when the season starts. They all are capable players that skills have continued to improve each year and now they…
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Continue ReadingWith only one year left in their high school career expect these sleepers to come out of the gate running when the season starts. They all are capable players that skills have continued to improve each year and now they are set to have a great senior campaign. Each one has the skills to play at the next level at some college somewhere and with a good season look for them to find a place on a roster somewhere.
Ashleigh Williams – 5’1”- G- R J Reynolds High School
This guard has somehow been overlooked but it is not due to her game as she is one of the most exciting guards in the triad area. She gets from one end of the court to the other better and faster than most guards and what is really fun to watch is how when she gets to the rim how she uses her body and skills to score over bigger players. In the half-court she is just as deadly getting into the paint at will and finishing at the rim or setting up teammates. She used these talents to the tune of 11 points a game average and that is with a developing outside shot and once that gets more consistent and she adds that to her game she will be literally unguardable. She utilizes that same quickness to play pressure defense and disrupt offensives and ignite the break with steals and deflections. She plays hard all the time and plays with no fear and way bigger than her small frame. She has played on varsity for 3 years and is set to really turn things up her senior year expectations are she will have a great senior year and earn a spot at the next level running a team looking for a guard that has it all.
Alaila Kreuter- 5’9”- G, F- Bishop McGuinness High School
Transferring at any time in your high school career is tough but even more so when it’s before your junior year and you are trying to attract college interest. This player was able to make it work for her in a big way and the main reason is that she is such a complete player that fills the stat sheet and does it all and does it well, that fits into any program. Offensively she has all the skills she is an accomplished outside shooter even shooting the 3 pointer with great form and accuracy, she is an above-average passer and takes care of the basketball with few it any turnovers, can move inside and score with her back to the basket or on the offensive board and if needed she can handle the ball in transition and will make the right play more times than not. All these skills led her to average over 7 points a game in a new system and have multiple double-digit games and expect more as she now has had a year to adjust to the new system and her teammates and surroundings. As you watch her play your thought is that this girl just does it all well maybe not flashy but correct and fundamentally sound she has no glaring weaknesses in her game she scores, passes, handles the ball, rebounds and defends well and has an above-average basketball IQ just a total basketball player. Expect her to come back in her senior year with more of the same with the added comfortability she will have at her new school and the colleges will be making their way to the gym to see her play and she will land a spot on someone’s roster.
Patricia Walz- 6’2”- F- High Point Christian Academy
One of the biggest sleepers on the list but trust me one of the most improved if you would have seen her at the start of the season and at the end of the season you would not have thought she was the same player that is how much progress she made last year. She has learned to use her height and size to position herself better and in some games literally dominated the painted area on both ends of the floor. She has good hands and her footwork is developing as is her mid-range shot and as they improve her offensive output will increase and she will be a more consistent scorer. The exciting part for those of us watching is seeing that she is working hard to improve and it shows each time you watch her play and with the extended offseason expect next season to be her best. She was able to put up double figures in games last season but expect that to be the norm next season. On the defensive end she has learned to move better and position herself for shot blocks and rebounds without fouling so she has made tremendous strides in this area so expect her to be a force in the lane on the defensive end next season to all that may enter the lane. With the improvement of last year and the work she will no doubt put in during the summer expect big things from her and rest assured there is a college somewhere with her in their sights, after all, you can’t teach someone to be 6’3”.
Gillian Hinkle- 5’7”-G- Oak Grove High School
A nice combo guard that is good enough to play the small forward spot which makes her versatile and a valuable member of any team. She may not be the most athletic player on the list or on the court sometimes but she is just a solid, smart, high IQ basketball player and she does all the little things that count well. She can handle the ball if needed, she passes well when needed, she has a nice shot especially from mid-range and she can defend and rebound as needed so as you can imagine she just does whatever is needed. What I like about her is she does not make a lot of mistakes and she plays the game within herself and understands what she does best and that is what she does. She appeared in 28 games last season and averaged 5 points and almost 2 steals a game not to mention an impressive 80% from the free-throw line and with her smarts and with another year of experience under her belt expect those numbers to rise and if there is a college that puts a premium on high IQ basketball then she finds a place on a roster at the next level at the end of next season.
Lauren Sell-5’4”-G- Grimsley High School
The third member of a trio of a team that pushes the ball and relies on pressure defense. That gameplan plays perfectly for her skill set. She is at her best in the open court where she can use her speed and ball-handling skills to get the ball up the court quickly and either score at the rim or find an open teammate. She is just as comfortable running the lane and catching the ball on the wing and making plays in the off guard spot. She is still working on her jumper and when that gets more consistent she is going to demand more playing time and more attention. What makes this team go is the pressure they apply on the ball with their guards and she is one of those that excel playing full-court pressure defense or press defense and jumping passing lanes and igniting the fast break. She plays much bigger because of how hard she plays and she plays with no fear she even managed to grab 8 rebounds in a couple of games and was named MaxPreps Player of the Game once last season. Expect her shooting skills to improve over the break and when this three-headed monster is unleashed on teams next season expect her to do more than just play her part look for her to excel and attract some small college interest.