8th Annual Sterling Invitational Day 2 Players Preview

Day 2 of pool play at the 8th Annual Sterling Invitational offers two games this afternoon. The Kingman Eagles played Monday and will be taking on Hugoton today. Southeast of Saline and Hutchinson Trinity clash as well. Below is a look a some of the players to players to watch in today’s games. As Kingman played yesterday, their player information can be found in the <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/2021/01/8th-annual-sterling-invitational-day-1-players-preview/">Day 1</a> preview. . <h2>Hugoton</h2> [caption id="attachment_243715" align="alignleft" width="150"]<img class=" wp-image-243715" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/01/Mikyn-Hamlin-2023-Hugoton_JoelHannigan-crop-417x274-1609971265-300x196.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="98" /> Hugoton 2023 [player_tooltip player_id="94958" first="Mikyn" last="Hamlin"]. Photo: Joel Hannigan.[/caption][player_tooltip player_id="94958" first="Mikyn" last="Hamlin"], 5’8", CG, 2023 - Hamlin earned Great West Activities Conference first team and Kansas Basket Coaches Association honorable mention selections a season ago. She averages 16.3 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 2.2 steals per game. Shoots 38.8% from three (40 made). Fast and a hustler in transition she uses her strength and handles to get to the basket and draw fouls. Add in her foot and hand speed, she is also an effective defender. [player_tooltip player_id="123506" first="Jordyn" last="Beard"], 6’1", C, 2021 - The two-time GWAC second team selection is among the top shot blockers and rebounders in the state. As one college coach commented to me this past summer, she is physically "put together" in her combination of size and length. Over the past year she has improved her foot speed and quickness beyond north-south speed. Her back-to-basket game and offensive quickness has grown as well. Beard also had solid handles to help bring up the ball if necessary and clear it off rebounds. A season ago she averages 7 points, 6.2 rebounds, 2.2 blocks, 1.7 steals, and 1.3 assists due to the wave of incoming 2023 talent that joined her. In 2019 she averaged 12.2 points, 12.1 rebounds (6th in the state), 35% ORB, 3.4 blocks, and 2.6 steals. She holds the school rebounding record of 21 rebounds in a game. [caption id="attachment_243718" align="alignright" width="151"]<img class=" wp-image-243718" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/01/Gianna-Vos-2023-Hugtoton_JoelHannigan-300x281.jpg" alt="" width="151" height="141" /> Hugoton 2023 [player_tooltip player_id="94974" first="Gianna" last="Vos"]. Photo: Joel Hannigan.[/caption][player_tooltip player_id="94974" first="Gianna" last="Vos"], 5’7", PG, 2023 - Vos was a GWAC second team selection a year ago as well. A player who spaces and shoots well on the perimeter, she can take defenders off the dribble to score athletically or distribute. <h2>Hutchinson Trinity </h2> [caption id="attachment_243229" align="alignleft" width="150"]<img class=" wp-image-243229" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/01/Becca-Hammersmith-Hutchinson-Trinity-2021-v-Inman-Mr-5-2020-300x288.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="144" /> Hutchinson Trinity 2021 [player_tooltip player_id="123548" first="Becca" last="Hammersmith"] from March 5, 2020, tournament game against Inman. Photo: Robert Kelly[/caption][player_tooltip player_id="123548" first="Becca" last="Hammersmith"], 5’7", SG, 2021 - Hammersmith broke out at the end of 2020 as a consistent perimeter shooter. She has good bounce, strength, and transition speed and is a competitive defender who boxes well. [player_tooltip player_id="123523" first="Hayley" last="Hughes"], 5’9", PG, 2021 - The two-time Heart of America League first team selection also earned KBCA 2A honorable mention honors. Hughes has strong handles and can score in wide variety of ways. She has a solid build, good length, and can absorb contact when scoring. Examples include a quick first step off a reverse pivot from a square up and [caption id="attachment_242705" align="alignright" width="149"]<img class=" wp-image-242705" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/01/Haylee-Hughes-2021-Hutchinson-Trinity-243x300.jpg" alt="" width="149" height="184" /> Hutchinson Trinity and Wheat State Elite 2021 [player_tooltip player_id="123523" first="Hayley" last="Hughes"]. Photo: Robert Kelly.[/caption]dribble jump through two defenders and go up off the jump stop. Hughes also shoots more than 80% from the line. <h3>Southeast of Saline </h3> [caption id="attachment_247607" align="alignleft" width="147"]<img class=" wp-image-247607" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/01/Karsyn-Schlesener-Southeast-of-Saline-3.20-v-Haven-regional-152x300.jpg" alt="" width="147" height="290" /> Southeast of Saline 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="124981" first="Karsyn" last="Schlesener"]. Photo: Robert Kelly.[/caption][player_tooltip player_id="124981" first="Karsyn" last="Schlesener"], 5’6", PG, 2022 - The two-time North Central Activities Association first team selection has a strong overall game. She is a dangerous shooter with strong scoring ability who gets her shot off quickly. She is also fast with strong handles, is a high IQ player who works hard off the ball, and a strong interior passer. Schlesener is also solid on the defensive end. Her excellent hand speed makes her a steal threat. She also boxes out and rebounds well. [player_tooltip player_id="191491" first="Reagan" last="Goetz"], 5’9", PG/SG, 2022 - Having seen Goetz play over the summer she showed the ability to take the ball up the floor with speed and finish athletically off the bounce. She also used good head and shoulder fakes to create mid-range jumpers outside the lane. Maddie Harris, 5’5", CG, 2024 - Harris has brought the Trojans a legitimate scoring threat with good handles. She is capable from beyond the arc as well as getting to the rim and finishing.