RIGGED Classic: Middle School Standouts

I was excited to see so many prospects from the ’26 and ’27 classes attend the RIGGED Classic Charity event. This group represented well and was not intimidated by the older competition. Below are the middle school attendees.   Class of ’27   [caption id="attachment_350818" align="alignnone" width="300"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/11/A5EC270D-24B9-42A7-8451-80C02C2AAA4F-crop-1537x1010-1636659929.jpeg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-350818" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/11/A5EC270D-24B9-42A7-8451-80C02C2AAA4F-crop-1537x1010-1636659929-300x197.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a> Photo: [player_tooltip player_id="299627" first="Juliette" last="Tarsa"][/caption][player_tooltip player_id="341006" first="Sadie" last="Metzger"] - Lexington/Bay State Jaguars - 5’9’’ - SG Metzger is very advanced for her age around the basket. She has a good feel for the game and reads the ball off the rim well. It seemed that every time a shot went up, Metzger was in the perfect position to give her team a second chance opportunity. I was impressed with her footwork on the block and how under control she was in the post. With Metzger’s effectiveness down low, she is a prospect to watch because she has the potential to develop into a dynamic, all-around, two-way wing.   [caption id="attachment_350816" align="alignnone" width="300"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/11/04FD2B4F-F4E2-4E4E-AAF4-EEDE10FA0F91-crop-1537x1010-1636659486.jpeg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-350816" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/11/04FD2B4F-F4E2-4E4E-AAF4-EEDE10FA0F91-crop-1537x1010-1636659486-300x197.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a> Photo: [player_tooltip player_id="299627" first="Juliette" last="Tarsa"][/caption][player_tooltip player_id="350171" first="Gemma" last="Murray"] - Londonderry Middle/NE Storm - 5’2’’ - PG Murray might have been the smallest player on the court yet could get her shot off easily above bigger defenders throughout the event. She is tough as nails and works hard to create offense for herself. Murray was fearless and was not intimidated by anyone who stood in her way, leading to a highly impressive showing. Her performance created a lot of buzz in the gym, not just from me, but from others watching, because of how hard she worked throughout the day.   [caption id="attachment_350814" align="alignnone" width="300"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/11/3D55B0CC-6A5B-4678-BF6E-68C3ACD7A6FF-crop-1537x1010-1636659411.jpeg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-350814" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/11/3D55B0CC-6A5B-4678-BF6E-68C3ACD7A6FF-crop-1537x1010-1636659411-300x197.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a> Photo: [player_tooltip player_id="299627" first="Juliette" last="Tarsa"][/caption][player_tooltip player_id="350172" first="Holly" last="Dufoe"] - World Academy/NE Storm - 5’2’ - PG Dufoe was one of the few deadly sharpshooters from Saturday. She has the ultimate green light to pull the trigger from anywhere beyond the arc. Dufoe spaced the floor well and was ready to shoot whenever the ball got kicked out to her. Her range is also limitless. Dufoe has no problem shooting a couple of feet behind the line if the defender gives her enough daylight. Her shot selection was also impressive as Dufoe would pass up shots on occasion to relocate and try to get in a better position to shoot from another spot.   [caption id="attachment_350812" align="alignnone" width="300"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/11/243B04D4-E994-4DB2-941C-B51750474A4C-crop-1537x1010-1636659191.jpeg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-350812" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/11/243B04D4-E994-4DB2-941C-B51750474A4C-crop-1537x1010-1636659191-300x197.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a> Photo: [player_tooltip player_id="299627" first="Juliette" last="Tarsa"][/caption]  [player_tooltip player_id="341007" first="Kaylee" last="Maier"] - Dracut/NE Storm- 5’3’’ - PG Maier was another small point guard on Saturday who didn’t let her size affect her ability to play at a high level. Her speed with the ball was eye-popping. I have not seen a ball-handler her age as confident as she was going full speed the length of the court. Maier’s decision-making was also elite. The zip she put on her passes and the accuracy of them impressed me the most. Maier is very unselfish and a gifted facilitator.   Class of ’26   [caption id="attachment_350802" align="alignnone" width="300"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/11/C5918130-39A7-4C04-9A5F-6F31FF3C919F-crop-1537x1010-1636658090.jpeg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-350802" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/11/C5918130-39A7-4C04-9A5F-6F31FF3C919F-crop-1537x1010-1636658090-300x197.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a> Photo: [player_tooltip player_id="299627" first="Juliette" last="Tarsa"][/caption][player_tooltip player_id="350183" first="Kelly" last="Cronin"]- Wilbraham Middle School/CT Spirit - 5’8’’ - CG Cronin’s ceiling is very high because of her size, length, and ability to defend. Cronin used her long wingspan to cut off angles on the perimeter and showed the versatility to disrupt the opposing offense on the inside. She rebounds well for her position, and it was encouraging to see her take advantage of the height and athleticism mismatch by getting her hands on every ball off the rim. Cronin has a high motor and can take defenders off the dribble with ease. With the potential to grow a few more inches, she will be a big guard that should be on everyone’s radar moving forward.   [caption id="attachment_350810" align="alignnone" width="300"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/11/316CDC50-6F3D-48B3-AD44-5C4113DBBDB3-crop-1516x996-1636659023.jpeg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-350810" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/11/316CDC50-6F3D-48B3-AD44-5C4113DBBDB3-crop-1516x996-1636659023-300x197.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a> Photo: [player_tooltip player_id="299627" first="Juliette" last="Tarsa"][/caption][player_tooltip player_id="326843" first="Addison" last="Johnson"] - North Cumberland Middle School/MA Huskies - 5’2’’ -PG Every time I watch Johnson play, I can guarantee that she will outwork everyone on the court. Her effort and scrappiness stand out, and despite her size, she always finds a way to make impactful plays on offense and defense. Johnson was a lightning rod in transition. She is a dynamic playmaker on the break who sees the floor well and is a strong finisher at the rim. Over the weekend, I thought Johnson shot the ball efficiently from the outside, adding another dimension to her versatile skill set.   [caption id="attachment_350808" align="alignnone" width="300"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/11/38960EE2-A3A9-4F2B-A640-759D0E45E344-crop-1531x1005-1636658870.jpeg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-350808" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/11/38960EE2-A3A9-4F2B-A640-759D0E45E344-crop-1531x1005-1636658870-300x197.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a> Photo: [player_tooltip player_id="299627" first="Juliette" last="Tarsa"][/caption][player_tooltip player_id="350175" first="Madison" last="Long"] - Merrimack Middle/NE Storm - 5’6’’ - CG I thought Long was one of the best players overall from Saturday evening. She plays extremely hard, especially on defense. There were times she was picking up the ball handler full court and did not take it easy on her opponent. Long’s aggressiveness was what caught my attention most. She crashed the glass hard and flew in from the outside to keep possessions alive on the offensive end. She also showed her slashing and scoring ability with countless drives. Long ripped middle all game long and was giving the defense fits in pursuit of the basket.