Always 100 Spring Showcase: 2024 Standouts
The featured image is of Makenzie Fuess Makenzie Fuess 5'5" | PG Norwell | 2024 State IN (2024) of Norwell High School and Always 100 Takeover 16U. Sunday, March 20th, Always 100 hosted their annual Spring Showcase at Warsaw Community…
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Continue ReadingThe featured image is of Makenzie Fuess Makenzie Fuess 5'5" | PG Norwell | 2024 State IN (2024) of Norwell High School and Always 100 Takeover 16U.
Sunday, March 20th, Always 100 hosted their annual Spring Showcase at Warsaw Community High School. There was a morning session featuring approximately 65 girls and an afternoon session featuring another 65ish girls, primarily from one of the 21 Always 100 grassroots teams in 17U-14U set to take to the courts this Spring and Summer. This article is dedicated to the Class of 2024, so below are five ladies who I felt stood out with their play throughout the day, when I was able to see them. This is not every Sophomore who was in attendance, and more ladies played well than just these five, but they caught my eye for one reason or another with their play.
Makenzie Fuess
Makenzie
Fuess
5'5" | PG
Norwell | 2024
State
IN
, 2024, 5-5 PG, Norwell H.S.,
Always 100
Takeover 16U
– I have seen Kenzie a number of times over the past couple of grassroots seasons, but she is starting to really figure it all out and play with a much better sense of tone. In the past, she was all motor, all the time. Which is great to some extent, but there were times she needed to pick her spots better. Now, she is much more patient, allows things to happen in front of her, then takes advantage of defensive breakdowns or allows teammates to open up. She is stronger and attacks downhill aggressively, she has some touch to the perimeter, plus I like her grit and feistiness at the defensive end of the floor.
Kyra Hill
Kyra
Hill
6'2" | C
Goshen | 2024
State
IN
, 2024, 6-2 C, Goshen H.S.,
Always 100
-Gamble 16U
– It seems like ever since her older sister went to college, Kyra has improved quicker. She looks more confident, therefore more aggressive, plus she looks a little taller, stronger, but also more mobile in most directions. She’s seeking contact more often and establishing herself on the block offensively. She calls for the ball, and she looks more instinctive in making more immediate moves to score. She also showed some touch to the perimeter Sunday that I hadn’t seen out of her to date. Defensively, she will rebound and can be physical, but she still needs to work earlier instead of later and beat her person to spots.
Emma Reust
Emma
Reust
5'9" | SG
Homestead | 2024
State
IN
, 2024, 5-8 SG, Homestead H.S.,
Always 100
-Paul 16U
– Emma has grown quite a bit since I first saw her in 8th Grade, and now she’s extremely long and lean, fluid and smooth, and she seems to just glide around the floor somewhat effortlessly. She can create scoring opportunities for herself or teammates, she’s a capable perimeter shooter, plus she plays with a nice motor. Defensively, she uses her length well to deflect passes, and she can deter ball-handlers from attacking gaps. If there is one area for her to concentrate on moving forward, it will be to continue building strength. That could really help her explosiveness, her physicality, and her shooting percentages.
Addie Shank
Addie
Shank
6'0" | PF
Bishop Luers | 2024
State
IN
, 2024, 6-0 PF, Fort Wayne Bishop Luers H.S.,
Always 100
-Paul 16U
– Addie has become quite the force in the paint, and she doesn’t shy away from physicality one bit. Two Summers ago, she was more of a mid-post ‘4’ who liked to shoot the 15-foot jump-shot or attack off the dribble. While she still maintains a solid skillset, she has tremendously increased her strength/power, and now she’s more of an enforcer first who happens to have skill. She will post hard and demand the ball, she can finish through contact, plus she’s a solid offensive rebounder who understands timing and positioning. Defensively, she can come out on the floor and defend the ball a little as well.
Samiyah Stout
Samiyah
Stout
5'7" | CG
Elkhart | 2024
State
IN
, 2024, 5-7 SG, Elkhart H.S.,
Always 100
Rebels 16U
– Sunday was my first opportunity to watch Samiyah at length, and I think a lot of people are going to learn about her this Spring and Summer. She has a wiry-strong, athletic frame. She has good speed and quickness, and she plays with explosive bursts at times. Not only does she have a great deal of physical ability, but she also has a nice all-around skillset, the ability to score it from all three levels, and she can put up numbers in a hurry. If she was as engaged full-time at the defensive end of the floor, I feel like she could be one of the better on-ball defenders in this class as well. She is definitely someone trending up right now.