Shamrock Classic: Stock-Risers
The featured image is of Laney Hawkins Laney Hawkins 5'9" | CG Charlestown | 2023 State IN of Charlestown High School. Last weekend was the annual Shamrock Classic, with nearly everyone who’s anyone in Indiana in terms of grassroots teams…
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Continue ReadingThe featured image is of Laney Hawkins Laney Hawkins 5'9" | CG Charlestown | 2023 State IN of Charlestown High School.
Last weekend was the annual Shamrock Classic, with nearly everyone who’s anyone in Indiana in terms of grassroots teams and players participating. With it only being a two-day event this year, I was unable to see every team I wanted to in the 17U-14U divisions, but I was able to catch more than 30 teams in action. Below is a look at ten young ladies who I thought looked much-improved from the last time I was able to see them.
Darryn Ely Darryn Ely 5'10" | PF Cathedral | 2022 State IN , 2022, 5-9 PF, Cathedral H.S., Indiana Showcase Red – Darryn has had quite a stretch dating back to the Fall, and she just continues to improve. She has great length, she’s a nice athlete, and she plays with a good motor and a quiet toughness to her game. Her skillset is what continues to develop nicely, though, as she is now much more effective in the mid-post, and I think she can eventually extend it to the arc.
Tynlie Neal, 2022, 5-6 CG, Clinton Prairie H.S., Indiana Pride Attack – The last time I saw Tynlie was a couple of years ago, and at that time I felt like she was more of a shooter floating around the perimeter hunting shots. Now, she’s a strong, physical lefty who loves to handle the ball, run offense, and find teammates. She can get downhill and finish through contact as well, plus she still has that soft touch outside.
Macey Timberman, 2022, 5-5 PG, Northview H.S., Indy Lady Impact – When Macey was younger, she was more of an energetic scorer, who was always on attack, but she needed to add a little discipline. She still plays with great speed and quickness, but she is doing a much better job of picking her spots, changing speeds, and sensing tone. She has nice length, she competes, and she is very skillful and full of energy.
Ellie Wilkerson Ellie Wilkerson 5'9" | SF Plainfield | 2022 State IN , 2022, 5-9 SF, Plainfield H.S., Indy Magic BlueStar – Ellie is one of the better true basketball players in this 2022 class, but she played throughout the season a little banged up and wasn’t entirely herself. She looked much better last weekend, as she showed her skill, toughness, and basketball IQ. She has a strong frame, a nice-looking jumper with some range, plus she can handle it a bit and run offense.
Giavonnie Belton Giavonnie Belton 5'7" | SG Pike | 2023 State IN , 2023, 5-6 SG, Pike H.S., Lady Team Teague – Giavonnie is another ball of energy who has always been a solid contributor on any team she has played for. She has some wiry strength, a little length, and she competes at both ends of the floor. Offensively, she was typically more of a driver in the past, but now she looks so much more comfortable shooting it outside, especially when she gets rhythm.
Riley Flinn Riley Flinn 5'11" | SF West Lafayette Harrison | 2023 State IN , 2023, 5-11 SF, West Lafayette Harrison H.S., Indiana Flight-Long – Two Summers ago, Riley was a tiny combo guard who needed to get much stronger. Now, after several inches and some added strength, she is a long, tall, highly skilled wing who can do a little of everything. She can play a point forward role, she can attack the basket and score against contact, and she can knock down shots at all levels.
Taylor Fordyce Taylor Fordyce 5'10" | SG Carroll (Fort Wayne) | 2023 State IN , 2023, 5-8 SG, Carroll H.S. (Fort Wayne), Always 100 Elite 17U – Taylor was the second leading scorer on a strong Carroll team this Winter, and I can see why. She looks a little taller, stronger, and leaner. She is playing more explosively in all directions, and she looks more like a polished guard than a small forward now. She is tough, physical, and she competes, plus she has a nice perimeter skillset.
Laney Hawkins Laney Hawkins 5'9" | CG Charlestown | 2023 State IN , 2023, 5-7 CG, Charlestown H.S., Indiana Elite Lightning – Laney is one of many quality Southern Indiana kids in this class who I hope doesn’t get overlooked because she’s from the South. She has nice length, a fluid athleticism to her, and she has transformed from more of a shooter to a combo guard who can handle, run offense, find teammates, but still consistently knock down shots outside.
Annika Davis Annika Davis 5'8" | PG Bishop Luers | 2024 State IN , 2024, 5-6 SG, Fort Wayne South Side H.S., Gym Rats-Walker – During the Summer/Fall of 2020, Annika did a nice job of showing off her athleticism and potential. So far this Spring, she is starting to pair that with a nice skillset. She is a strong athlete with some length, but she has a nice-looking jump-shot, she can get to the basket, and she has a solid pull-up. She is just a really nice, multilevel scorer.
Elizabeth Kelleher Elizabeth Kelleher 5'10" | PG Westfield | 2024 State IN , 2024, 5-8 CG, Westfield H.S., IGB-Morse – Her crowning moment last weekend was a 25-foot pull-up at the buzzer to push her team into the 16U Championship. But Elizabeth has really improved since last year. She has grown, she has great length, and she has gotten stronger. Her handle is tighter, she is making better decisions with the ball in her hands, and she is shooting it much more consistently outside.