IL Bears Jamboree: Up and Coming Players to Watch.
I really enjoyed the opportunity to attend the IL Bears girls jamboree because this was another step in the direction for me to see players from the deep southern part of the state that I have not had much exposure…
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Continue ReadingI really enjoyed the opportunity to attend the IL Bears girls jamboree because this was another step in the direction for me to see players from the deep southern part of the state that I have not had much exposure to yet. In this group of up and coming players you do have 3 girls that I have seen play AAU ball but another group of girls that I have not seen. I think all of these girls have a chance to be heard from in the next few years and should be watched.
- Jilyan Burgener is 5’7 2024 Guard from Central A&M. Jilyan had a great day and showed the ability to be effective off the dribble as both a scorer and passer. She has an excellent shot and has previously shown the ability and confidence to take it from very deep range. But, just like any player her age she is much more consistent from 15-18 feet than she is 22 feet. Using her dribble and hesitation moves to freeze the defender proved to work all day long and create mid range chances and straight line drives to the rim. Jilyan has an opportunity to take her game very far if she can continue to develop her off hand and defensive game.
- Gracie Heckert Gracie Heckert 5'9" | SG Beecher | 2023 State IL Gracie is a 5’8 2023 Guard from Beecher City. Gracie took a game or so to get her rhythm going but once she did, she finished strong. Gracie has nice length and likes to attack the basket on offense. Once she has her game going she does a very good job of finishing runners in the lane. Gracie has a decent release on her outside shot and can hit some 3-pointers. At times she allows her arc to get a bit flat so she has trouble finding the right touch. But, when she finds that right lift to her shot she can get going and be a threat to score from anywhere. Her length and speed allow her to be a good defender that can cause havoc on that end of the floor.
- Alayna Kraus is a 5’3 2024 Guard from Okawville. Alayna is the smallest and most unassuming player that walked into the gym on Sunday. But, before long she was showing off her skill and heart which was catching the eye of anyone that had not seen her before. Alayna handles it well and plays a very smart game. My favorite play of her day was not the baskets she made from all three levels but a simple pass she made. Alayna dribbled at her teammate on the wing and that player went back door as her defender lost sight of her. With little fan fare and not much flare Alayna simply dropped a bounce pass right off her dribble to the teammate going back door. She hit her in stride for an easy layup and turned to run down the floor like it was nothing. That, is Alayna Kraus.
- Carson Belangee is a 5’7 2023 Guard from Hamilton County. Carson did a nice job scoring points going to the rim. She was able to score through contact and using a variety of moves to create her shot. Carson executed a nice euro step type move to get through traffic on the fast break. When she had the ball in her hands on the break she did a good job of having her head up looking to push the ball ahead. To keep the defense honest Carson was also able to hit a three point shot and show her ability to score from that level.
- Jalynn Rook is a 5’3 2024 Guard from Belleville West. Jalynn is a wiry and long armed point guard that did a good job on Sunday. She is left handed and does a good job getting to the rim when going to her left. Her outside shot is nice but her release can be a little slow. Jalynn has good speed and agility with the ball. Because she is smaller I really believe we will see a completely different player as she hits a growth spurt. With that said, the foundation is there and she can really go up from here.
- Kameron Adams is a 5’2 2024 Guard from Harrisburg. Kameron is a nice point guard that does a good job of handling pressure and keeping her head up looking to advance the ball. She runs the floor well and can create for her teammates but when the game slows down she can direct traffic and get the team into some organized sets. Going to the basket she did a good job of finishing through contact in the lane and making some tough shots. As a part of a high school team that generally plays mostly upperclassmen, Kameron will have plenty of time to develop her skills and prepare for the varsity level.
- Jayce Wellen is a 5’9 2022 Forward from Hamilton County. Jayce is a very strong player that can hold her own in the lane against girls with more height. She has a nice mid range shot, especially down in the short corner on the baseline. That is a tough spot that took her a few attempts to find her range but once she found it they were going in for the rest of the day. Inside the paint Jayce is a very good rebounder that can do damage on the boards on both ends. She also passes the ball well inside tight spaces in the lane.