Grassroots: Players with big summers ahead

<strong>[player_tooltip player_id="398436" first="Halle" last="Crouse"], Logan, G, Fr., 5-6</strong> - [player_tooltip player_id="398436" first="Halle" last="Crouse"] greatly benefitted from [player_tooltip player_id="153372" first="Peyton" last="Ilderton"]’s ability to distract opposing defenses. When her time came and she was open, she shot the lights out. So, it’s no surprise that head coach Kevin Gertz wants her to prepare for a bigger role next fall. Without Ilderton on the floor, she’s about to watch her importance raise in several areas of the hardwood. <img class="size-medium wp-image-398431 alignright" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/03/HHalle-Crouse.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" />That’s the task assigned to her this summer - prepare for the big time. Not just because Ilderton is no longer part of the team, but because Crouse will be one of those players Gertz looks to the most in Ilderton’s absence. "She already rebounds and defends well and really has a nose for the ball, but the two biggest things for her are ball-handling and creating more on the offensive end," he said. "We need her to put the ball on the ground and shoot a shot fake. She does it in practice but we need it in a game." Fortunately for him, Crouse is similar to Ilderton and Shania Gore in that she is a gym rat. And Gertz has full confidence in Crouse taking the necessary steps in preparating for a larger scoring role next season. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="342212" first="Hannah" last="Stemple"], University, SG, Fr., 5-5</strong> - "[player_tooltip <img class=" wp-image-341202 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/10/14-Hannah-Stemple.jpg" alt="" width="129" height="194" />player_id="342212" first="Hannah" last="Stemple"] will continue to focus on her overall skill development by working with her private trainers year round. Hannah’s top strengths are her shooting and shooting range, along with her defense. She would like to improve on her inside game such as driving to and finishing around the basket more. As she is beginning to find herself taking on more of a point guard role rather than solely a shooting guard, she would like to work on improving and enhancing her ball handling skills while under pressure. As always, she will continue to work on three point shooting and jump shot consistency and building on her strong defense," according to mom Jackie. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="384069" first="Ella" last="Giles"], Huntington, CG, Fr., 5-7</strong> - [player_tooltip player_id="384069" first="Ella" last="Giles"] will be an important part of the Huntington starting five next year? Yes. According to Huntington assistant coach John Coates, her ascension from bench player to starter continues in a pretty obvious turn of events. While seeing the floor in a limited capacity this year, Giles flashed a strong understanding of the game and the ability to keep up with the top unit on Huntington. Every time she was asked to step in she scored and made an impact. Her arsenal likely further improves with another year of playing for the W.Va. Thunder. Not just because she’s comfortable with her teammates, but because all the tools are in place for her to make a big impact. She’s a confident player who moves well with the basketball, she sees the cuts and executes them before her point guard does. She uses this trickiness to her advantage. She’s a strong driver, and brings more to the floor for the Highlanders in their quest for a three-beat. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="379516" first="Savannah" last="Walls"], North Marion, PF, Fr., 5-10</strong> - [player_tooltip player_id="379516" first="Savannah" last="Walls"] teases a lot when on the basketball court. There’s no avoiding this fact. For a team in need of a solid replacement for do-it-all post player [player_tooltip player_id="153389" first="Katlyn" last="Carson"], Walls presents a post option. No matter what’s asked of her, she’s got the ability and tools to get it done. The biggest thing that stands out is her height. She's 5-10, but can play like a smaller player if need be. Her long arms help her get to rebounds, but also help her create havoc when guarding tinier guards. She shoots a solid shot, but will be asked to do more next season alongside teammate Olivia Tolland. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="389207" first="Annaniesha" last="Johnson"], St. Albans, PG, Fr., 5-2</strong> - According to her St. Albans head coach Rick Steele, "Annaniesha is a good guard. Every coach dreams of a guard that can attack both the offensive and defensive end. She isn’t afraid of the matchup in front of her and looks to create from various angles. <img class="size-medium wp-image-291421 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/05/Annaniesha-Johnson1-1.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" />"Her offseason goals are to become more knowledgable on the offensive, to learn how to use her body more when finishing, and become a better ball handler with both hands." "Her role next year will be to facilitate the offense, lead and serves as our point guard," he said. And that last part about her role is no small task. You may be tired of hearing it, but there really isn’t a tougher conference in the state of West Virginia than St. Albans’ home of the Mountain State Athletic Conference. The league, home to the last two Class AAA and first two Class AAAA state champions, never slows down. And next year already looks to be more of the same. <strong>LaLa Woods, Wheeling Park, PG, Fr., 5-6 -</strong> "Lala has all the tools you are looking for in a post guard - she sees the floor well, is difficult to defend in space and can score from all three levels," Wheeling Park head coach Ryan Young <img class="size-medium wp-image-398791 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/03/LaLa-Woods.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" />said. "Some of the things we have talked to LaLa about that can elevate her game is becoming a move vocal leader on the floor, advancing the ball up the floor quicker, keeping the ball moving offensively and continuing to be aggressive on both ends of the floor. I think she is a kid that wants to be an elite player and her ceiling is really high so I’m excited to see how her game evolves in the offseason. I do not doubt that she will work on all of those things and more. She’s always a great kid off the court. She’s only going to get better." <strong>Mary Tokodi-Ruth, Parkersburg Catholic, PG, So., 5-8</strong> - Mary Tokodi-Ruth spells Parkersburg Catholic’s point guard of the future. It’s already a done deal. After [player_tooltip player_id="153374" first="Leslie" last="Huffman"], she’s the next most comfortable Crusaderette player handling the basketball. One thing that become apparent, besides the Catholic’s state championship, is a lot of the offense hinges on Ruth next season. Not only does she bring an extremely high basketball IQ to the floor. She tends not to shrink away from the biggest moments. "One thing that really impresses us in the games she’s played on that stage is she’s played her best," head coach Marty Vierheller said. It’s true. Tokodi-Ruth blends a mix of confidence with the ability to find the basket and make shots. Standing at 5-8, she’s able to shoot over a lot of smaller point guards, while being quick enough to create some space and drive to the rim. That creates problems because you don’t expect that out of a point guard. She’s going to be the main ballhandler for Parkersburg Catholic next season, and surely knows what is coming and is preparing for her role at this very moment. &nbsp;