Spooky Standouts: Full Steam A-Hedge

Below are more standouts from Live! At The Nook.   [player_tooltip player_id="299132" first="Sophie" last="Hedge"] | CT Starters| 5’8’’| PG| ’23 <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-421924" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/04/892583B3-9687-42DB-BFEC-5D17EB2DF119-crop-1302x855-1651363394-300x197.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /> Hedge has the size, athleticism, and length to lock up both guard spots on defense, and her offensive package speaks for itself. Hedge’s three-point accuracy and range, combined with her physical attributes, separates her from many point guards. She has the green light from anywhere on the court and can break down her defender easily. I like how Hedge can impact the game if she isn’t scoring. She is an excellent rebounding guard and also moves well without the ball.   [player_tooltip player_id="295872" first="Mya" last="Zaccagnini"] | CT Starters | 5’7’’| PG| ’23 [caption id="attachment_421920" align="alignnone" width="300"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/04/20F1558D-8D01-4ABE-8E61-5C12071B9C3E-crop-1302x855-1651363261.jpeg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-421920" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/04/20F1558D-8D01-4ABE-8E61-5C12071B9C3E-crop-1302x855-1651363261-300x197.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a> Photo: [player_tooltip player_id="355399" first="Anna" last="Kitch"][/caption] Zaccagnini in the backcourt with [player_tooltip player_id="299132" first="Sophie" last="Hedge"] is a nightmarish matchup for any opposing team. Zaccagnini can fill up the scoring column fast and in a hurry. She exploded for 25, 22, and 18 points over the weekend, and she easily gets into the second level when penetrating. Her speed and quickness with the ball make it hard for defenders to stay in front of her, and Zaccagnini is a proficient shooter while contested.   [player_tooltip player_id="266715" first="Josie" last="Cancro"] | I-Dream | 5’11’’| SG/SF| ’23 <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-421916" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/04/2877E16E-4FE9-4AFA-BA8E-DE57EC9A91D7-crop-1440x946-1651363200-300x197.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /> I can’t speak enough about how elite of a defender Cancro is. She fully understands man-to-man principles and always makes an effort to be in the right place at the right time. Whenever there is a breakdown on defense, you can count on Cancro to help make a dynamic play. Her length and IQ allow her to defend 1-5. With Cancro on the court, you can be versatile as a team defensively because she can switch out and guard anyone on each possession.   [player_tooltip player_id="287180" first="Emma" last="Shinney"] | EVO| 5’7’’| SG| ’23 [caption id="attachment_421912" align="alignnone" width="300"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/04/CE01B1C6-782B-4A98-813B-E0F14ACA4943-crop-1242x816-1651362910.jpeg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-421912" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/04/CE01B1C6-782B-4A98-813B-E0F14ACA4943-crop-1242x816-1651362910-300x197.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a> Photo: [player_tooltip player_id="355399" first="Anna" last="Kitch"][/caption] I appreciate Shinney’s toughness and consistent defensive intensity. Every time she plays, you know exactly what she will bring to the court. Spooky Nook was no different, as Shinney was a ball hawk, making the opposing guards uncomfortable and giving them no air space when they picked up their dribble. Shinney was one of the best on-ball defenders I saw from Live @ The Nook.   [player_tooltip player_id="269139" first="Alex" last="White"] | Team Saints | 5’11’’| PF| ’24 [caption id="attachment_421907" align="alignnone" width="300"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/04/F669B198-F8EC-4645-9A20-7FE23FE72ACE-crop-1365x897-1651362716.jpeg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-421907" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/04/F669B198-F8EC-4645-9A20-7FE23FE72ACE-crop-1365x897-1651362716-300x197.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a> Photo: JT Shotz[/caption] I thought White had the best weekend on a loaded Saints 17u team flooded with top prospects. She continues to improve in all facets of the game, and against CT Attack was a monster inside. White plays bigger than her 5’11’’ frame suggests and shows the strength to power through contact and convert and-1’s. She was a monster on the glass and protected the rim at a high level for the Saints giving them another consistent two-way threat on the court.   [player_tooltip player_id="296964" first="Saige" last="Youngberg"] | CT Attack| 5’7’’| CG| ’25 <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-421905" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/04/678F85CA-BF07-48C7-B07C-CA61E8F0ED21-crop-1365x897-1651362546-300x197.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /> Youngberg had not only one of the best individual performances that I saw at Spooky Nook but also my personal favorite. She scored at will, and her shot conversions were off the dribble jumpers. The degree of difficulty of her shots was high, and her creation was impressive. Her aggression and change of speed when attacking downhill kept the defense on their heels. She always brought that same level of aggression on defense. You can’t help but gravitate towards Youngberg when she defends because she is the ultimate competitor who isn’t afraid to sit in her stance and guard anyone.