LBI March Madness – 2024 Top Performers
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Champions have been crowned in the NCHSAA and NCISAA ranks, but the word “offseason” for many of North Carolina’s premier high school basketball talents is very limited. Those talents will be trading in their high school uniforms for travel gear…
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Continue ReadingChampions have been crowned in the NCHSAA and NCISAA ranks, but the word “offseason” for many of North Carolina’s premier high school basketball talents is very limited.
Those talents will be trading in their high school uniforms for travel gear over the ensuing few months as AAU play is underway. One of the latest travel events to take place was the LBI March Madness event at Carolina Courts in downtown Concord.
We at Prep Girls Hoops were also on hand for Saturday’s slate of games at the get-together that welcomed teams from both Carolinas as well as Virginia. As was evidenced, the sophomore class certainly was well-represented.
Olivia Burke Olivia Burke 5'8" | CG Porter Ridge | 2024 State NC – 2024 – Porter Ridge HS – Lady Attack Elite 17U Morris – Have basketball, will score was the mantra of the day for the Pirates’ star sophomore. Burke plays with a ferocious, fearless edge which makes her a consistent threat to score at-will. This will allow her to attract attention which can make defenses put multiple defenders on her. Burke will attack the rim will either convert on a layup or get fouled, sending her to the free throw line. She will also collect steals which can go the other way in the transition game. Burke tallied 15 points in her team’s victory Saturday over Charlotte Dream Elite 17U.
Kayleigh O’Hara – 2024 – Charlotte Catholic HS – Charlotte Dream Elite 16U – Listed at an even 6 feet, O’Hara is a versatile wing that can make plays at the rim with high-percentage shots or from behind the 3-point line. If she misses her first shot attempt following a post move, O’Hara is likely to grab an offensive rebound and turn her glass work into two more points – and the old fashioned 3-point play attempt if necessary. Her tall stature also enables her to block shots and she will drive to the rim through a number of defenders or find an open teammate. She is a transfer from Red Bank Catholic HS in Tinton Falls, New Jersey near New York City.
Sarah Strong Sarah Strong 6'2" | PF Grace Christian | 2024 State NC – 2024 – Grace Christian School – Lady Strong Center 2024 – Strong is one of many rising stars throughout North Carolina whose profile will only increase the closer one gets to the college ranks. Strong has paid unofficial visits to a number of Division I women’s basketball powers – including UConn and NC State, where her father played in the 1990s. Strong has proven to be everything someone would want out of a big – a scorer, rebounder, shot blocker, can pass the ball and can give a team stout defense. And it looks as if for all her accolades, she is just getting started.
Icyss Storm – 2024 – Hillside HS – Lady Strong Center 2024 – Whenever a basketball court is engulfed by this Storm, the outlook is very sunny for the team whose uniform she is wearing. Listed at 5-foot-11, she is used to indoor hardwood sports arenas as she also plays volleyball in addition to basketball. She gets in position near the rim with consistency and that allows her to convert on shot opportunities in the paint. Storm’s interior play and height are also attributes that allow her to be a force on the glass – whether it is with her rebounding or shot blocking. Storm will at times see a play before it happens which gives her plenty of chances to steal the ball and either get out in transition or make a pass down the court to an open teammate.
Raven LeXander Raven LeXander 6'0" | SF Myers Park | 2024 State NC – 2024 – Concord Academy – Lady Attack Elite 17U National – New Lady Attack Elite uniforms, same LeXander that Eagles fans have come accustomed to when she sports its navy blue and gold threads. LeXander is versatile as while she is listed at 6 feet, she plays primarily in the frontcourt as a forward but can give a team backcourt production playing the one or two. LeXander gives a team timely offense and an even more effective rebounding effort. A couple of years ago, she took to the grassroots circuit as part of SC76ers. LeXander also has a NCISAA 3A state championship under her belt via the 2020-21 Concord Academy rendition.
Delanie Hill Delanie Hill 5'7" | CG Providence | 2024 State NC – 2024 – Providence HS – Lady Attack Elite 17U National – Looking to defeat the Panthers the past couple of seasons with this skilled sophomore on its roster has been a treacherous hill to overcome. Hill takes care of the basketball and knows when to score and when to dish the rock out to one of her teammates. Her offensive attack includes accuracy from behind the 3-point line and her defensive attributes. Hill’s ball handling skills enable her to get past defenders and she is particularly proud of when she is able to come up big for her team on the defensive side.
Emerson Thompson Emerson Thompson 5'9" | CG Falls Lake Academy | 2024 State NC – 2024 – Falls Lake Academy – Lady Strong Center 2024 – When looking at players who averaged double-doubles this past season, one may see mostly frontcourt players on said list. Thompson did so (19.1 points, 10 rebounds per game) with her bread and butter being the backcourt as a guard. She does so in part because of how efficient she is when shooting 3-pointers. Thompson will also close in on defense and make plays from seemingly out of nowhere. She is extremely skilled as a ball distributor, will grab rebounds and will slice through defenders en route to the rack. Thompson makes things difficult if she is guarding a ball handler and that can lead to said ball handler turning over the ball and leading to her and her team capitalizing on opportunities in transition.