USJN Premier Showcase Top 10

In this article I look at the 10 best players I saw at the USJN Premier Showcase event on Sunday 7/5. <ul> <li>Addison Scarlette is a 2021 Guard from Sacred Heart Griffin and Predators 17u Lowis. Addison had a very productive game scoring off mid range jumpers, hitting 3-point shots, running the floor and from the free throw line. She showed top end speed I did not know she had in running down loose balls or getting out on the break. Addison can pass the ball and defend. She definitely earned my respect tonight.Addison was the best player on the floor during this 30 minutes.</li> <li>[player_tooltip player_id="160134" first="Addie" last="Wright"] is a 2023 Post from Oakwood and Indiana Elite Havoc 2023. Addie showed some agility and athletic skill that I had not seen before. She did a good job in an up tempo game of being able to catch, dribble and pass on the move as a part of the their press break offense. Addie is very strong with the ability to score in the paint and has a nice touch out to 15 feet. She put a cap on the game by finishing a lay up on the press break and converting the free throw on the foul to extend the lead to 5.</li> <li>Diavian Mehundrew is a 2022 Guard from Springfield Southeast and Predators 17u Lowis. Diavian is wiry and athletic with a very good hesitation dribble and then a burst to get in the lane. Her opponent could not keep her from advancing the ball to the rim in the first half.In the second half she came out with a defensive intensity that created turnovers that led to easy layups on the other end. Diavian was able to pick her opponents pocket and step in front of a pass she anticipated to get run outs.</li> <li>[player_tooltip player_id="123619" first="Asya" last="Smith"] is a 2021 Guard from Pleasant Plains and Predators 17u Lowis. Asya is a quarterback on the floor. She is a leader and understands the game and what needs to be done. Asya does the little things well, she handles the ball, plays defense, communicates and passes the ball very well. She has a strong frame which you can see when she snaps off a 50 foot one handed bounce pass in the open floor. or when she can take on body contact via one on one pressure and have it not bother her. Asya is just the type of player when only live or game film tell the story, a stats sheet never will.</li> <li>Trinity Wade is a 2021 Guard from Shelbyville and Indiana Elite Havoc 2021. Trinity came through in a big way during a 3-4 minute stretch in the second half that was key to the win. She had a nice basket off the bounce, followed by an assist, hit a 3-point shot and then had a nice assist off the press break that helped secure the victory. Trinity is a solid combo guard at a D3/NAIA/JC level.</li> <li>Deming Hawkins is a 2021 Forward from Paris and Indiana Elite Havoc 2021. Deming is the classic team/ glue player. The kind of kid every coach loves to watch. She is a very good passer, she screens well, will rebound and do all of the little things that need done and be happy doing it. Deming also hit a 3 point shot and shows skill, but as an undersized stretch 4 she just might make some D3 coach really happy.</li> <li>[player_tooltip player_id="160143" first="Gracie" last="Heckert"] is a 2023 Guard from CH/BC coop and Indiana Elite Havoc 2023. Gracie had a big game with key baskets and plays during crunch time. Gracie is long and can score in the paint over smaller guards, which she did a few times in this game. Gracie can finish with both hands in the lane and also has a nice 3-point shot. Her defense is also a big part of her game as she can put her long arms to good use in getting steals and tips. Coach Tingley needed her to step up with a short roster and some players banged up a little and Gracie delivered.</li> <li>[player_tooltip player_id="123609" first="Tori" last="Standefer"] is a 2021 Guard from Civic Memorial and Kentucky Premier Robinson 17u. Tori does a nice job of pressuring the ball on defense and uses her instincts to find good opportunities to trap the ball and create turnovers. She can turn the defense into offense quickly and will attack the basket. Tori showed improved range in making a deep 3-pointer. Her ball handling is good but she can improve decision making when she is in the point guard role. Tori definitely has a future at the small college level.</li> <li>Mia Harris is a 2021 Guard from Okaw Valley and Indiana Elite Havoc 2021. Mia did a very good job in the first half of keeping her team in the game with her offense. She was creating her own shots by getting into the lane off the bounce. Mia used a nice head and shoulder fake and also a nice hesitation dribble to freeze her defender and get in the lane. She finished with a nice floater and also got all the way to the rim. Mia is another small school player that is likely under the radar but shows enough game to help a small college team.</li> <li>Sofie Lowis is a 2021 Guard from Sacred Heart Griffin and Predators 17u Lowis. Sofie is known as a top flight scorer but on Sunday she gave a clear view of her other talents. She can handle and pass the ball against a pressure defense which will be important as she moves on to college basketball. Sofie is able to remain poised under pressure and find the right play. I don't to suggest she did not score Sunday, she had a nice combination of 3's and mid range jumpers and floaters and free throws. But, it was the rest of her game that told the bigger story in my opinion.</li> </ul> It was fun watching the teams play that I did. Without full rosters of teams it is hard to watch anyone play that I am not already familiar with the roster or where to find it. I would suggest to any AAU teams out there that will play in events that are broadcast via the internet to get your rosters into Jacob, Brian and I so we can know who we are watching. More to come this week!