Easter Hoops Shootout: 2024 Standouts
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This past weekend was the first Easter Hoops Shootout, operated by Heartland Girls Hoops Tournaments. It is the same group that brought us the Flight Invitational in year’s past, they are always very hospitable and host nice events, and there…
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Continue ReadingThis past weekend was the first Easter Hoops Shootout, operated by Heartland Girls Hoops Tournaments. It is the same group that brought us the Flight Invitational in year’s past, they are always very hospitable and host nice events, and there were some high-level teams included this year from a variety of grassroots programs. This is the second of three articles quickly recapping play from this past weekend. I was looking to watch specific teams, so I didn’t see everyone, but below are a handful of 2024 prospects who I felt stood out in the time I was able to see them.
Payton Benge
Payton
Benge
6'1" | PF
Plainfield | 2024
State
IN
, 2024, 6-1 PF/C, Plainfield H.S.
– Payton has always possessed good size with regards to her age/class, but this past weekend she looked as strong and powerful as I can remember. I like the fact that she tries to play the right way and seeks contact first, she imposes her will against smaller defenders, and she appreciates playing around the basket. At the same time, her skillset has developed nicely, and she is making shots outside consistently.
Talia Harris
Talia
Harris
5'8" | PG
Fishers | 2024
State
IN
, 2024, 5-7 PG, Fishers H.S.
– Talia could easily play with a big weight on her shoulders, but she has done a nice job of creating her own identity. She is playing with a lot more confidence and immediacy with regards to her decision-making. She has always gotten downhill with ease, especially to her left, and she is starting to shoot it more consistently from outside. She will still need to continue building strength, but her productivity has improved.
Riley Milausnic
Riley
Milausnic
5'7" | CG
Lake Central | 2024
State
IN
, 2024, 5-7 CG, Lake Central H.S.
– Riley looks like she’s finishing growing and she’s starting to get much stronger. She has always possessed good speed and quickness, really nice ball skill and creativity, and she is a dangerous perimeter shooter with range to 25-feet. What I noticed from her this past weekend was her sense of physicality, especially defensively, and her willingness to rebound. She can legitimately play either guard spot at the next level.
Joirdyn Smith
Joirdyn
Smith
5'4" | CG
Fishers | 2024
State
IN
, 2024, 5-4 CG, Fishers H.S.
– The growth and maturation of Joirdyn’s game has been interesting to watch over the last couple of years. When she was younger, she would let her competitive spirit get the best of her at times, but now she’s communicating with teammates on nearly every dead ball, and she’s doing a nice job of rewarding teammates who work hard. She still shoots it well outside, but she’s becoming more of a natural PG.
Rachel Wirts
Rachel
Wirts
6'3" | C
Center Grove | 2024
State
IN
, 2024, 6-2 C/PF, Center Grove H.S.
– I’ve watched Rachel for a couple of Summers now, and she has always possessed intriguing size and physical ability. She’s still a fairly fluid front-liner who works hard and plays with good length and wiry strength. What stood out Saturday was her willingness to take shots from around the perimeter, and she’s starting to knock down those jumpers now. If she can consistently expand her game to the perimeter, watch out.
Ava Ziolkowski
Ava
Ziolkowski
6'1" | PF
Crown Point | 2024
State
IN
, 2024, 6-1 PF, Crown Point H.S.
– We’ve had Ava ranked for a little over a year now, and I still think she’s somewhat under the radar in terms of her recruiting. She has good size, developing strength, tremendous length, and a nice offensive skillset. She is a pure shooter on the wings and in the long-corners, and she is quite a pick-and-pop threat in that capacity. While she has gotten stronger, I would like to see her just a little more physical inside.