‘23 Prospect Watch

Photo: Produced4Soul

Bash Hudson

April 18, 2022 @ 08:47 AM

Over the past year covering girls basketball in New England, I’ve also had the opportunity to check out some of the elite talent representing New York, whether in person or online. Below are a few of the top players that I have had the chance to see.   [player_tooltip player_id="406496" first="Aaliyah" last="Del Rosario"] | New Heights | 6’6’’| PF/C I don’t think I have seen a prospect more fascinating in the Northeast than Del Rosario. What she can do at her size is jaw-dropping. She is very mobile and has elite footwork. Del Rosario also can step out and hit threes. There really isn’t an answer for her unless you send a double or triple team. She owns the glass, feasts off second-chance opportunities, and consistently wears out the defense.   [player_tooltip player_id="406493" first="Angelica" last="Velez"] | New Heights | 5’7’’| PG Velez is the best ’23 point guard I have seen in the Northeast and one of my favorite players to watch compete. Her aggression and tenacity on defense stick out immediately. Velez has lightning-quick hands and will take on the challenge to lock down anyone. Her ball-handling is superb, and the way she uses it to freeze the defense, get downhill and make plays is incredible. She can score at all three levels, assert herself early in the game, and is a killer on the court.   [player_tooltip player_id="413875" first="Nevaeh" last="Wingate"] | NY Royals| 6’1’’| SF I always favor the 6ft+ wing over most players because of the versatility the prospect can bring on both sides of the floor. Wingate is one of the best impact players in her class. Her size and athleticism allow her to play inside or out on offense and defend multiple positions. She reads passing lanes well, can handle the ball comfortably in transition, and can step out on the perimeter and drill three-pointers.   [player_tooltip player_id="384502" first="Mary" last="Ashley Groot"] | Exodus EYBL| 6’1’’| SF Groot is another big long wing whose game I always liked. She is tough and aggressive inside and shows excellent footwork in the post. Groot’s mid-range package is efficient, and when facing up, Groot makes good use of her fakes and pivots to create space. She is aggressive, flashing to the ball, and can finish over either shoulder when playing with her back to the basket.   [player_tooltip player_id="415004" first="Sydney" last="Hart"] | I-90 Elite| 5’9’’| CG Hart is coming off a monster season at South Glen Falls, where she averaged 25 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 4.5 steals per game. I like her elusiveness when attacking the defense off the bounce. Hart also has the confidence to shoot from anywhere behind the line. So if you give her any daylight when she crosses halfcourt, the 5’9’’ combo guard is a threat to put 3 points on the board.   [player_tooltip player_id="414092" first="Tara" last="Murray"] | 5’10’’| SG <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-415828" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/04/64EE8BF6-DE85-405B-AF99-D5DF7867BD8B-scaled-crop-1707x1121-1650217067-300x197.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /> I saw Murray at the Rose Classic a couple of months back, and her size and sniping ability caught my eye. She dropped 20 points vs. Nazareth, including 5 threes. Murray has the ultimate green light, and her range stretches out far beyond the three-point arc. At about 5’10’’, Murray can shoot over the defense, and she needs little space to get her shot off.