Bigs Monday: Who stood out in Week 2
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I like to theorize about the game at times and after writing the player profiles section of today’s “Bigs Monday” article that these three players would qualify as the exact three types of players that would be needed on the…
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Continue ReadingI like to theorize about the game at times and after writing the player profiles section of today’s “Bigs Monday” article that these three players would qualify as the exact three types of players that would be needed on the court to be a dominant rebounding unit. A post player that seals off 1 side of the lane and dominates in her zone (Ferguson), an out-of-zone rebounder that goes up and gets the ball to either side of where she is standing (Gardner) and a hustle rebounder that grabs the longer rebounds caused by three-point shots (Reichenbach).
So here they are Coach. The dominant frontcourt of your future that will score off the missed shots of your Guards and limit your opponents to only 1 shot most of the time. In theory, at least. Best of luck signing all three.
Gracie Ferguson Gracie Ferguson 5'11" | PF Owen County | 2023 State KY – ’23 5’10″/C – Owen County
“Fergie” as her Coach and the fans call her is a strong and solid, well-rounded Center that holds down her side of the paint with good positioning. She grabbed 8 rebounds and who knows how many she ket away from the other team by using her body to seal off her side of the lane.
She has great hands, numerous post-up moves after the catch, including ball fakes, an over-the-shoulder move, and still manages to put up numbers despite often drawing the double team most of the game scoring 13 points on 4 of 7 shooting against a very long and athletic opponent. She can score using her strength and still have the soft touch needed with the ball off the backboard or with the floater, and the ability to put fouls on opposing Bigs to help win the foul attrition.
She doesn’t have the size to play for a Division 1 program but would be an excellent Post player for a smaller program. Her strength makes her a Low Post asset and her skills and passing ability mean she could also play in the High Post. I could also see her as the kind of Perimeter 4 that could play in a Swing type Offense, but that is a projection on my part and not something I witnessed her doing. But I do think she could play that way if needed.
Daveigh Reichenbach – ’23 5’10″/SF – Spencer County
In some ways, Reichenbach does not fit in this category because she also plays on the perimeter but she is the primary post-up scorer for the team. I told her after the game she reminded me of former Pistons player Adrian Dantley who she had never heard of which made me feel old. (Not your fault that I am old, kid.) But for the rest of you that aren’t old the comparison is that Dantley was a Small Forward who was mainly a Post Up threat, but of course, also scored in other ways.
She scored 13 points on 6 of 11 shooting making tough shot after tough shot in the heart of the defense by posting up and attacking the glass. She finished with 9 rebounds and nearly every note I have on her mentions hustle or toughness. She made a great reverse layup after a rebound and single dribble from the right side of the basket and stole a pass at mid-court a took it to the hole with the left hand.
Savannah Gardner Savannah Gardner 6'0" | SF Christian Academy Louisville | 2024 State KY – ’24 6’0″/SF – Christian Academy Louisville
Gardner is averaging a little over 11 points and 9.5 rebounds per game on the season and tallied 10 points and 11 rebounds on the day I was there. She is long, fast and athletic and does a good job using her physical attributes to play good defense, run the floor and crash the boards.
She made a great spin move that opened up an inside the free-throw line jumper and penetrates from the corner to the pressure to score in the paint. She can also shoot the three but has been a bit inconsistent through the first seven games of the season.