Chicago TOC Power 5 – Solid Assassins

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Chicago Tournament of Champions’ games has attracted a lot of talent in the past years, and this year was<em> no different</em>. With over 60 courts and 672 teams, I focused down on the best talent representing the New England and New York areas. These athletes were major threats from the wing, wreaking havoc all over the court. Here’s who impressed me the most from the guard spots:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_62db4a9026ff5","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":"","_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"preview"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_62db4a9d26ff6","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":465828,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id=’299132’ first=’Sophie’ last=’Hedge’]","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2023","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5’9u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"12121","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Mercy HS","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"CT Starters Blue Star","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"A combo guard who touches the stat sheet in all areas. Hedge is streaky from 3 and can get going quick. She has a shifty cross to open up a lane, and will step through if help side shifts over. Hedge needs to look to break down her defender more since she is better than I think she knows at it and could be dangerous. She keeps active hands in the passing lanes and turns her hips under screens. What I liked about Hedge is that she gets on the boards at both ends of the floor and looks to start the break, attacking the lanes and making the extra pass. She’ll mostly look for her 3 pt shot first when off the ball, but looks to get her teammates in scoring positions at the PG spot. Overall, Hedge is a solid player who can impact a team in multiple areas both on the stat sheet, and off.rnu003cp class=u0022p1u0022u003eu0022Sophie has a high basketball IQ. Her versatility on both ends of the floor and her knock down 3pt shooting makes her a tremendous asset to the team. She’s a team first kid - who is very coachable and has been pleasure to have in the program over the last 3 years.u0022 -Brian Medeiros, CT Starters Coachrnu003c/pu003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":465829,"_player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id=’329033’ first=’Paika’ last=’Van Der Maas’]","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"6’2u0022","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"12125","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"Choate Rosemary Hall","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"D4S","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_1_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"u003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400;u0022u003eA long smooth BIG GUARD at 6’2 who will also play inside. Van der Maas’s game definitely reflects her Australian roots. Her game is smooth, with great touch around the rim. She has a nice shot from 3, and gets it done inside with a drop-seal on the block both directions. I mainly saw her look to drive first off the catch and rip, getting into the lane each time. At the same time, though, Van der Maas will start the offense as the u0022PGu0022, and did so on multiple occasions. When not outside the arc, she has smooth continuous moves off the post, using her body well to seal the defense, scoop under, or fade over the D off her drop-step middle. She’ll Kkeeps the ball high and use her size to stay over the defense and create better shot opportunities for herself. Van Der Maas  will apply pressure on D with active hands, and is not afraid to pick up the PG. She uses her length to cut off her player on D, and deter their shots. u003c/spanu003e","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":465830,"_player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id=’413733’ first=’Ayanna’ last=’Franks’]","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"5’9u0022","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"12125","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"Windsor HS","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"New Heights Blue","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_2_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"u003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400;u0022u003eA Strong attacking off-ball guard with good athleticism. Franks is always looking to attack, and she does it well. She’ll make contact in the paint, and then be able to finish off the glass for the bucket. She is smooth on the attack and can split her defenders when she is in the lane. Franks did a nice job of finding the gaps in the defense to shift through, and getting by her defender for the bucket. She is at her best off the bounce, establishing herself as one of major offensive threats for her team.u003c/spanu003e","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":465832,"_player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id=’303899’ first=’Sam’ last=’Pellerin’]","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"5’10u0022","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"12125","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"Lawrence Academy","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_3_player_details_club_team":"New England Crusaders 16u Blue Star","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_3_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"u003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400;u0022u003eAn overall solid player who is sneaky good. Pellerin is a 2025 prospect playing a year up on the Crusaders Blue Star team. She was that reliable kid who flat out got the job done, touching all categories throughout the game. What impressed me the most was that Pellerin’s contributions can go unnoticed by the opposing team which makes her that more dangerous. She is a consistent shooter, and makes the right passes to put her teammates in a position to score. She mainly looks for her set shot, but will use her dribble to get into the lane. On defense, Pellerin will pressure the ball, and does a nice job of using her body to cut off her defender. I think once she gets more comfortable, as she’s only a 2025, she’ll be able to take over games more and more. Overall, she is a good SOLID player at both ends of the floor who knows when to kick, take the PUJ, or go all the way with a soft touch. u003c/spanu003e","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":465833,"_player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id=’406503’ first=’Taryn’ last=’Barbot’]","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"2023","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"5’7u0022","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"12125","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"St. Mary’s HS","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"New Heights Blue","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_4_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"An athletic quick guard with impressive finishes in the paint. [player_tooltip player_id=’406503’ first=’Taryn’ last=’Barbot’] plays with her twin [player_tooltip player_id=’406502’ first=’Taylor’ last=’Barbot’] (#4) on a scrappy New Heights Team. She is referred to as one of the tornado twins, and I think it suits her play perfectly. Taryn crashes hard at both ends of the floor creating numerous second chance opportunities for her team. It’s hard to box her out since she immediately goes into the paint once a shot is released, so if you’re not ready, you’ll be watching her pull down a rebound and putting it back for a strong lay. She also attacks the rim strong, making sure to seperate from her defender either with a dribble move, step through, or just powering up. What impressed me the most about Taryn is her motor. She goes hard on both ends of the floor applying pressure off the press, and in the half court. She does what the team needs in that moment, which makes her a valuable asset for anyone.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":5,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"edit"} /-->