WV Thunder players standing out during Live at the PAC
A number of the top teams in the AAU circuit attended last weekend’s Live at the PAC inside the Pacers’ Athletic Center in Westfield, Indiana. Among the groups were several of the top-rated W.Va. Thunder organizations’ squads. Seven groups competed…
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Continue ReadingA number of the top teams in the AAU circuit attended last weekend’s Live at the PAC inside the Pacers’ Athletic Center in Westfield, Indiana. Among the groups were several of the top-rated W.Va. Thunder organizations’ squads. Seven groups competed with the Thunder’s 16u second group playing up in the 2023 age bracket. Here are the players who stood out for Scott Johnson, Brian Mallory, John Salley, Ryan Smith and company:
Sophie Nichols Sophie Nichols 5'11" | SG Ripley | 2024 State WV , W.Va. Thunder 16u Rise, SF, 6-0 – This young lady definitely has a flair for the dramatic. When the going gets tough, she certainly gets going. Not just on the offensive end of the floor, but the defensive end as well. Although, she showed a lot on both ends of the floor, the lasting moment definitely was 27-point outburst with six 3s against a group of 17-year olds. In that performance, Nichols never took no for an answer and slowly helped her team whittle a 29-point deficit down to 2. In the loss, she showed her great shooting patience and willingness to take charge, even when things are going wrong.
Timberlynn Yeast Timberlynn Yeast 5'8" | SF Mercer County | 2023 State KY , W.Va. Thunder 2023, PG, 5-8 – What is there not to like about this point guard? Seriously. Yeast is an attacking and ferocious competitor at her position on either end of the floor. She reacts quickly, guards her post with great zeal and enthusiasm, could just as soon block a shot while backpedaling, but can speed by defenders down the lane and to the hoop on the other end of the floor. She’s got great instincts and the more you watch her, the more impressed you become with her weapons and abilities.
Ella Weaver, W.Va. Thunder 2023, PF, 6-0 – Weaver displayed a very Robert Horry-esque game over her three days in Indiana. The power forward finished strong with both hands, but she spread the floor just as much. She let the game come to her and never got frustrated when shots weren’t falling, which was rare. That also could be because she can bring the ball up the floor and slice through the lane to create ever more trouble for opponents. As the cherry on top, she hits her free throws and then keeps coming back for more.
Addie Adkins Addie Adkins 5'11" | PF Wayne | 2025 State WV , W.Va. Thuner 15u GUAA, Wing, 5-11 – Addie really differentiated herself from the pack this week by showing some new and unique things from what she’s done in the past. The Wayne Pioneer showed she knows how to make trouble when turned loose on the offense end of the floor. Not only did she nail several deep 3s, but she went down on the block and worked her way out to the midrange for her points. All and all, her game is maturing quickly and she’s no longer just the rebounder/defender she became known for during her opening year as a Pioneer.
Kyaira Miller, W.Va. Thunder 15u GUAA, PG, 5-7 – This young lady has some great defensive instincts, and a lot of patience going along with them. Not only does she patiently read an offense’s attack plan and quickly disect it, she acts at nearly the same time. In addition, you can put her up against an opponent of any size and she won’t back down.