Showcase Standouts: Ball Never Lies

Bash Hudson

June 27, 2021 @ 05:19 PM

There were so many players at the Ball Never Lies Showcase who impressed me. I saw familiar faces who raised their stock with their play and also prospects that I saw for the first time who popped.   [player_tooltip player_id="263816" first="Mairead" last="Gallagher"] - Lady Rivals/Cardinal Spellman - 5’10 - SG/SF - ’22 <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-302199" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/06/27006896_Unknown-crop-1359x893-1624831687-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /> ’22 Rank: #88 Whenever Gallagher steps on the court, she never cheats you with her energy and effort. On Saturday, she played every game like it was the championship. Flying up and down the court, making dynamic plays on defense, and putting suffocating pressure on the ball were a few of the impactful things she did during the event. I was highly impressed by her court vision and passing accuracy. Gallagher threw some flashy dimes that garnered some head-turning from the spectators. Her mid-range game looks more fluid, and she has become a.very good playmaker in transition.   [player_tooltip player_id="279142" first="Thalia" last="Shepard"] - Bay State Jaguars/St. Andrew’s - 5’9’’ - CG - ’23 <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-302201" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/06/27006880_Unknown-crop-1966x1291-1624831731-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /> ’23 Rank: #53 Every time I watch Shepard, I am more impressed by her, specifically when scoring. She gets to the rim so easily and displays one of the best off-hands in her class. The lefty combo guard loves to go right, especially in the open court, where she will keep the ball on a string and get an easy two points. Shepard is a confident ball handler who changes speeds well when going downhill, making it difficult for defenders to contain her. This showcase gave me a good glimpse of Shepard’s full offensive arsenal, and her stock rose because of it.   [player_tooltip player_id="296973" first="Olivia" last="VanPatten"] - RI Swarm/Cranston West - 6’0’’ - PF - ’24 <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-302203" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/06/27006864_Unknown-crop-1383x909-1624831774-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /> ’24 Rank: WL Up until Saturday, I had only seen VanPatten on livestream, so I was excited to have the opportunity to watch her in person. What stood out initially was her size. VanPatten is listed at 6’0,’’ but she is closer to 6’1’’ with a solid upper body. I liked VanPatten in pick and roll/pop action. She is a forward who can step out and drain three-pointers, so it makes her a major threat in the pick and pop. VanPatten also rolls hard to the basket after she sets a pick, resulting in an easy layup or her drawing a foul. VanPatten has a very high ceiling due to her size, offensive awareness, and long-range shooting capability. I think she can make a big jump this summer.   [player_tooltip player_id="297186" first="Hannah" last="Grudzien"] - Central Flight/Killingly - 6’0’’ - SF - ’24 <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-302205" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/06/27006768_Unknown-crop-1434x941-1624831831-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /> ’24 Rank: WL Grudzien is another player I saw in person for the first time, and she should be a player on everyone’s radar this summer. She is a long, athletic wing who is a valuable player on the court because she can stretch the floor with her sharpshooting. Grudzien seamlessly fits in with her team at the showcase because she plays so well off the ball. Grudzien was one of the few players who stood out because of her cutting and IQ, as opposed to her one on one breakdowns. Grudzien was very effective on the perimeter and down low because her size and length made her difficult to defend. Add Grudzien to the list of compelling wings representing the ’24 class. She should be a prospect who can make some noise in the September rankings update.