Battle in the Big Friendly: 15U 1st Team All Tournament
The Battle in the Big Friendly had some really talented individual players. I saw players that could flat out score, lock you up on defense, control the paint, and run the show from the point position. This article will focus…
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Continue ReadingThe Battle in the Big Friendly had some really talented individual players. I saw players that could flat out score, lock you up on defense, control the paint, and run the show from the point position. This article will focus on the players who stood out for their team, but most importantly were consistent with their play. The following players have a skillset that proves they have potential. Let’s look at the 15U 1st Team All-Tournament.
Lily Thomas | Post | Oklahoma Fusion 2025/Calumet | 2025
Lily quickly caught my attention when I saw her team play. This post player stands around 6’1, she has good size and knows how to use her body to get positioned on the block. She can handle the ball, is an aggressive rebounder, and her ability to move well allows her to be a great help defender. With her size, she’s able to block, alter, or even intimidate players from coming into the lane. She’s a playmaker, can score with her back to the basket, and make the three-ball.
Logan Young Logan Young 5'9" | SF Dover | 2025 State AR | Wing | Oklahoma Fusion 2025/Dover | 2025
Players that can play and defend multiple positions, as well as have a solid skillset, are very valuable to teams. Logan displayed those qualities over the weekend. She could defend wing players, point guards, and even some interior players. Her length on defense allows her to block some shots and be a good help defender. Offensively, she handles the ball well, can get to the rim and finish with either hand, get out in transition and make plays, and knock down the three-pointer.
Mikayla Pilley | Forward/Wing | Oklahoma Swift 2025/Kickapoo | 2025
When you talk about players that do a little bit of everything for their team then you have to mention Mikayla. Well, she actually carried a heavy load. That’s not a knock on her team, that just shows you the amount of talent and potential she has. She played the post position but is really more of a forward/wing player. Mikayla would often get rebounds and push it in transition if a quick outlet wasn’t available. She could operate out of the low block, high post, or anywhere on the perimeter. A threat off the catch, she could give the defense rips and jabs to create space to get to the rim or into a pull-up jumper. The defense had to keep a body on her to keep her off the boards on the offensive end. Also, if you leave her open behind the three-point line she would make you pay.
Kate Wernli | Wing | Team Griffin Elite 2025 Wernli/Bixby | 2026
I’ve told players all the time, that the boring drills make your game exciting. That means learning skills such as 1 and 2 dribble pull-ups, being effective off the catch, and shooting the ball is not always exciting to practice but can really elevate your game. So of course I got excited when I saw some of the skills that Kate possesses. She was a threat off the catch. She could fake to create space or attack quickly off the catch and get into a 2 dribble pull-up. Kate could score in a number of ways. She could beat you with the drive, the pull-up jump shot or the catch-and-shoot three-pointer.
Jayla Constant | Point Guard | BTR 2025/Putnam City West | 2026
Jayla is as smooth a point guard as they come. The way she controls the game and understands tempo is very valuable and impressive for a player her age. She will be entering high school next year and already possesses some skills of an upper-class point guard. She has a solid skill set. She can push it in transition and make plays for herself or for a teammate. She has a good handle to break down the defense and blow by her defender. Jayla was also impressive out of the pick and roll. Her patience off the screen gave her big time to roll and her vision allowed her to see how the defense would rotate. Then Jayla has the presence of mind to attack the big, hit the roller, or find the shooter. A lot of players would just come off the screen out of control but Jayla understood the set-up and how to execute. A skilled high IQ point guard with a lot of potential.