New Era: Five Positionless Two-Way Players with Rising Stock

There are so many teachables in basketball, but two things you can’t teach are height and length. And as well all know, some players are simply blessed with height and/or long wingspans. Basketball is evolving with inside/out forwards and lengthy, agile wings who can dribble, shoot, and defend multiple positions, whereas not that long ago such players were confined to the paint. Take a look at five players who defy what it means to be a guard, a wing, or a forward; they are simply hoopers. <strong>Cherise Shamp, 5’10 G/F - Blueprint Basketball Class of ’23</strong> Whenever you watch Cherise play, you can’t help but be impressed with her motor. Shamp can press the ballhandler full court, affect shots in the paint, rebound in traffic, and she has a knack for tracking down loose balls. Her length plays a role in her ability to wreak so much havoc defensively, but it’s her will to compete that takes her to the next level. Offensively, Cherise can advance the ball against pressure and get her shot off against most defenders, whether that’s in the paint, mid-range, or from three. As Shamp gets stronger, she’ll be ever more effective on both ends of the floor, whether that’s collecting even more rebounds and second chance points or directing traffic on the perimeter. Cherise is a tough two-way player with a great attitude and a team first mindset. <strong>Emma Litchfield, 5’9 G/F - Lone Wolf Athletics Class of ’25</strong> Clearly, over the last decade or so, basketball has become positionless, and Litchfield is certainly emblematic of that sentiment. When I first saw her play, she won the tip and then helped bring the ball up the rest of the game. Emma is a capable scorer inside and out with her baby hook in the post or jumper from outside and is increasingly capable of creating her own shot. Defensively, Litchfield has good instincts off the ball, sliding in to help seamlessly, and on the ball, she can defend wings and forwards alike. Litchfield is a heady player with solid anticipation, a natural feel for the game, and a deceptive offensive toolkit. <strong>Atika Haji, 5’11 G/F - Blueprint Basketball Class of ’25</strong> Atika makes the game look easy. Haji has a tight handle, well equipped to operate in the post or on the perimeter, and she’s an adept slasher; she gets downhill in a hurry and can finish strongly through contact or pull up for a little short-range floater. Atika can score at all three levels whether it be off the catch or off the bounce, and she reads defenders coming off screens quite well. Defensively, Haji is capable of defending basically 1-5, but her sweet spot is 2-4. She’s a block threat <em>and</em> a strip threat with dynamic rebounding skills, all paired with coast-to-coast ability. A true open floor player, Atika’s got game. <strong>Sydney Herrington, 5’10 G/F - Manchester Mavericks Class of ’24</strong> When I began compiling this list, Sydney out of small-town Arlington, VT was one of the first to come to mind. Herrington is the epitome of the modern, positionless two-way player as she is someone who can box and rebound well with her size and strength, push the break with her clean handle and finish herself or make the right pass. In the halfcourt, Sydney is poised and plays an enjoyable brand of team basketball with her slick playmaking off of drives, cuts to space, and pick and rolls, all within the offensive system. A defensive stopper who can guard 2-4 with not only length but strength too, Herrington is someone who could start on nearly any team in the state of VT regardless of division. Put her on your radar. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="422814" first="Kelli" last="Cieplicki"], 5’9 G - Lone Wolf Athletics Class of ’24</strong> Jack of all trades, a Swiss army knife, however you want to say it, Cieplicki is the full package. Her game is composed and efficient, there’s not a lot of flash but a whole lot of work being put in. Cieplicki can defend guards, wings, forwards, you name it, and she’s a strong rebounder. She’s consistently talking on D, getting into help position, and rotating out on shooters with measured close outs and an extended hand. Offensively, Kelli is a three-level scorer with catch and shoot threes, one dribble pull ups in the mid-range, and an array of finishing moves in the paint. With her length she can shoot over defenders and is rather comfortable scoring among the trees down low. Cieplicki has no weak spots and a drive to sharpen her tools.