Grassroots Preview: Richmond Heat 2023/2024
As the travel season is getting started, teams now have their rosters set and they’re ready to get rolling. I always love this time of year because you get to witness the work these players put into this game and…
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Continue ReadingAs the travel season is getting started, teams now have their rosters set and they’re ready to get rolling. I always love this time of year because you get to witness the work these players put into this game and see how much they improve from now until the end of the summer. One of the programs that has already started putting in the work is the Richmond Heat. I recently had the pleasure of speaking with Rob Clark of the Richmond Heat about his 2023/2024 squad. This team is full of talented players and they will be competing on the Prep Girls Hoop Circuit this year.
Key Players to Watch
Natalea Clark Natalea Clark 5'9" | SF Madison Southern | 2023 State KY | Madison Southern
Clark has the size and skill to play at the next level, and seeing that she just added a 3rd offer to her bag, it’s safe to say that college coaches are recognizing that as well. She has great length and she uses it to her advantage when she’s on the court, especially on the defensive end. She is extremely disruptive and she isn’t going to make it easy on whoever she’s defending. While it certainly shows when you watch her play, her coach confirmed with me that she has a high basketball IQ and knows the game well. When she gets the ball, she truly is a triple threat. She can really knock down the 3, but she also makes some impressive passes through traffic and drives hard to the basket.
Gracyn Grantz Gracyn Grantz 5'9" | SF Lafayette | 2023 State KY | Lafayette
Grantz is going to do all the things needed to help her team win. What she contributes may not always show up in the stat sheet, but it definitely doesn’t go unnoticed. If there’s a loose ball, she’s the first one to get to it. She’s constantly working and coming up with deflections that lead to turnovers and steals. Coach Clark said that she’s his go-to defender as well. She’s always conquering the task of guarding the opposing teams best player. She’s a great rebounder and though she has good size, she plays so much bigger than her height.
Ashton Harris | Tates Creek
Harris is a player that’s going to bring it on both ends of the floor. She is strong and can really hold off defenders when she posts. Coach Clark will be first to tell you that she just might be the diamond in the rough in the 2024 class and he believes she’s going to open a lot of people’s eyes to that throughout this spring and summer. It’s easy to see why he feels that way as Harris has a great mid-range game and can score in a variety of ways when she gets it in the paint. With the way she plays, it wouldn’t be surprising if she has a double-double, or at least close to it, in every game she plays this season.
Bailey Hensley Bailey Hensley 5'10" | SG Madison Central | 2024 State KY | Madison Central
Hensley is coming off of a very strong sophomore season where she accomplished something that some players are unable to do at any point in their high school career, finishing the season averaging a double-double (17.1 PPG, 10.1 RPG). Part of the reason her game is so impressive is her ability to play any position on the court. She’s got great size, athleticism, and strength. If you want to prevent her from getting rebounds, you have to be willing to work because she isn’t going to make that an easy task by any means. She gets in the paint whenever she wants and really extends the floor. Her ability to create her own shot is another big strength and something Coach Clark says is truly amazing.
Lydia Kennedy Lydia Kennedy 5'8" | SF Lexington Catholic | 2024 State KY | Lexington Catholic
Kennedy has a lot of strengths in her game. She’s an excellent shot blocker and she’s solid on the boards. She’s constantly ready to step over to help on the defensive end and she runs the floor really well. Her left hand and footwork are definitely strengths and aspects of her game that her coach describes as really special. In her sophomore season, she showed that she has really been working on her outside shooting as well, finishing the year shooting nearly 40% from deep after taking zero 3-point shots in her freshman campaign.
Other Key Contributors
Kylie Gayheart Kylie Gayheart 5'5" | PG Knott County Central | 2024 State KY , Knott Central; Carley Craig, Frederick Douglass; Harper Coffey, Boyle County; Rachel Shropshire, Franklin County; Makayla Greer Makayla Greer 5'9" | SG Lincoln County | 2024 State KY , Lincoln County; Ella Coffey, Boyle County
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