I-35 Showcase Wichita : 2021 Standouts

Of the 108 players attending the Wichita I-35 Showcase event, September 13, nearly a quarter of the field were 2021s.  Kansans made up 75% of that number.  Below are notes stand outs I saw. [caption id="attachment_203090" align="alignleft" width="150"]<img class=" wp-image-203090" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2020/09/Kassidy-Beam-McPherson-2021-298x300.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="151" /> McPherson 2021 [player_tooltip player_id="123522" first="Kassidy" last="Beam"]. Photo by Robert Kelly.[/caption]<strong>[player_tooltip player_id="123522" first="Kassidy" last="Beam"], 5’7", SG, McPherson</strong> -- Beam moves well on the perimeter to set herself up for shots and is money from beyond the arc.  Beam also shows good transition speed and competitiveness on the defensive end. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="186590" first="Catherine" last="Bowman"], 5’8", PG, Bucklin</strong> -- Bowman showed aggressiveness and physicality on both ends of the floor.  She was able to score a variety of ways and defend multiple positions well, including when she found herself battling bigs around the basket. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="123521" first="Taylor" last="Claussen"], 6’0", PF/SF, Manhatta</strong>n -- Claussen showed athleticism, elevation, and quickness around the basket.  She also showed herself to be a solid three point threat.  Defensively she used her quickness, intelligence, and strength to defend well on the perimeter and inside against bigger posts as well as smaller, quick opponents.  Claussen has good transition speed and an ability to catch and finish on the fly. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="160900" first="Jaila" last="Harding"], 5’8", PG, Wichita Southeast</strong> -- Harding had a rough start to the showcase due to forcing things too much.  When she finally settled down she showed a terrific ability to finish with speed in transition.  Harding caught the attentions of several coaches. [caption id="attachment_203089" align="alignleft" width="150"]<img class=" wp-image-203089" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2020/09/Emilia-Nworie-Sunrise-Christian-Academy-2021-defended-by-McKenna-Vogl-Pretty-Prairie-2022-288x300.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="156" /> Sunrise Christian Academy 2021 [player_tooltip player_id="164049" first="Emilia" last="Nworie"] defended by Pretty Prairie 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="191202" first="McKenna" last="Vogl"]. Photo by Robert Kelly.[/caption]<strong>[player_tooltip player_id="123557" first="Jennifer" last="Jacobs"], 6’1", PF/SF, Kapaun Mt. Carmel</strong> -- Jacobs extended her strong summer play by showing speed, athleticism in transition, and quickness around the basket.  She showed solid strength and an ability to score in a variety of ways.  Jacobs generated substantial attention with her play. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="164049" first="Emilia" last="Nworie"], 6’5", C/PF, Sunrise Christian Academy</strong> -- Nworie can do a substantial number of things well and, honestly, was not often challenged consistently well by those who matched up with her.  An exception was the aforementioned Claussen both on the perimeter and on the block.  Shorter but equivalently fast and quick, she pushed Nworie to broaden her usual repertoire to score and defend.  Nworie was able to do so, but needs to continue gaining strength and communicate with guards more consistently on where she wants to catch the ball.  What Nworie showed, that I had not seen until this event, was the ability to consistently and quickly knock down perimeter threes.  A high potential player who does a large number of things well already. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="106920" first="Jordyn" last="Rowe"], 5’3", PG, Sumner Academy</strong> -- As evidenced by blowing by other notable guards in the half court and being one of only a couple players who succeeded at getting to the hole and scoring over #6 ranked [player_tooltip player_id="93974" first="Emajin" last="McCallop"] of Bishop Miege, Rowe is deceptively quick with the ball.  She also has terrific vision in the half court. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;