PGH Top 250 (Illinois) Who To Keep An Eye On: Class of 2023
This upcoming weekend on Oct 2nd, the Top 250 Expo comes back to Illinois at the well-known Romeoville Athletic and Event Center. This expo will be filled with talent from all over the state. Each girl will be ready to…
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Continue ReadingThis upcoming weekend on Oct 2nd, the Top 250 Expo comes back to Illinois at the well-known Romeoville Athletic and Event Center. This expo will be filled with talent from all over the state. Each girl will be ready to put a name to their game and show off their hard work. Below is a handful of juniors to give an extra minute to during the expo:
Gabrielle Burgess Gabrielle Burgess 5'7" | PG Lake Park | 2023 State IL | ’23 Lake Park
Gabi is an aggressive, disciplined, and elite two-way guard, who gives 110% from tip-off to the end of the game. Her first step is quick and her finishing ability is consistent. Her energy and footwork on defense is not to be looked over. She shuffles and recovers very well. Gabi also knows when and how to bump to create that extra pressure without fouling. She’s a menace from end to end.
Lexi Kerstein Lexi Kerstein 5'7" | PG Deerfield | 2023 State IL | ’23 Deerfield
An all-around basketball player.. who can average 15/10/5 with no problem. Lexi is a High IQ player who has no fear. Her game allows her to play with any and everyone, due to her “feed first, eat later” mindset. Quick feet but even quicker hands when she’s defending. Kerstein’s ball-handling and vision reminds me of Courtney Vandersloot.
Samantha Orgiel | ’23 Burlington Central
High efficiency 3 & D is a great “label” for Sammy’s game.. but it would discredit all her other talents. Shooting the 3, staying in front of her man, and staying active is what she’s known for. However, her game is much more. She creates for others by creating for herself. Her constant stop-and-go ball handling throws off the entire defense, which creates cuts, openings, and space for her teammates to make plays happen. Players like Origel can play at a pace that impacts the whole game from start to finish. She’s a game changer.
Tia Poulakidas | ’23 Neuqua Valley
Her game has no position, though she flourishes in the small forward or the stretch 4 role. Besides being MONEY from midrange, with that quick and effortless release… Tia’s relentlessness in the paint needs to be noticed. From rebounding, scoring, and defending, she’ll have you dialed in. A walking “second chance”. Whether it’s defense or offense, she will always give her team a second chance. Tia will grab 10-15 rebounds with it being 50/50 on both sides. She can score, defend and create with ease. Her talent will only increase over time.
Aspen Weeks Aspen Weeks 5'7" | PG West Aurora | 2023 State IL | ’23 West Aurora
The eyes on Aspen were already there but got even bigger this summer when the announcement was made.. that she was taking her talents to West Aurora. The two-time All-State guard is a head turner. Her game is loud and passionate. The offense screams non-stop, and her defense yells no quit. Weeks is as tough as they come. She can score from paint to arc and defend post and guards. She’s elite, highly advanced, and still getting better.. which is scary. This will be a preview of a player who will impact her new team immediately.
Jessie Ozzauto Jessie Ozzauto 5'10" | CG Huntley | 2023 State IL | ’23 Huntley
The talent of Jessie Ozzauto Jessie Ozzauto 5'10" | CG Huntley | 2023 State IL will be forever praised and announced by me. I am beyond certain she will leave a mark on whatever team is lucky to have her commit. Her game is just that special. There isn’t a box on being a true basketball player, that she doesn’t double check, there’s just some that she triple checks. The cliche is always “the sky is the limit” or “there’s no ceiling” but her talent is beyond that. Some players are just ready for a professional league.. even in the development stage. When more years, strength, and knowledge are added to her bag… she will be a name to remember.