Battle of the Best Standouts: Part IV

This past week I was out at the Battle of the Best tournament in Des Moines for the first few days for the first evaluation period in the 2021 calendar year. The field was very good with quite a few EYBL programs as well as some of the top independents in the region. Below, I look at Part IV of my standouts from the event regardless of class. <hr /> <strong>Reese Ross - 6’1 SG - 2023 - St. Thomas More HS (SD) - North Tartan 2023 EYBL</strong> I’ve always been really impressed with Ross and at the Battle of the Best she took it to another level. She is an avid defender who wants to play defense. Ross is one of the top perimeter defenders in the region and is always in great position. Her offense is coming along as well as a lengthy slasher who can shoot. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="109162" first="Lauren" last="Feddema"] - 5’9 SG - 2022 - Buffalo HS (MN) - North Tartan 2022 Elite</strong> Feddema is a very solid guard who showed the ability to shoot the ball at a very high level in Des Moines. She also displayed a very good basketball IQ as she was always in the right position on both offense and defense.I really like her ability to put it on the floor making her a dangerous player with the ability she has to drive. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="12715" first="Mara" last="Braun"] - 5’11 G - 2022 - Wayzata HS (MN) - North Tartan 2022 EYBL - Minnesota commit</strong> There is not much more I can say about Braun that I haven’t already. She’s a game changer on the floor and what stuck out to me the most in the game I saw was her shooting ability. Braun made shot after shot from all angles and didn’t have to be square to the basket to make them. She always brings the intensity as well on the floor. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="12727" first="Kiani" last="Lockett"] - 5’9 PG - 2022 - Minnetonka HS (MN) - North Tartan 2022 EYBL - Creighton commit</strong> Lockett has everything that you look for in a point guard. She is quick with the ball, has the ability to attack downhill, has a high basketball IQ, and has the ability to shoot it well from the outside. Lockett is very quick in short bursts allowing her to get her defender on her hip and get to the rim. She is also an outstanding defender. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="191198" first="Ellie" last="Stearns"] - 5’8 PG - 2022 - Andover Central HS (KS) - Wheat State Elite 2022 Paul - Fort Hays State commit</strong> Stearns is a really solid lead guard who dictates the pace on the floor very well. I thought that her ability to get the ball up the floor was key to her teams performance. Stearns is a player who never gets sped up with the ball in her hands and was able to do a lot of very good things offensively. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="94960" first="Ava" last="Jones"] - 6’2 W - 2023 - Nickerson HS (KS) - Wheat State Elite 2022 Paul - Arizona State commit</strong> Jones has a great combination of speed and power that will translate over to the college game so well. She’s an athletic wing who can play multiple spots on the floor. I really like her versatility with the ball in her hands as she can shoot it or drive it right at you for a basket. I came away impressed with her motor throughout the week as well.