AAU Team Preview – Buckeye State Blast – Class of 2021

The Buckeye State Blast - in their second year as an organization, have one of the deepest 2021 groups of college prospects in the entire state of Ohio. While they have not been able to take the floor yet - they are a group to watch when the state allows full-court play again. <strong>Team Outlook:</strong> The Blast 2021’s were originally split into 3 groups - with All-Ohioans on each team. However, due to the scheduling changes related to COVID-19, it is likely that the teams will be mixed and matched through the summer/fall. <strong>Roster:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id="91129" first="Abby" last="Stephens"], 5’11 Wing, Uniontown Lake Alayna McMullen, 5’4 Guard, Massillon Jackson Ali Shane, 5’9 Forward, Tusky Valley Alicia Alexander, 5’7 Guard, West Holmes Avery Coleman, 5’11 Forward, Lexington Chesney Davis, 5’8 Guard, Mansfield Madison [player_tooltip player_id="91112" first="Grace" last="Mills"], 5’8 Guard, James A. Garfield [player_tooltip player_id="91136" first="Grace" last="Vermilya"], 5’11 Post, Loudonville Haley Webb, 5’6 Guard, Akron Manchester Jillian Iannetta, 5’9 Forward, Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy Kari Eckenwiler, 5’9 Wing, Mansfield Madison [player_tooltip player_id="91080" first="Karli" last="Anker"], 5’8 Guard, Akron Manchester [player_tooltip player_id="91127" first="Katie" last="Sprang"], 5’8 Guard, West Holmes Katrina Rolince, 5’5 Guard, West Holmes Kelsey Wolfe, 5’8 Guard, Waynedale Kylie Hawke, 5’9 Forward, Massillon Jackson Laney Murphy, 5’8 Guard, Waynedale Lexi Kleptach, 5’5 Guard, GlenOak Maggie Long, 5’6 Guard, Wadsworth Olivia Neer, 5’6 Guard, Ravenna Southeast [player_tooltip player_id="91116" first="Olivia" last="Payne"], 5’8 Guard, Green Paige Race, 5’4 Guard, Loudonville Rachel Neer, 5’7 Guard, Ravenna Southeast Ryley Chambers, 6’0 Forward, Canfield Sarah Neer, 5’11 Post, Ravenna Southeast Sidney Marshall, 5’6 Guard, Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy Sydney Snyder, 5’9 Forward, Loudonville [player_tooltip player_id="91134" first="Taylor" last="Thomas"], 5’9 Guard, Doylestown Chippewa <strong>Key Players:</strong> Realistically, there are 20-25 players from the group above, who will play in college. We will go into greater detail about a few of the more well-known players below. [player_tooltip player_id="91080" first="Karli" last="Anker"] - One of the state’s top Point Guards, Anker is an underrated athlete who averaged over 8 rebounds per game as a junior. She is well over the 1000 point mark in her career and is on pace to be a 4x All-Ohioan at Manchester. Anker is dynamic in the pick-and-roll, consistently making her teammates better. [player_tooltip player_id="91129" first="Abby" last="Stephens"] - Abby is a prime example of a point-forward who effects the game in so many ways. She can score from the perimeter or on the block, while also rebounding consistently and defending a number of different positions. Abby is a solid shooter from 3. Alayna McMullen - Alayna is a key guard for Federal League champion Massillon Jackson. She can play both guard positions, defending at a high level. A great 3-point shooter, Alayna has a quick release, but also does an outstanding job of getting to the rim and finishing with both hands. Ali Shane - Ali is one of the more physically gifted players in this bunch. She is a very strong kid, with a great frame to compete around the rim. Shane has become a better jump-shooter, extending her range out to 3-point land, adding a nice complement to her slashing and rebounding ability. Avery Coleman - Coleman is an elite rebounder, who uses her athletic ability to abuse opponents in the paint. A double-double machine, Coleman does most of her damage on the block and through the offensive glass. She has more un-tapped potential at the 4/5 position than 99% of prospects in her graduating class. [player_tooltip player_id="91112" first="Grace" last="Mills"] - Grace is a pure scorer with a beautiful mid-range game. She scores at all 3 levels, shooting a high percentage from the floor, free throw line and beyond the arc. Mills is at her best in transition, attacking the rim and finishing in a variety of creative ways. She is on pace to be a 4x All-Ohio and 1600+ point scorer in her career. [player_tooltip player_id="91136" first="Grace" last="Vermilya"] - Vermilya is one of the top unsigned post players remaining in the class of 2021. She is a true post who averaged nearly 18 points and 9 rebounds, in route to All-Ohio honors during her junior season. Grace has great touch from the floor, shooting nearly 60% from the field and over 80% from the foul line. Few post players have the arsenal of post moves from both blocks, with both hands, that Grace has. [player_tooltip player_id="91127" first="Katie" last="Sprang"] - Sprang is another outstanding athlete. A 2-sport All-Ohioan (basketball and track), Katie is always the best defender on the court, when she takes the floor. She is a true jump shooter - using her athleticism to create separation, leaping over less-athletic defenders to get shots off. She has no problem getting to the rim and breaking down defenses. Kelsey Wolfe - Wolfe is a great shooter of the basketball. With over 200 3's in her career through her first 3 seasons, Kelsey is a threat anywhere beyond half court. She is the shooter that every college coach would love to have - stretching the floor and busting zone defenses. Lexi Kleptach - Lexi was a key guard at GlenOak, as they made another run to the OHSAA Division 1 State Final 4. Lexi, a little bit undersized - makes up for it with a high skill level. She is a true court general who runs her teams well - shooting the ball at a high rate from 3 and initiating the offense without turning the ball over. Maggie Long - Maggie is very good as a lead guard or a scoring off-guard. She is super-skilled, with the ability to break opponents down off of the dribble, while flashing serious range from 3-point land. Coming from one of the state's top programs at Wadsworth, Maggie is well-prepared for a transition to the college game, where her IQ and big-game experience should help her contribute immediately. [player_tooltip player_id="91116" first="Olivia" last="Payne"] - Payne has the defensive ability and athletic tools that college coaches dream about. She can pick up guards full-court, creating turnovers and deflections as well as anyone. Olivia gets to the rim often, getting lay-ups and drawing fouls at a high level. She is great in transition. Rachel Neer - Neer is a tough kid, full of positive intangibles. She was an All-Ohio selection last winter at Southeast, scoring double figures and often times guarding the opponents best player. She is a good teammate and tremendous competitor. Sydney Snyder - Snyder missed her junior season with an ACL injury, after being one of Loudonville's top 3-point threats during back-to-back 20-win campaigns as a freshman and sophomore. Snyder has good size and is capable of rebounding the ball at a high level. She is a 3/4 tweener prospect, with the ability to be a true stretch 4 for a program that plays that way. [player_tooltip player_id="91134" first="Taylor" last="Thomas"] - Taylor is one of the hardest workers in the 2021 class. She had a breakout junior season, where she showcased an all-around game that includes spot-up potential from 3, post-moves against smaller defenders and a finishing package off of the dribble when she gets chased off of the 3-point line. Taylor's size makes her an intriguing college prospect as a perimeter player. &nbsp; &nbsp;