Mt. Rushmore: ZG Level Up Challenge

<span style="font-weight: 400;">This past weekend I watched the Zero Gravity Level Up Challenge in Hanover, Massachusetts, and this was another fun and competitive event featuring some of New England’s best. The coolest part about this Mt. Rushmore edition is that the players who impressed me the most were all watchlist players, including some I have not watched in person before the tournament. Below are the 4 top standouts from the weekend. </span> &nbsp; <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/10/7144EEBC-A38F-4F04-9D2C-B31B822FD8C8-scaled-crop-2049x1345-1634661124.jpeg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-342624" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/10/7144EEBC-A38F-4F04-9D2C-B31B822FD8C8-scaled-crop-2049x1345-1634661124-300x197.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="341971" first="Nell" last="Sparks"] - Lady TNE/Winsor - 5’6" - SG - ’25</strong> <span style="font-weight: 400;">No one competed harder on defense than Sparks this past weekend. She played a huge role in Lady Team New England’s success on Saturday with her tenacious ball-hawking and passing lane disruption. Sparks’ effort was off the charts, not just on defense but on the glass too. She gave her team a massive jolt on the offensive boards securing second and third chance scoring opportunities. Sparks does all the little things and is crafty on offense, showing her impact in all game phases. </span> &nbsp; <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/10/B4C82FE3-890E-40FE-9F5C-2FE96DF0CB05-scaled-crop-1951x1281-1634661386.jpeg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-342632" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/10/B4C82FE3-890E-40FE-9F5C-2FE96DF0CB05-scaled-crop-1951x1281-1634661386-300x197.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="342628" first="Sophia" last="Pang"] - Evolution/ Belmont - 5’5’’ - CG - ‘26</strong> <span style="font-weight: 400;">I only saw the second half of Evolution Basketball’s nail-biting 1 point win vs. the MA Huskies, and that was all I needed to witness to conclude that Pang was Mt. Rushmore material. Any shot Pang wanted, she got and was very efficient scoring off the dribble. She sparked a comeback with Evolution down double digits, maneuvering her way into the paint numerous times, displaying very creative finishes. Pang has a good feel for the game also. She is never stagnant on offense, cuts aggressively to get open, and uses the whole floor to be effective on offense. </span> &nbsp; <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/10/6572C875-12CE-43AB-8FEE-ED872248819F-scaled-crop-2049x1345-1634661452.jpeg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-342634" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/10/6572C875-12CE-43AB-8FEE-ED872248819F-scaled-crop-2049x1345-1634661452-300x197.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="295238" first="Faith" last="Greene"] - Lady Rivals/Bradford Christian Academy - 5’11" - ’22</strong> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Greene has flown way under the radar, but after what I saw over the weekend, you would be hard-pressed to find a more intimidating interior defender than her.  Her athleticism is off the charts, and shot-blocking timing is unlike anything I have seen. Greene rejects shots with so much authority she makes you think twice before entering the paint. Greene volleyball spikes shot attempts out of bounds and does so in a disrespectful manner sending the message to the opposing offense to " enter the lane at your own risk." Her rebounding is elite, and she was hitting three-pointers at a consistent rate. Greene is going to be a major X factor this winter for Bradford Christian Academy. </span> &nbsp; <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-342636" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/10/0E48CD93-DD8A-4A1F-A6B8-248072B06C25-scaled-crop-1672x1098-1634661564-300x197.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="342247" first="Tegan" last="Young"] - NE Crusaders/Lawrence Academy - 6’1" - SF - ’23</strong> <span style="font-weight: 400;">It is hard to watch Young’s performance vs. the Lady Rivals and not put her in the conversation with the rest of the prospects that make up the ’23 top 20. There was a stretch in the second half where Young did whatever she wanted, took control of the game, and gave everyone a glimpse of how impactful she could be against elite competition. Her size and strength alone make her a nightmare to match up against on the wing, and Young’s footwork is a thing of beauty. She showed her inside/out game, rebounds, and is as tough as anyone on the basketball court. The moment I knew Young was leaving a significant mark on the game was when the best player and defender in ’23, [player_tooltip player_id="267052" first="Oluchi" last="Okananwa"], switched onto Young defensively. Young was in a good rhythm, and that was the only hope of possibly slowing her down. The list is short of prospects from New England who I have seen have Mt. Rushmore level success against the Rivals 17U team, and Young is one of them.</span>