Future Stars Showcase: Standout Wings and Bigs

I got to see some really talented teams and players go head to head this past weekend at the Future Stars Showcase presented by Premier Basketball in Frisco, Texas. Both grassroots and high school teams were in attendance, leading to some interesting matchups and an overall competitive environment for all involved. Several prospects showed up and showed out over the weekend. Here are some wings and bigs that caught my eye: <strong>Logyn McNeil | 2021 | 6’3’’ Small Forward/Power Forward | Rockwall Heath HS</strong> - McNeil showed that she can score at the hoop with either hand. She has great mobility at 6-foot-3-inches and thrives in transition. She runs the floor and puts outlet passes on the money. In the half-court, the LSU commit possesses solid footwork as well as a nice variety of moves she can go to, including ball fakes and spins. Additionally, she rebounds incredibly well, consistently attacking the ball at its highest point. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="136320" first="Mackenzie" last="Wurm"] | 2021 | 6’3’’ Power Forward/Center | Allen HS</strong> - Wurm has been present at the last three or four tournaments I’ve attended. Her consistency as an elite rim protector is extraordinary. She is fundamentally sound at both ends of the court and her length is off the charts. I’ve seen her swat away layup attempts without even leaving her feet. She is disciplined about staying vertical when challenging shots in the paint. Wurm even held her own defensively when she had to defend on the perimeter. Offensively, she can stretch out and shoot from mid-range and beyond the arc, making her a nightmare to deal with at that end too. She remains one of the best all-around post players in the state. <strong>Kiley Hicks | 2021 | 5’9’’ Small Forward/Power Forward | Wylie East HS</strong> - Hicks is the anchor for her team defensively. She’s an excellent communicator, always making sure her teammates know their assignments. I loved the physicality she played with in Frisco. She is willing to sacrifice her body to make things happen. The Wylie East forward converted some tough interior baskets through contact, but also displayed the ability to beat defenders off the dribble. <strong>Jamesha Reece | 2022 | 5’9’’ Small Forward | Shoemaker HS</strong> - Reece has a super relaxed style of play. She is a skilled prospect who is best suited to play on the perimeter. However, she was forced to play down low a lot during this tournament. Reece handled it well, showing that she can still impact games with her dribble penetration, mid-range jumpers off the bounce, and some nice back-to-the-basket moves, all while chipping in at the other end with a few steals and blocks. <strong>Tiffany Liddie | 2022 | 5’10’’ Shooting Guard/Small Forward | Rockwall Heath HS</strong> - Liddie is a slasher out on the wing. She got to the rim at will in both of the games I saw her play in. She was virtually unstoppable when attacking defenders off the dribble. It felt like every time she drove to the basket she either got a bucket or earned a trip to the foul line. The 2022 wing is great at changing direction and altering her speed on her way to the hole. Nobody could keep her in front of them, and it led to a very productive weekend for Liddie. <strong>Nia Santiago | 2023 | 5’9’’ Shooting Guard/Small Forward | Rockwall HS</strong> - I’ve included Santiago with the wings because she was listed as a small forward on the roster I received. That said, she is more of a point forward. She was the primary ball handler when she was on the floor and is a natural playmaker with spectacular court vision. As a scorer, she can stop and pop from the elbows or get into the lane with her long strides. Santiago also showed that she can go coast-to-coast after pulling down a rebound. The Rockwall sophomore is a bit raw, but her athleticism and playmaking ability make her an intriguing young prospect with a lot of upside.