Mount Rushmore-CT Elite Showcase: Top Gun

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Last Friday, I covered CT Elite Basketball’s spring " Girls Elite 50" Showcase in Connecticut, and it featured premier prospects throughout the Northeast. Athletes from the ’22 through ’26 class competed at a high level, and many had big-time performances. Here are the 4 who stood out the most. </span> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="413622" first="Olivia" last="Agunzo"] | Division | 5’8’’| CG | ’23</strong> <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-417412" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/04/BB4A9DE1-A34B-4D2C-9426-A8B98637040F-crop-1421x933-1650474489-300x197.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Agunzo came out the gates scoring whenever and wherever she wanted on the court. This wasn’t unusual behavior by the lethal guard who can fill up the scoring column as fast as anyone. Agunzo got her outside jumper going early and converted well behind the three-point line. I was also impressed with her court vision and passing. She easily broke down her defenders and beautifully set the table for her teammates. Her quickness and elusiveness in transition were unmatched, and Agunzo did whatever she wanted all showcase long. </span> &nbsp; <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="405198" first="Colleen" last="Blackman"] | Immaculate | 5’10’’| SG| ’23</strong> <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-417414" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/04/3EDC5EF3-4042-419A-94E7-EE9BF3C803BD-crop-1440x946-1650474596-300x197.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Friday was my first time watching Blackman in person, and she was as impressive as any prospect. Her shooting was insane, and Blackman knocked down numerous contested threes from all around the arc. Blackman’s game is very smooth, patient, and doesn’t force anything on offense. She is aggressive but knows when to create for herself and when to make the extra pass to her teammates. Overall, Blackman has a good feel for the game and knows how to space the floor and relocate. </span> &nbsp; <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="393468" first="Avery" last="Brown"]| Canton| 5’9’’| SG| ’24</strong> <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-417416" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/04/3FD8362D-ABD6-41DF-A5DB-85870F72EF8D-crop-1437x944-1650474660-300x197.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Brown plays bigger than her 5’9’’ frame, and she showed that on both sides of the glass. She was one of the best rebounding guards at the showcase and can push the ball in transition after pulling down the board. Brown had a couple of coast-to-coast finishes where she powered through contact to get to the rim. I also liked Brown’s footwork and shot creation in the short-mid range area. She moves with purpose and has the skills to beat her defenders from the inside or outside. Brown also showed versatility on defense and has the athleticism and size to guard multiple positions.</span> &nbsp; <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="302480" first="Jaycee" last="Merizalde"]| Greens Farms Academy| 5’6’’| PG| ’24</strong> <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-417419" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/04/FC4E80D3-F7A2-4136-AB32-86DE72EDDAEC-crop-1302x855-1650474846-300x197.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Merizalde looks faster and quicker with the ball than she did the last time I saw her a few months back. She was a blur in the open court and, on the wing, had arguably the quickest first step of anyone on Friday. I was also drawn to Merizalde’s ball pressure on defense. Her quick and choppy steps kept her opponent at bay, and she maintained that relentlessness throughout the event. </span>