RIGGED Mt. Rushmore: A Walk in the Park

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Saturday evening, I was at the RIGGED Classic Charity basketball event where not only did the players have fun and compete at a high level, but as a group, we raised a total of $2,915 for Sophie’s Hope Foundation and The Raining Season. All 30+ participants played hard, and I learned more about their skill sets throughout the event. Below are the top 4 standouts. </span> &nbsp; [caption id="attachment_349881" align="alignnone" width="300"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/11/717ACE74-82DF-4B03-BCDC-BF03A02F3942-crop-1537x1010-1636462972.jpeg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-349881" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/11/717ACE74-82DF-4B03-BCDC-BF03A02F3942-crop-1537x1010-1636462972-300x197.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a> Photo: [player_tooltip player_id="299627" first="Juliette" last="Tarsa"][/caption] <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="328970" first="Maddie" last="Parks"] - Lexington/NE Crusaders - 5’8’’ - CG - ’23</strong> <span style="font-weight: 400;">It is hard to watch Parks and not be a huge fan of how she plays and approaches the game. She is one of the craftiest ball handlers you will see. Her wingspan alone gives Parks a significant advantage against her opponent, and she uses her physical gifts to impact the game in multiple ways. Parks rebounded the ball well on Saturday and recognized no one could stop her from going to the basket, so she continuously attacked and scored in bunches. The high motor point guard also showed how unselfish she was and how well she saw the floor. Parks is one of the better passers at her position, and she always plays under control and does not make many mistakes.  Parks is one of the most consistent players in energy and effort, and overall has been one of the most impressive players I have seen this Fall. </span> &nbsp; [caption id="attachment_349876" align="alignnone" width="300"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/11/BC7C8DA1-1050-4E34-AFA6-F39F70F31F66-crop-1537x1010-1636462837.jpeg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-349876" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/11/BC7C8DA1-1050-4E34-AFA6-F39F70F31F66-crop-1537x1010-1636462837-300x197.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a> Photo: [player_tooltip player_id="299627" first="Juliette" last="Tarsa"][/caption] <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="331414" first="Isabella" last="Romero"] - Lawrence Academy/MCW Starz - 6’0’’ - PF - ’24</strong> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Romero came out the gates as one of the best players of the day, and it was because she made an immediate impact on the game that goes beyond the box score. She set solid screens and was sealing hard in the post on her rolls. Romero rebounded at a high level and was the best at securing possessions for her team. She also took advantage of her size and strength inside and got anything she wanted in the paint. I was encouraged by how confidently Romero stepped out and shot threes. With her effectiveness on the interior, her ability to continuously make the defense pay with trail three-pointers will continue to elevate her stock. </span> &nbsp; <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-349874" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/11/0E2B2733-9271-489B-A994-EC860FF1265C-crop-1537x1010-1636462732-300x197.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="289126" first="Adison" last="Whitty"] - Kesarge/BDS - 5’6’’ - PG - ’23</strong> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Whitty is the type of point guard I want on my team any day of the week. Her energy is contagious, and whether she is on the bench or the court, she brings a winning vibe that trickles down to her teammates. Whitty has a high IQ and has a good feel for the game. While handling the ball, Whitty is excellent at directing her team and communicating with them while facilitating. The ball movement, spacing, flow on offense, and maximization of each possession were largely due to Whitty’s ability to quarterback the offense. Even more impressive that she could achieve this playing with prospects she is not used to playing alongside. </span> &nbsp; [caption id="attachment_349869" align="alignnone" width="300"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/11/D147105A-BF53-4C50-B846-64F3A972F806-crop-1537x1010-1636461197.jpeg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-349869" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/11/D147105A-BF53-4C50-B846-64F3A972F806-crop-1537x1010-1636461197-300x197.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a> Photo: [player_tooltip player_id="299627" first="Juliette" last="Tarsa"][/caption] <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="288649" first="Madison" last="McCaffery"] - Merrimack/NE Storm - 5’6’’ - PG - ’25</strong> <span style="font-weight: 400;">McCaffery’s Mt. Rushmore’s appearance has little to do with her top 30 talent but more to do with her intangibles on the court. Mccaffery’s personality alone is so engaging to not just her teammates and coaches but to everyone in the gym watching her play. She is so electric and engaging as a floor general, creating a fun atmosphere on the court. Her change of pace and ability to create any shot she wants at any time is so unique. With her jaw-dropping playmaking ability or flashy passing, it is always "showtime" when McCaffery steps on the court, and her teammates feed off her energy and swagger. </span>