AAU Team Preview – WV Dream 2021

The WV Dream 2021s got the season off to a solid start a few weeks ago when they finished unblemished in pool play at the Adidas National Tip-Off Tourney in Pittsburgh. The Logan, W. Va.-based club used that tourney to work off some of the rust and ready for the rigors of the schedule down the road. That road is rapidly approached as Coach Hannah Tothe’s club is taking part in both The Clash on July 17-19 and the U.S. Junior Nationals Midwest Challenge on July 20-22. Both are held in Indianapolis, which is functioning as the de facto tournament hub for the Midwest while surrounding states are dealing with pandemic restrictions and tournament cancellations or postponements. What the Dream brings is a skilled roster short on numbers but deep on talent. Sticking with the ‘deep’ theme, Dream boasts two perimeter threats hitting on better than 40 percent of their attempts in Logan’s Jill To the and Kayla Baisden from Tug Valley. In addition, Wayne’s [player_tooltip player_id="153343" first="Alana" last="Eves"] is a capable threat from range as well as attacking the basket off the dribble. Point guard [player_tooltip player_id="88426" first="Kelci" last="Blair"] is also an outside threat, but what those unfamiliar with the lone Bluegrass-stater on this team will quickly appreciate is the guard’s defensive prowess. During the tip-off tournament, Blair shut down a number of high-profile scorers accustomed to filling up the stat sheets. She’s a suffocating on-ball defender and is just as talented defending in transition. While Dream can tend to work outside in—and given the percentages, who would blame them—Spring Valley’s [player_tooltip player_id="153364" first="Caroline" last="Asbury"] and Tolsia’s Julie Boone give them two capable threats in the interior. Asbury may be the team’s most athletic player and can score from multiple levels. She’s also an excellent rebounder and is great at getting position. <strong>WV Dream 2021 Roster</strong> <table style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="width: 6.69915%;" width="42"><strong>No.</strong></td> <td style="width: 25.944%;" width="162"><strong>Name</strong></td> <td style="width: 10.475%;" width="66"><strong>Grad</strong></td> <td style="width: 56.76%;" width="353"><strong>High School</strong></td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width: 6.69915%;" width="42">1</td> <td style="width: 25.944%;" width="162">[player_tooltip player_id="153343" first="Alana" last="Eves"]</td> <td style="width: 10.475%;" width="66">2021</td> <td style="width: 56.76%;" width="353">Wayne</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width: 6.69915%;" width="42">3</td> <td style="width: 25.944%;" width="162">[player_tooltip player_id="153357" first="Jill" last="Tothe"]</td> <td style="width: 10.475%;" width="66">2021</td> <td style="width: 56.76%;" width="353">Logan</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width: 6.69915%;" width="42">4</td> <td style="width: 25.944%;" width="162">[player_tooltip player_id="88426" first="Kelci" last="Blair"]</td> <td style="width: 10.475%;" width="66">2021</td> <td style="width: 56.76%;" width="353">Johnson Central (Ky.)</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width: 6.69915%;" width="42">10</td> <td style="width: 25.944%;" width="162">[player_tooltip player_id="153382" first="Kaylea" last="Baisden"]</td> <td style="width: 10.475%;" width="66">2022</td> <td style="width: 56.76%;" width="353">Tug Valley</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width: 6.69915%;" width="42">20</td> <td style="width: 25.944%;" width="162">[player_tooltip player_id="153396" first="Abbie" last="Myers"]</td> <td style="width: 10.475%;" width="66">2022</td> <td style="width: 56.76%;" width="353">Logan</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width: 6.69915%;" width="42">23</td> <td style="width: 25.944%;" width="162">[player_tooltip player_id="153409" first="Hannah" last="Blankenship"]*</td> <td style="width: 10.475%;" width="66">2021</td> <td style="width: 56.76%;" width="353">Wyoming East</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width: 6.69915%;" width="42">34</td> <td style="width: 25.944%;" width="162">[player_tooltip player_id="153364" first="Caroline" last="Asbury"]</td> <td style="width: 10.475%;" width="66">2021</td> <td style="width: 56.76%;" width="353">Spring Valley</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width: 6.69915%;" width="42">52</td> <td style="width: 25.944%;" width="162">Julie Boone</td> <td style="width: 10.475%;" width="66">2021</td> <td style="width: 56.76%;" width="353">Tolsia</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width: 6.69915%;" width="42"></td> <td style="width: 25.944%;" width="162">*injured</td> <td style="width: 10.475%;" width="66"></td> <td style="width: 56.76%;" width="353"></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> &nbsp; <strong>Players to Watch</strong> [player_tooltip player_id="153343" first="Alana" last="Eves"] – Alana is long, lean, athletic, and can play the 2, 3, or 4 positions. Her motor is always running. She is a great shooter and finishes well in the paint. [caption id="attachment_187843" align="alignright" width="97"]<img class="wp-image-187843" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2020/07/Tothe1-160x300.jpg" alt="" width="97" height="182" /> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="153357" first="Jill" last="Tothe"]</strong>[/caption][player_tooltip player_id="153357" first="Jill" last="Tothe"] – Jill is as deadly as they come from behind the arc. She has great range and has shot better than 40% from behind the arc the last two seasons of high school ball. A 90% free-throw shooter. Unselfish player, more concerned with wins than stats. [player_tooltip player_id="88426" first="Kelci" last="Blair"] – Kelci is a hidden gem. Extremely quick is a LOCK down defender. Coach has yet to find someone she can’t guard. She is a great leader and sees the floor well. True floor general. [caption id="attachment_187842" align="alignleft" width="93"]<img class="wp-image-187842" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2020/07/Baisden-151x300.jpg" alt="" width="93" height="185" /> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="153382" first="Kaylea" last="Baisden"]</strong>[/caption][player_tooltip player_id="153382" first="Kaylea" last="Baisden"] – Kaylea, along with Jill is a deadly threat from anywhere on the floor. Kaylea also is great at getting to the paint and finishing at the rim. Kaylea also hits better than 40% from behind the arc during the high school season. [caption id="attachment_187846" align="alignright" width="101"]<img class=" wp-image-187846" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2020/07/Myers-2-150x300.jpg" alt="" width="101" height="202" /> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="153396" first="Abbie" last="Myers"]</strong>[/caption][player_tooltip player_id="153396" first="Abbie" last="Myers"] – Abbie is a phenomenal talent with great moves that sometimes tricks her own teammates. So shifty and quick, great range and is a great defender. [player_tooltip player_id="153364" first="Caroline" last="Asbury"] – Caroline is the Dream’s do-all and most athletic player. She has a ton of grit, can lock you down inside, can take you off the dribble, and will step up and give herself up and take the charge. She is a very underrated player and having her at the top of one of the press usually causes fits for other teams. [caption id="attachment_187844" align="alignleft" width="91"]<img class=" wp-image-187844" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2020/07/Boone-177x300.jpg" alt="" width="91" height="154" /> <strong>Julie Boone</strong>[/caption] Julie Boone – Julie has great moves as a big and runs the floor well. She defends the paint as good as anyone and is the team’s leading rebounder. Teams looking for a true 5 should give her a look. [player_tooltip player_id="153409" first="Hannah" last="Blankenship"] – Hannah is a true teammate that we have missed. Her support and play along with her basketball IQ make her a great player. She can also light it up outside. Hannah has been out this year due to a medical condition.