Hope Scholastic Showcase 10/10 Pt. 2

This past weekend, Hope International University played host to their annual high school showcase. The event serves as a tune up to the regular season and gives high school teams an opportunity to compete against some top competition. I was able to attend the event on Sunday 10/10 and here’s a quick look at some additional standouts I saw. <strong>1. [player_tooltip player_id="104797" first="Kennedy" last="Smith"] - Etiwanda 2024</strong> Smith has the all makings of being a good post player who can do a couple of other things too. She’s a good finisher inside and she uses her body well to bump off the defense. She has good footwork in the post and can spin away from her defender as well. Good rebounder who boxes out properly. Defensively, she’s quick and mobile. She has the ability to body up bigs in the paint and she has the speed and length to switch out on wings. <strong>2. Crystal Wang - Sierra Canyon 2023</strong> Wang has good size and is able to play multiple positions. She can be a big wing or she stretch the floor a bit playing the five. She moves very well without the ball getting open, but she can make plays with the ball in her hands and shoot a bit off the dribble. She’s never stationary, she’s constantly zipping around the court. She does a good job on the glass with her size. <strong>3. Sumayah Sugapong - La Jolla Country Day 2023</strong> LJCD has no shortage of star power, but Sugapong stood out to me for simply fitting in and playing her role well. She kept the ball moving offensively making the right reads, but she took her scoring opportunities if they were there. She can slash to the rim and pushes the ball in transition. She’s a good defender who keeps her arms out, bends her knees and slides with the ball-handler. Takes charges. <strong>4. [player_tooltip player_id="151230" first="Kristal" last="Caldwell"] - Long Beach Poly 2022</strong> Caldwell was one of the best point guards I saw at the event. She controls the pace well. She’s a great ball-handler and does a good job breaking the opposing team’s press. She’s very quick and is a blur in transition. She can blow past her defender and get to the rim. She’s small, but it’s no matter, it doesn’t effect her game at all. She runs the offense efficiently, moving the ball and finding teammates. She sneaks in for rebounds too.