PGH Live – 13U-16U Standouts from Day One
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As we are currently in the midst of another NCAA live period, one expects the level of basketball being played to certainly reflect that reality. The first day of Prep Girls Hoops Live from the Iowa West Field House in…
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Continue ReadingAs we are currently in the midst of another NCAA live period, one expects the level of basketball being played to certainly reflect that reality. The first day of Prep Girls Hoops Live from the Iowa West Field House in Council Bluffs was, indeed, a reflection of that.
That first day, a Friday, may have been abbreviated, but the competition was anything but abbreviated as teams from a wide variety of states – including Nebraska, Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, Minnesota and Oklahoma all converged on the Omaha metropolitan area for a weekend of exciting basketball.
There were plenty from the 2024, 2025, 2026 and 2027 classes that wasted no time looking to impress in front of onlookers and college coaches. Here is who caught our attention from the first day of Prep Girls Hoops Live.
Mariah Heron – 2027 – Waller MS – Enid Lady Elite 2027 – Heron wasted no time getting her shine on as she did a bit of everything in her team’s first matchup of Prep Girls Hoops Live against NorthSouth Basketball 2027. She stayed ready to box out in case of an opponent’s missed free throw and was ferocious as a rim attacker. Heron will set up her team’s offense in the half court, is not afraid of contact which can put her at the free throw line and can hit her attempts from midrange and long range. She battles for rebounds, plays hard-nosed defense and will get out in transition. Ball distribution and the ability to make tough shots are two other elements of her overall game.
Katelyn Davis Katelyn Davis 5'8" | CG Choctaw | 2024 State OK – 2024 – Choctaw HS – Oklahoma Huskies 2024 – The first game for Davis and the rest of her Huskies team saw the team play the 17U Kansas Bluejays 2023 – and the 16U bunch held its own from start to finish. Davis particularly held her own and showed she is anything but afraid of contact and is willing to make things happen at the free throw line. She will also connect on 3-point attempts. The Yellowjackets finished the 2021-22 season with an 11-3 mark and Davis proved to be one of the catalysts for Choctaw finding the win column aplenty last season. She had 24 points to lead all scorers in the game with Kansas Bluejays 2023.
Avery Marchino – 2024 – Bethany HS – Oklahoma Huskies 2024 – Marchino proved to be a major reason why the Bronchos exited the 2021-22 season with a 16-6 record. She plays with a high basketball IQ and knows how to get in position to make plays. Marchino will attack the rim and can throw defenders off with her ability get to the rack or connect on floaters. She also possesses a 3-point shot as part of her offensive arsenal in addition to how she can make things happen in the transition game. Marchino began Prep Girls Hoops Live with a 12-point performance in Oklahoma Huskies 2024’s first contest of the weekend tournament – a game with Kansas Bluejays 2023.
Stephie Salumu – 2024 – Sunrise Christian Academy – Kansas Bluejays 2023 – The Buffaloes connection – one that went 22-4 during the 2021-22 regular season – lifted Kansas Bluejays 2023 to a 49-48 tournament-opening victory over Oklahoma Huskies 2024 on Friday night. Solumu stands at at even six feet – giving her a height advantage on many occasions when she is on the court. Salumu has no problems absorbing contact and finding her way to the free throw line and will also try her hand at shooting from deep. That height advantage shows itself on both ends of the floor. Salumu finished with 10 points in the victory over Oklahoma Huskies 2024.
KaMyra Barber – 2025 – Sunrise Christian Academy – Kansas Bluejays 2023 – Buffaloes basketball will be in good hands over the coming seasons as long as Barber, along with Salumu, continue to wear Sunrise Christian Academy’s maroon and white colors. A top performer from Battle at the Big Friendly and standing at 5-foot-8, Barber is versatile with an ability to thrive in the backcourt as a guard and in the frontcourt as a small forward. While all of her made shots in her team’s opening matchup were of the two-point variety, she can put additional points on the board via free throws on the heels of drawing contact. Barber’s team needed all of the 12 points she tallied as Kansas Bluejays 2023 began its Prep Girls Hoops Live with a victory by the slimmest of margins – 49-48 over Oklahoma Huskies 2024.
Kaitlyn Van Roekel – 2025 – Elk Point-Jefferson HS – United Sports Academy 2025 – Listed at 5-foot-5, she arrived at Iowa West Field House with her 3-point shot ready to go as Van Roekel opened her Prep Girls Hoops Live with a barrage of triples to lead her team to a win over State 38 Basketball 2025. In addition, she establishes herself as a consistent threat to steal the ball as a defender. Van Roekel is a dual sport athlete who has also excelled as a volleyball player throughout her time wearing the Huskies uniform. Her prowess as a threat from behind the arc is complimented by her ability to weave past defenders and finish at the cup.