PV/OT Summer League: Standouts and Evaluations

With Sophia Berisha not in the lineup for Old Tappan the answer to that question will have to wait. Even though they were short-handed on Monday there was a lot to like from their match-up with the Immaculate Heart Academy at the PV/OT summer league hosted by Jeff Jasper. Besides their knight in shining armor, the foundation is being laid for a set of twin towers that are quickly on the rise. IHA is looking to pick up where they left off last year. With four returning starters, just like this summer, they’re off to a hot start. Let’s take a look at some of the players. <strong>Isabella Asencio 5’5” PG 2023 </strong> If IHA had a football team she would be the quarterback. Her vision and arm strength are outstanding. She can make any pass from anywhere on the court with accuracy. Knows how to put a defense in a compromising position. After a few easy finishes by the basket, she’ll start establishing herself from downtown. This opens up a ton of scoring opportunities for her teammates. She’s also a relentless defender. With fast feet and active hands, Bella can redirect opposing players away from the rim. She never gets tired. Her energy and confidence are evident on the court. <strong>Gina Gaccione 5’9” SG 2022</strong> If you plan on going to see IHA play I would suggest you bring a flashlight. This silky smooth senior can shoot the lights out. The way she plays the game is effortless. The lengthy guard has no problem knocking down shots with a hand in her face and is deadly when left alone. Don’t let her nonchalant style fool you. She’s just waiting for the right opportunity to take you to the hoop. In addition to being a solid defender, Gina has great leadership qualities. Her strong voice can always be heard echoing throughout the gym. <strong>Ava Naszimento 6’2” C 2023</strong> The rare combination of power and grace makes this dominant center a problem for any defense. She has several different moves at her disposal. One minute you getting backed down and then shot over the next. Even good defenders struggle to deal with her versatility. She’s the type of player that commands a double team. On the other side of the ball, Ava controls the middle of the court. She’s a smart defender with great vision who always puts herself in the right position. Her elite shot-blocking and rebounding ability make her one of the top centers around. She has no apparent weaknesses. Her game is Immaculate. <strong>Julia Schutz 5’9” F 2023</strong> After a strong sophomore season, this lady eagle will be looking to spread her wings. She’s a good all-around player who can help in many ways. Her versatility is her best quality. Plays with comfort down low or on the outside. She rebounds, shoots, and passes with proficiency. The same goes for defense. She is comfortable in numerous spots. Her summer’s already off to a good start. With [player_tooltip player_id="134623" first="A’Nyah" last="Barker"] off to college, I’m expecting Julia to take on an expanded role this coming November. <strong>Sophia Barisha 5’9” G 2022</strong> Although I haven’t had the pleasure of watching her yet this summer there was no way this article could be written without including her. What she did last year during an abbreviated season was nothing short of remarkable. Sofia led her team in points, rebounds, steals, and blocks. She has the unique ability to create shots for herself anywhere on the court but also knows how to get the best out of her teammates. On defense, she is equally as impressive. Her high basketball IQ and toughness make her a shutdown defender with the ability to take away the opposition’s best scorer. Thought she was good as a junior. When she’s a senior, there’ll be no stopping this Golden girl. <strong>Layla Giordano 6’1” PF 2024</strong> While starting as a freshman we got a glimpse into the potential of the six-foot forward. From what I’ve seen so far this summer every aspect of her game has improved. She was already making her presence felt near the basket but now has looked a lot more comfortable with the ball in her hands on the perimeter. Layla’s dribble has improved and a nice outside jump shot will be the perfect complement to her already powerful game. She’s an athletic defender who can cover a lot of different types of players. With her size and speed, the sky is the limit for this sophomore sensation. <strong>Maya Giordano 6’2” C 2024</strong> In her first season, Maya saw significant playing time and made contributions on both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball. She has a strong post presence and is already a good rebounder and shot-blocker. In the few months since I’ve seen her play last the improvement is evident. Her footwork has gotten better. This is opening up new moves for her in the paint and allows more space to be covered on defense. By late Fall she’ll be ready to match up with some of the top centers around. This twin is one of a kind.<img class="size-medium wp-image-304367 alignright" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/07/3FA2E04A-5321-4300-9624-F9E9B0C476D4-scaled-crop-1390x913-1625255715-300x197.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /> The summer season is just getting underway. We’ll check back in soon with these girls and plenty more.