Brady’s Day Two Notes: PGH Legacy Region Finals

<span data-preserver-spaces="true">On Championship Sunday, there were plenty of performances worthy of being noted. Today I’ll highlight some of the best performers with region titles to be played.</span> <strong><span data-preserver-spaces="true">[player_tooltip player_id="266997" first="Annamaria" last="Luna"]-Playground Club 2024 National</span></strong> <span data-preserver-spaces="true">There were players I never saw play during the high school season, who I was excited to see this spring. Luna was near the top of that list. Near the end of the 16u semifinal, I meandered over to see how PGC’s game against Minnesota Diamond Elite would end, and Luna had her fingerprints all over the final five minutes. I saw Luna use a beautiful euro-step to get an easy layup and chase down multiple loose balls. Those last few minutes displayed what makes Luna good. She hustles, has creativity around the basket, and can shoot the ball well.</span> <strong><span data-preserver-spaces="true">[player_tooltip player_id="209616" first="Norriah" last="Broomfield"]-Playground Club 2024 National</span></strong> <span data-preserver-spaces="true">The Milwaukee School of Languages forward does an excellent job playing "big." She keeps the ball high on rebounds and isn’t shy to make an aggressive outlet or kick out passes off offensive rebounds. There is a clear route for her to be an excellent five at this level. She needs a little refining skill-wise, but she rebounds, uses her strength in the post, and has some touch. I think she has a chance to be good soon.</span> <strong><span data-preserver-spaces="true">[player_tooltip player_id="209600" first="Jayla" last="Rankin"]-Playground Club 2024 National</span></strong> <span data-preserver-spaces="true">You won’t find many more confident guards anywhere else. Rankin knows what she’s capable of doing and will continue to use the same hesitation crossover if she knows she can get by her defender using that move. The Wisconsin Lutheran guard is one of the best ball handlers in the state, and judging by the way she plays, she knows that. Rankin’s ability to beat her initial defender was the No. 1 reason that PGC won the 16U region title, in my opinion.</span> <strong><span data-preserver-spaces="true">[player_tooltip player_id="340025" first="Adrianna" last="Gonzalez"]-Playground Club 2024 National</span></strong> <span data-preserver-spaces="true">Coaches may look on paper and see Gonzalez’s 5-foot-6 height and look away from her, but that would be a mistake. She is an off-ball scoring guard, but her instincts are elite. The Kenosha native can score from anywhere at any time. I’ve always been impressed with how well Gonzalez can finish around size at the basket. In the 16u title game, she was able to get much-needed baskets for her team and show off her ball-handling ability.</span> <strong><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Abby Hollis-Foundation Athletics 2024</span></strong> <span data-preserver-spaces="true">Although Foundation Athletics came up just short in the 16u title game, I left that court impressed with Hollis as a 2025 prospect. She attended a school with less than 100 kids and didn’t get many minutes as a freshman, but I expect that to change. She was as self-assured as anyone on the floor. She looked some talented defenders in the face and made stepback 3s and looked like she’d done that 1,000 times before. If you like hidden gems, Hollis might be your kid.</span> <strong><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Alana Durtschi-Foundation Athletics 2024</span></strong> <span data-preserver-spaces="true">Hollis’ Albany teammate was also outstanding in the 16u title game. She shot the ball well and held her own on the defensive end. If you like watching some of these small schools throughout the year, a backcourt with Durtschi and Hollis will be well worth watching.</span> <strong><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Alica Burgos-Chapman Basketball Academy 2023</span></strong> <span data-preserver-spaces="true">In the 17u title game, Burgos’ presence was crucial. She defended the paint well without fouling and finished well around the basket. However, her passing was just as important. She hit open teammates on the move, and her outlet passes allowed her team to attack in transition. The 6-foot-2 forward has put together an outstanding last few months, going back to the state playoffs.</span> <strong><span data-preserver-spaces="true">[player_tooltip player_id="329571" first="Gracie" last="McNabb"]-Chapman Basketball Academy 2023</span></strong> <span data-preserver-spaces="true">When someone connects on ten 3s in a region title game, I have to talk about it. McNabb got going finding space in the corner to exploit the 1-3-1 zone. After those 3s, she was already in her rhythm. I saw her take two dribbles back and take a 3-pointer on a 3-on-1 fastbreak. I knew she was unconscious. She even shot her opposition out of a 2-3 zone in one possession in the second half. Her 30-point game in the last game I saw was the most I’ve seen in an AAU game and will be one I remember for a long time.</span>