Battle in the Boro (Part-2)
The featured image is of Chloey Graham Chloey Graham 5'9" | SG Gibson Southern | 2024 State IN (2024) of Gibson Southern High School and Pocket City Basketball 16U. Last weekend the annual Battle in the Boro tournament took place…
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Continue ReadingThe featured image is of Chloey Graham Chloey Graham 5'9" | SG Gibson Southern | 2024 State IN (2024) of Gibson Southern High School and Pocket City Basketball 16U.
Last weekend the annual Battle in the Boro tournament took place in Louisville, Kentucky. Originally started in the Murfreesboro/Nashville, Tennessee, area, the event moved to Louisville a few years ago but is set to return to the Volunteer State in 2023. There were 50 courts of action with teams primarily from the Midwest and the South involved. This is the second of three articles highlighting Indiana ladies who stood out when I was able to see their teams at this event.
Layla Gold
Layla
Gold
6'0" | SF
Cathedral | 2023
State
IN
, 2023, 6-0 F, Cathedral H.S.,
Indiana Pride
Attack 17U
– Layla has always been a solid, versatile forward capable of doing a number of things. This Spring and Summer, however, she looks much more aggressive offensively. She has typically taken shots from the perimeter, and she’s a very good outside shooter. I’m more so referring to her ability to attack off the bounce, and that’s where she’s being more aggressive. I really like her length, her fluid athleticism, and she possesses some bounce. I still think strength for the next level will come and make her that much tougher to defend.
Chloey Graham
Chloey
Graham
5'9" | SG
Gibson Southern | 2024
State
IN
, 2024, 5-9 G, Gibson Southern H.S.,
Pocket City Basketball
16U
– The biggest difference in Chloey’s game from the high school season to now is her focus and improvement at the defensive end of the floor. She has gotten better defending the ball off the bounce, she’s closing out under control, and she’s showing that she’s capable of rebounding the ball at a high level for a wing. Her 16.9 points per game and 39% 3-point shooting (65-165) during the 2021-2022 high school are evidence enough that she can put it in the bucket. This new defensive dimension, though, deserves recognition.
Keylee Hudson
Keylee
Hudson
5'10" | SG
Eastern Greene | 2024
State
IN
, 2024, 5-9 W, Eastern Greene H.S.,
Indiana Elite
Xcel 17U
– Keylee is a uniquely skilled, versatile wing who should draw a great deal of interest over the next year from some of the Midwest’s better small colleges. She has ball skill, can push in transition, and she can initiate/run offense for her teams. Additionally, she’s a capable perimeter shooter, and she has a strong frame and can get downhill to attack the basket. Her position will ultimately depend on what level of college player she can defend, but at the high school level she can comfortably defend bigger guards, wings, and forwards.
La’Kyra Johnson
La’Kyra
Johnson
5'7" | SG
Jeffersonville | 2024
IN
, 2024, 5-6 G, Jeffersonville H.S., Kentucky Premier-West 16U
– La’Kyra is a Southern Indiana guard whose name I’ve had for a few months, but this was my first opportunity to actually watch her in action. She is a nice athlete who can run and jump, she has good length at her height, and she has an athletically strong frame. She is probably best out in the open floor, where she’s able to use her athletic talents to make plays. She can get to the basket in minimal dribbles, and she has an explosive burst. She’ll still need a little polish to her all-around game, but she definitely has noticeable talent.
Kendall Sterling
Kendall
Sterling
5'10" | SF
Seymour | 2024
State
IN
, 2024, 5-10 F, Seymour H.S., Kentucky Fusion 16U
– Kendall has been a strong player on the grassroots circuit for a few years now, but this year she is playing for this Kentucky squad. She has a strong, physical frame, and it allows her to play in the mid-post and battle for rebounds around the basket. At the same time, she is actually more skilled like a wing, as she will handle the ball in transition, attack the basket from the top of the key, and knock down an open perimeter jumper when she’s in rhythm. The biggest question for her will be what position she’ll defend at the next level.
Sage Grubbs, 2026, 5-9 F, University H.S.,
Indy Magic
-Blanding 14U
– Sage is a very interesting younger player who has a chance to be a nice prospect long-term. She possesses a strong-for-her-age frame, but she’s also very active and mobile, she can run and jump, and she plays with a nice motor. Right now, she’s kind of figuring out exactly what she is. She looks most comfortable in the mid-post, attacking the basket aggressively against her peers or knocking down the 15-footer. At the same time, she has some perimeter skill, and I see her as more of a wing throughout her career.
Emily Parker
Emily
Parker
5'10" | SF
Boonville | 2026
State
IN
, 2026, 5-9 W, Boonville H.S.,
Pocket City Basketball
14U
– Emily is one of the better young prospects in Southwest Indiana, because she has the combination of skill, basketball IQ, and ability. She has nice length, wiry strength, and she’s a fairly fluid athlete. She can handle the ball a little and initiate the offense, she’s good in the mid-post and can attack from there, plus she’s a consistent shooter at all three levels. She’ll likely be more of a wing/small forward for the next level, but she’ll be relied upon to play more of a guard role at Boonville throughout her career because of her high skill level.