Hoop Mountain Sleepers: Wake Up!

Below are some of the under-the-radar prospects from the Hoop Mountain Spring Showcase.   [player_tooltip player_id="266809" first="Davita" last="Honig"] | Nashoba | 5’8’’ | SG|’23 <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-405215" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/03/4197F467-86DE-43A2-81FC-2174AD55D17B-crop-401x264-1648416081-300x197.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /> I liked how Honig attacked the glass constantly during the Hoop Mountain Showcase. Every time the ball went up, she would find a body to box out and try to rip down every rebound. Honig defends aggressively and is a good outside shooter, so being a relentless rebounding guard enhances her value.   [player_tooltip player_id="330790" first="Mackenzie" last="Mori"] | Wethersfield | 5’11| SG|’24 <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-405219" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/03/348D5927-3E36-4751-A8C2-896132E46A6D-crop-1365x897-1648416254-300x197.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /> Mori has good size for a 2 and confidently handles the ball in the open court. She stayed under control when pressured on defense and made smart decisions with the ball. Mori is an excellent cutter also. Her cutting, floor spacing, and off-ball movement were my favorite things about her game. Mori is a strong finisher at the rim and scored some tough baskets underneath.   [player_tooltip player_id="405217" first="Sarah" last="West"] | RHAM | 5’11’’| SF/PF| ’23 [caption id="attachment_405221" align="alignnone" width="300"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/03/F61174C9-F77B-4CD5-9D9B-57CC91993A7B-crop-1519x997-1648416372.jpeg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-405221" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/03/F61174C9-F77B-4CD5-9D9B-57CC91993A7B-crop-1519x997-1648416372-300x197.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a> Photo: JT Shotz[/caption] West’s defense was tremendous on Sunday. The long combo forward was constantly in passing lanes intercepting the basketball and igniting the transition offense. West’s impressive vertical leap helped her protect the rim as she had a few impressive blocks throughout the afternoon. West can also stretch the floor out to the three-point line.   [player_tooltip player_id="398727" first="Ella" last="Tetrault"] | Norton | 5’3’’ | SG | ’24 [caption id="attachment_405223" align="alignnone" width="300"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/03/C3E12775-5973-4433-B413-6F71745DD655-crop-1440x946-1648416492.jpeg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-405223" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/03/C3E12775-5973-4433-B413-6F71745DD655-crop-1440x946-1648416492-300x197.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a> Photo: Meredith Ryan[/caption] Each time I watch Tetrault play, she always outworks every player on the court. She is undersized for the off guard position, but she makes up for it with her motor and defensive intensity. Her scrappiness and aggression makes her opponent uncomfortable, and on the other end of the floor, she is a deadly three-point shooter.   [player_tooltip player_id="289632" first="Tamia" last="Nunes"] | South High | 5’9’’| SG| ’23 <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-405225" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/03/59343B93-03A8-4AEA-B4D1-0A4A7F04919B-crop-1537x1010-1648416599-300x197.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /> Nunes is a big strong guard who used her size well to score at will on Sunday. She always kept her head up in the open court and pushed the ball with good pace, showing no issue getting to her spots. Nunes loves the mid-range area and is automatic from that range. Her shot-making and playmaking throughout the day turned heads.   [player_tooltip player_id="160558" first="Carolyn" last="Pierce"] | Iowa City West High | 5’7’’| SG| ’23 <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-405227" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/03/0669807F-2E52-4323-AD37-9F24F479593B-crop-1365x897-1648416657-300x197.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /> There is a lot to like about Pierce’s game, starting with her shooting. She knows how to get herself open, has a good strong base, and catches ready to fire once the ball touches her fingertips. Pierce is also a physical rebounding guard who outworks her opponent. Her feel for the game stood out most. She understands spacing and did a good job moving the ball and relocating along the perimeter.   [player_tooltip player_id="326774" first="Hannah" last="Bernstein"] | BB&N | 5’7’’| PG| ’24 <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-405230" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/03/4314F0B4-E718-49E5-BBF9-17D95ECAAB3D-crop-1411x927-1648416735-300x197.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /> I liked how aggressive Bernstein was attacking the rim. She effectively scores when breaking downhill and has the upper body strength to power through contact. The lefty guard is hard to stop when going to her strong hand, so she constantly exposed defenders. Bernstein is a solid athlete, can shoot off the dribble or spot up, and has good court vision when pushing the ball in transition.   [player_tooltip player_id="285178" first="Lily" last="Lambo"] | Watertown| 5’9’’| SG| ’24 <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-405232" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/03/4AA59B53-CC9B-40C1-AF9C-CC1BF1974189-crop-1302x855-1648416906-300x197.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /> Lambo showed off what kind of athlete she is at Hoop Mountain. You see her speed and quickness when she slashes from the wing. Lambo showed a good burst and first step in pursuit of the basket. I also like Lambo’s versatility on both sides of the floor. She has demonstrated the ability to play three positions on the court.   [player_tooltip player_id="328962" first="Siena" last="Schaller"] | Valley Regional| 5’7’’| CG| ’23 [caption id="attachment_405234" align="alignnone" width="300"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/03/4C88AD82-473A-4826-9C54-711FB6B975B5-crop-1302x855-1648416959.jpeg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-405234" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/03/4C88AD82-473A-4826-9C54-711FB6B975B5-crop-1302x855-1648416959-300x197.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a> Photo: JT Shotz[/caption] Schaller’s confidence in attacking the rim with either hand immediately got my attention. Every time she asserted herself, put her head down, and slashed to the hoop, she got a layup or drew contact. Schaller recognized mismatches on the wing and took advantage of them when she could. I was impressed by how effective Schaller was penetrating with her off-hand.   [player_tooltip player_id="267156" first="MacKenzie" last="Murphy"] | Dracut| 5’8’’| SG| ’23 <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-405236" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/03/B840A216-2840-4B70-BD57-749E312EEA12-crop-1302x855-1648417018-300x197.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /> Murphy is a great three-point shooter, and she showed that throughout the whole event. She impacted offensive possessions consistently by opening up the floor with her jump shot. Even when she didn’t receive the ball, she drew enough attention from the defense as a threat that it helped open up driving lanes for her teammates.   [player_tooltip player_id="266715" first="Josie" last="Cancro"]| Hamden Hall| 5’10| SG| ’23 <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-405239" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/03/AA8AE1AA-EED1-460E-BC48-27E40076B1A3-crop-1537x1010-1648417158-300x197.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /> Cancro stood out, and it has zero to do with scoring. Prior to the event, I knew Cancro could shoot and had a soft touch around the basket, but she was one of the better defenders from Sunday. Her defensive IQ and help-side defense were some of the best I saw. Her length and versatility make it so she can defend 1-5. Cancro is not the biggest player or the fastest, but she has good instincts and reaction time to bother bigger players down low and give them fits.   [player_tooltip player_id="287180" first="Emma" last="Shinney"] | Wakefield| 5’7’’| CG| ’23 Shiney was electric on Sunday and dominated in the open floor. She pushed the ball up the court with accurate outlet passes and filled lanes properly in transition. In the halfcourt, Shinney was unselfish and set up her teammates with open shots off her penetration. She was also tenacious on defense. She digs in hard and can stay in front of point and shooting guards.