Weekend Round Up: Watch List Stock Risers

It was so much fun watching all the girls compete at a high level over the weekend. I had the opportunity to observe many players I put on my "Watch List," and it was a privilege to get the chance to see them play in person finally. Here are some of the players from that list who popped along with new players who earned not only a spot on the Watch List but made a strong case to be ranked come June as well.   Class of ’22:   [player_tooltip player_id="266690" first="Leanne" last="Wydom"] - Marlboro/Mass Mavericks - 5’10’’ - PF <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-272974" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/04/hI6IXD6VSUOx9HwJe5KVMA-scaled-crop-1438x944-1618404689-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /> I am not speaking in hyperbole when I say this, but with how well Wydom played over the weekend combined with her unique skill set, she has the potential to be a top 30 player at minimum. One of the best inside-out players from the weekend, Wydom can knock down outside shots but will also use her strength to post up and get easy points on the block. What separates Wydom from other bigs in her class is that she is an incredible passer. I can not say enough about how valuable an unselfish forward who creates scoring opportunities for their teammates is to the team. Seeing the way Wydom moves the ball on offense and the scoring versatility immediately raised her stock.   [player_tooltip player_id="263804" first="Abby" last="Martin"] - Whitman Hanson/MT Elite - 5’10’’ - PF <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-271836" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/04/fpF2x8QiS9CSKToBZfA3g-scaled-crop-1302x855-1618284759-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /> I cannot say enough great things about Martin’s game. She made my "All-Grit Team" because of her toughness and willingness to do all the dirty work that players hate doing, but her skills go beyond that. She can defend multiple positions, is a tenacious rebounder, and is an excellent shooter off the catch. Watching Martin up close and seeing the various ways she impacts a basketball game was highly impressive. [player_tooltip player_id="263970" first="Tayla" last="Barros"] - Cathedral/Boston Showstoppers - 5’10’’ - CG Barros is one of the more creative three-level scorers. I have watched her highlights at Cathedral, and her innovation off the dribble stood out immediately. I was excited to see her in person for the first time up close and observe her scoring prowess. Barros is a scorer who can get a bucket whenever she wants. An excellent outside shooter who has the ball-handling and quickness to dominate inside the arc and score at will. Barros has all the tools to take over a game scoring the basketball single-handedly, and at her height, she is a challenge to contain. Class of ’23: [player_tooltip player_id="267553" first="Niya" last="Morgen"] - Swampscott/MCW Starz - 5’4’’ - PG/SG <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/04/DEKVhvnlRqG2tw8nTmJeg-scaled-crop-1342x881-1618368008.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-272160" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/04/DEKVhvnlRqG2tw8nTmJeg-scaled-crop-1342x881-1618368008-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a> I first saw Morgen play at a drills session with MCW Starz Coach Tony Gallo, and she was easily the hardest working player in the gym. Her ball handling is elite, and she takes pride in going 100% in each drill to be the best player she can be. The hard work paid off because she was jaw-dropping good over the weekend. She was efficient in shooting the basketball, showed her unselfish playmaking ability, and competed hard on the defensive end. She is a small guard but is so good at creating separation off the bounce that she can score over bigger defenders. Her play jumps out at you, and with how tenacious she is as a defender, Morgen can be one of the more valuable two-way guards in the ’23 class.   https://x.com/BashHoopsNE/status/1381684200877789185 [player_tooltip player_id="184039" first="Sophie" last="Bradbury"] - East Bridgewater/Lady Rivals - 5’7’’ - SG <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/04/BxRBKRH1QQmKLDeYrSm5qg-scaled-crop-1216x798-1618368200.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-272164" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/04/BxRBKRH1QQmKLDeYrSm5qg-scaled-crop-1216x798-1618368200-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a> I saw one game featuring Bradbury, and it was all I needed to see to conclude that she is a stock riser. She can shoot the lights out, and came out aggressive on Sunday afternoon. Confidently nailing bomb after bomb without breaking a sweat was so impressive that I turned to the spectators next to me and yelled, "Who is number 15?!?!". She was that electric and efficient shooting the ball. When I watched Bradbury over the winter, I knew she was a terrific defender and finisher at the rim. I did not realize she could rip it up from downtown to the extent of what I witnessed Sunday, and I was impressed. [player_tooltip player_id="267178" first="Ashlee" last="Talbot"] - Dracut/ MCW Starz - 5’6’’ - PG <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-272166" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/04/bOHSWhwtRTOpsA6TTOe0pQ-scaled-crop-1526x1002-1618368273-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /> Talbot was one of the best players Sunday, but overall, I thought she had an excellent weekend. Her entire offensive repertoire was on display, and I loved how assertive she was from the opening tip. Her MCW team was down a couple of key pieces, and I thought Talbot was great at setting the tone early by being aggressive and getting herself in the scoring column. Her outside shot was money all weekend long, and her ball security was exceptional. I always appreciated Talbot’s ball-handling skills and the fact that she keeps the ball on a string and does not commit a ton of turnovers. Talbot played the point guard position as well and consistently as anyone.   Class of ’24 [player_tooltip player_id="269139" first="Alex" last="White"] - Pinkerton Academy/Team Saints - 5’11’’ - SF/PF <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-272168" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/04/Ywsp5srYSWygd4Zxq8k9ow-scaled-crop-1345x884-1618368357-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /> I am very high on White and think she can make some noise in the ’24 rankings. She did not disappoint over the weekend. What I loved most about White was her game-to-game improvement. It seemed like with each game, she gained more confidence and became more aggressive, especially in the paint. She was relentless on the glass, initiating contact and getting to the free-throw line. I also saw her hit a couple of mid-range shots, which is encouraging because if she can develop that part of her game and become a consistent jump shooter, she will be a nightmare to guard. https://x.com/BashHoopsNE/status/1381044382267289602 [player_tooltip player_id="269140" first="Annie" last="Stanton"] - Medfield/Mass Mavericks - 5’9’’ - CG <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-272170" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/04/hf0bPEEERg6NS9SdevOjA-scaled-crop-1292x848-1618368425-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /> Stanton played up with the ’22’s over the weekend, and she blended in so well with the team. She plays with confidence and looks so comfortable on the court that she can be mistaken for a junior because she plays beyond her years. From the little I have seen of Stanton before the tournament, I knew she had potential but wanted to see a little more of her game before drawing a conclusion. With her length, motor, and physicality, Stanton can easily be a top 20 player because she is one of the few players who have size and athleticism at the guard position in her class and know how to use it. There is nothing clunky about her movement. When she runs the floor, cuts, and makes plays off the bounce, it is fluid. I think she can turn some heads during the spring season.