July X-Factors

Below are a few players who play significant roles for their respective teams and will be monumental this month to their teams’ success.   [player_tooltip player_id="292782" first="Ellie" last="Moffat"] - CT Supreme/Hamden Hall - 5’5’’ - PG - ’22 <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-305075" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/07/26741872_Unknown-crop-964x633-1625498996-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /> ’22 Rank: WL I think Moffat’s skill set is the perfect fit for the firepower on CT Supreme. She comes off the bench as the backup point guard, but you can insert her at the 1 next to [player_tooltip player_id="279971" first="Mackenzie" last="Sirowich"] and have a formidable backcourt. Moffat secures the ball well and is a great distributor, so when she is on the court with Sirowich, [player_tooltip player_id="282698" first="Dennaye" last="Hinds"], [player_tooltip player_id="283103" first="Emi" last="Roberto"], and [player_tooltip player_id="278066" first="Kayla" last="Tilus"], the team can flow well on offense. Moffat can also help space the floor with accurate long-range shooting. Her tenacious on-ball defense is her greatest strength. You would be hard-pressed to find a point guard who digs in and defends harder than Moffet does.   [player_tooltip player_id="263964" first="Nicole" last="Parks"] - Bay State Jaguars/St. George’s - 6’0’’ - SF/PF - ’22 <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-305076" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/04/Okk95sSTTNmLPZYGAjdmbA-scaled-crop-1204x791-1625499023-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /> ’22 Rank: #20 Parks is so valuable to the Jaguars because she can defend every position on the court. There is not a single assignment Parks won’t accept. I’ve seen her defend point guards, sharpshooting wings, and muscle up bigs in the post. Parks is willing to do all the dirty work for the Jaguars but can fill up the scoring column if given the opportunity. She can step outside and hit threes, is an excellent finisher around the rim, and is a good passer. The hustle, effort, and intensity that she brings to the game are what elevates the Jaguars to another level, and her versatility on both sides of the ball will be imperative to the teams’ success this month. https://x.com/iamnicoleparks/status/1408594471403638785 [player_tooltip player_id="263913" first="Catherine" last="Cole"] - Team Saints/Lebanon - 5’7’’ - CG - ’22 <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-305050" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/07/27269632_Unknown-crop-1110x729-1625494893-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /> ’22 Rank: WL Cole is a very strong defender. She has good size at the guard position and can defend both the 1 and 2. What makes her an x-factor for the Saints is that she can run the offense. Cole does not turn the ball over, can facilitate, and can also take her defender off the dribble and get into the lane for penetrate and kick opportunities. Cole running the point also allows dangerous scoring combo guard [player_tooltip player_id="263847" first="Avah" last="Ingalls"] to play off the ball on the wing, where I think she is most potent. After watching Cole in practice last week, she has the talent and skill to land a spot in the top 100. I think she will have a big July and can be one of the biggest stock risers of the watchlist players.   [player_tooltip player_id="295915" first="Isabella" last="McLaughlin"] - Maine Firecrackers/Hamden Academy - 5’7’’ - CG - ’23 <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-305077" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/06/27006976_Unknown-crop-1303x856-1625499074-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /> ’23 Rank: #57 Until the Hoop Girls Group New England Jam Fest, I had only seen McLaughlin at tournaments and showcases through livestream. After watching her courtside at Jam Fest, I am 40 spots off on her ranking, and I am not speaking in hyperbole when I say that. McLaughlin is a top 20 player in her class at a minimum. She has the athleticism, ball handling, shot creativity off the dribble, and the swagger to go on top of it. In the games I saw Mclaughlin play, she was out of this world good. Her playmaking and poise down the stretch helped the Firecrackers pull off a couple of tough wins. I think McLaughlin’s energy and intensity, along with her offensive firepower in crunch time, played a significant role in those victories. She is fearless, a gamer, and one of the best closers in the ’23 class.   [player_tooltip player_id="264678" first="Rachel" last="Ullstrom"] - Lady Rivals/Marianapolis - 6’1’’ - SF/PF - ’22 <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-305078" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/03/nVDY8rxRMGdMkkiMEvbgA-scaled-crop-1204x791-1625499101-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /> ’22 Rank: #19 Ullstrom can get lost in the shuffle on the Rivals 17U team because they have 6 top 5 players in their respective classes. Still, Ullstrom is undoubtedly the best 3 and D prospect in the ’22 class. At 6’1’’, and with her length, she can engulf any player, whether it be on the wing or down low. Her quick release and efficiency from three make her the perfect fit for a Rivals team that can get to the basket whenever they want with anyone on the roster. Having Ullstrom as an automatic safety outlet behind the arc to snipe open threes all game long is the perfect complement to the slashing playmakers on the Rivals. Ullstrom also uses her size to be a huge threat on the offensive glass. Ullstrom is not flashy or won’t rack up many style points throughout a game, but she impacts the game in three crucial areas that help teams win: defense, rebounding, and deadly three-point shooting. https://x.com/LadyRivals/status/1396817729991098377