Weekend Recap: Saturday’s Mt. Rushmore
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On Saturday, I spent the day covering Zero Gravity’s Mother Day Madness event in Massachusetts, and it was another impressive showing by the girls in the region. Throughout the day, many elite players and team performances got my attention, making…
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Continue ReadingOn Saturday, I spent the day covering Zero Gravity’s Mother Day Madness event in Massachusetts, and it was another impressive showing by the girls in the region. Throughout the day, many elite players and team performances got my attention, making it very difficult to pick 4 athletes to round out my Mt. Rushmore list. My criteria for making my Mt. Rushmore is very simple: From the games, I watched what 4 players did that I enjoyed seeing the most. You could make the list by scoring 50 points or scoring 0 but took 5 momentum-changing charges. Anyone can make the cut, and it comes down to who stood out the most when I was sitting courtside. Below is the Mt. Rushmore from Saturday.
Megan Stone Megan Stone 6'2" | PF Whitman-Hanson | 2022 State New E – MT Elite Ducks/Whitman Hanson – 6’2’’ – PF – ’22
’22 PGH Rank: WL
I have watched Stone play a few times this spring, and Saturday night was the best game I have seen thus far. Recognizing early that there was an apparent size mismatch inside, Stone took full advantage, scoring at will on the block. I liked how assertive she was and emphasized dominating inside, initiating contact, and getting to the free-throw line. When I see Stone destroy the opposition in the post like she was over the weekend and set the tone for the Ducks on offense, it raises her stock because she is also a proficient outside shooter. That kind of versatility from a power forward is extremely valuable, and Stone could be a frightening presence as the spring continues if her inside game will be this efficient.
Kathy Hernandez Kathy Hernandez 5'4" | PG Cranston East | 2022 State New E – Beat The Odds/Cranston East – 5’4’’ – PG – ’22
’22 PGH Rank: WL
Hernandez took over a game in crunch time with some of the most eye-popping shots that I saw on Saturday. Beat The Odds were down a few possessions down the stretch in their game vs. ASA Wildcats, and Hernandez put the team on her back to secure a late-night win. Hernandez’s shot-creation off the bounce and the separation she was creating on bigger guards was incredible. Her tight ball-handling wa on full display and she was dancing on every defender who attempted to stick her. What impressed me about Hernandez was how she facilitated and got her teammates involved in the 1st half and wasn’t shooting at a high volume. Once she recognized the time and situation, something clicked, and she became a bonafide unstoppable scorer. Hernandez trusted her teammates early and dominated the game with her dazzling shot making late to close the door on a win.
Kaydance Derba Kaydance Derba 5'10" | SG Oliver Ames | 2024 State New E – MCW Starz/Oliver Ames – 5’10’’ – SF – ’24
’24 PGH Rank: WL
I have not seen anyone from the class of ’24 who is better at catch and shooting than Derba. She is unique in that Derba has the size, quick release, and confidence to consistently bury opponents from behind the arc. Her off-ball movement stands out. Derba sets up her defender perfectly and comes off of screens hard, ready to shoot, needing the slightest bit of daylight to get the shot off. I personally love shooters who can also put the ball on the deck and be a playmaker, and Derba is very crafty handling the ball and made good decisions passing the ball when she penetrated the lane. Derba’s impact on games is wildly underrated. She should be regarded as one of the most versatile wings in her class as she showed the ability to play multiple positions on both sides of the ball consistently all day.
🚨’24 Stock Riser🚨
Kaydance Derba
Oliver Ames/ @MCWSTARZ
5’10’’
SGAs soon as I saw @DerbaKaydance set up her defender and start to come off the screen I held up the 👌🏾! Good morning good afternoon and good night 😤🔥📈 pic.twitter.com/sFEtJFUiGm
— Bash Hudson (@BashHoopsNE) May 8, 2021
Ava Black Ava Black 5'11" | CG Tabor Academy | 2025 State New E – Bay State Jaguars/Tabor – 5’10 – CG – ’25
’25 PGH Rank: TBD
Black continues to impress me every game. Every time I think I have seen Black’s entire bag of tricks, she shows me another part of her skill set. On Saturday, her passing was tremendous. I feel like I say this once a week but cannot emphasize this point enough that there is nothing more valuable than a big guard or forward who is a transcendent passer. Many players on Black’s Jaguars team can initiate the offense, but no one can create shot opportunities for others in the manner that she can. Black’s confidence to fit passes into tight windows was fun to watch. The Jaguars were down a couple of significant pieces in the game I saw, but you wouldn’t notice because Black seamlessly facilitated the offense and elevated whatever 5 player combination that was on the floor with her. Black has been on another level the past couple of weeks, playing like a top 3 player in the ’25 class.
🚨’25 Stock Riser 🚨
Ava Black (‘25)
Tabor/ @BayStateJags
5’10’’
Combo Guard @Ava_Jaye_Black sees the floor so well 🔥she has been playing at an unreal level the past couple of weeks. One of my favorite players to watch today!📈📈😤😤 pic.twitter.com/BQi50hthh3— Bash Hudson (@BashHoopsNE) May 8, 2021