Hidden Gems Watch List: Mt. Hood and Three Rivers Leagues
This is just one of many attempts to discover some of the many hidden gems in the Portland region. There are so many talented players in this area that sometimes it is difficult to sort through all of the names…
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Continue ReadingThis is just one of many attempts to discover some of the many hidden gems in the Portland region. There are so many talented players in this area that sometimes it is difficult to sort through all of the names and faces. My goal is to break down the Portland area by league and division in order to hopefully expose some of the developing, and possibly undiscovered, talent within it. With that being said, let’s dive into just a few of the players that catch the eye in both the Mt. Hood and Three Rivers Leagues.
Audrey Roden Audrey Roden 5'9" | SG West Linn | 2021 State OR – West Linn – 2021 Guard
First up, we have a UNR commit who is an all around stellar athlete. She has an incredible ability to create her own three point opportunities with a smooth step-back and a shot that extends far beyond the line. Finishing under pressure is a specialty for this athlete and she is able to consistently deliver around much larger forwards. It’s no surprise that Audrey was recruited widely before signing with Nevada Reno; she is a really sound and complete player that has a bright future in front of her as she continues to develop throughout her senior season and collegiate career.
Charlotte Hardy – Central Catholic HS – 2022 Forward
Watching some of her games from her sophomore season, my first impression was that this is a player that has a plethora of obvious talent as well as potential to still be developed- an ideal combination. Being one of the younger competitors in her first couple of high school seasons, she wasn’t quite as strong as some of her older opponents around the basket. However, she still fought hard for rebounds possession after possession and really held her own. She moves down the court quickly on fast breaks and gets into defensive positioning fluidly, always looking for the next block opportunity. Ultimately a player with tons of natural talent as well as room to grow and flourish as she enters the second half of her high school career.
Reese Ericson – Lakeridge HS – 2022 Guard
The first word that came to mind while watching Reese was, “creator”. This is a total package player that delivers for both herself and her teammates on a game to game basis. She has impressive full court peripheral vision on offense and delivers passes accordingly. In addition to that, she has a beautiful outside shot that she is willing and ready to pop up at any moment. Reese is a really smooth player and a very prominent figure on the floor that will be fun to watch in her last couple of seasons with both Lakeridge and Oregon Elite.
Tabi Searle Tabi Searle 5'10" | SG Tualatin | 2023 State OR – Tualatin HS – 2023 Guard
This is a 5’10” sophomore guard that shows a ton of excitement on the floor. She was fun for me to watch because it’s obvious that she’s just pumped to be part of her program and have the opportunity to contribute on the court. Her enthusiasm makes an appearance on the defensive end where she frequently makes hustle plays and is extremely aggressive at the top of a press. Tabi is the youngest player in mention out of this bunch and she is still young with lots of room to grow. With that being said, this is a player to keep your eye on the next three years as she has an exponential growth potential and will continue to improve into an even more incredible athlete as she gains experience.
Being a contributor to a 6A program in Oregon is no joke. These competitors have all four been playing at the varsity level in their leagues since their freshman or sophomore season, which is even more impressive. Each of these athletes has a unique gift that they bring to the court for their teams and each one of them will continue to develop as they finish out their high school careers. I picked out these four athletes to analyze, not just by their athleticism and talent, but also because they all show a huge heart in the way that they play. Through their enthusiasm, their hustle, and their determination to improve each season, they are paving the way for younger athletes to follow in their footsteps and are becoming some of Oregon’s best high school girls basketball players in the process.