Spooky Gems Part 4: Live Period Watch

As we head into the second half of the July Live Period, I wanted to touch on a handful of prospects who caught my eye at the East Coast Summer Showcase and who I think will end the month strong.   Erica Stolker| NJ Panthers|5’6’’|SG|’23 Stolker is a very good shooter off the catch and move, but I love that she knows how to get open and keep the defense on their heels. She cuts aggressively and knows how to use screens, leading to many open shot attempts. I liked that whenever Stolker caught the ball, she was assertive and ready to shoot.   [player_tooltip player_id="404230" first="Shana" last="Desir"]|NJ Panthers|5’8’’|SG|’23 Desir is an explosive athlete and smooth slashing wing who can score in traffic. When she elevates for a layup, Desir can contort her body in all ways and still find a way to finish on the contested defense. She is hard to defend because Desir can handle the ball and slash with either hand and has the first step to get by the perimeter defense. I saw her a few weeks ago at the Hoop Mountain All Academic Camp, and she was one of my standouts for all the reasons mentioned above.   [player_tooltip player_id="462441" first="Vanessa" last="Ellis"]|Team Sims|5’11’’|PF|’25 Ellis was a beast inside and gave Team Sims some big-time scoring punch around the basket. Ellis is a double-double machine who uses her strength and vertical jump to get easy second-chance scoring opportunities. When receiving the ball on the wing, Ellis will lower her shoulder and power through the defense and couldn’t be stopped. The only way to slow Ellis down was to foul her.   [player_tooltip player_id="330803" first="Aidah" last="Smalley"]|Team Saints|5’10’’| PF|’24 [caption id="attachment_462440" align="alignnone" width="300"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/07/C777524E-28BB-407A-AED5-AEF2795CE1DD-crop-1227x806-1658183774.jpeg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-462440" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/07/C777524E-28BB-407A-AED5-AEF2795CE1DD-crop-1227x806-1658183774-300x197.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a> Photo: Meredith Ryan[/caption] Smalley played some of her best basketball at the East Coast Summer Showcase, and her rebounding stuck out most. Smalley is undersized at the power forward spot, but she continuously secured possessions for the Saints and made accurate outlet passes to ignite the break. Smalley isn’t afraid to use her strength under the basket to finish through contact. All around, Smalley put together an impressive few days at Spooky Nook.   [player_tooltip player_id="462435" first="Madison" last="Bortstein"]|Northeast Elite|PG|’26 Bortstein has a nice offensive package filled with crafty finishes, floaters, and a fluid jump shot. I liked her decision-making down the stretch of games as she showed the poise and shot-making ability to come up clutch for her team. When getting downhill, Bortstein was under control and made good decisions.   [player_tooltip player_id="462434" first="Addie" last="Dorfman"]|Northeast Elite|PF|’26 Dorfman was the biggest hidden gem at the East Coast Summer Showcase. Her size, length, and skill set make her ceiling extremely high, but Dorfman also is a high IQ player on both sides of the floor. Defensively, she is an excellent help side defender who is always aware of what is happening around her. She has a solid post repertoire and is confident handling the ball in the open court after pulling down a rebound. Dorfman is a prospect who should be on everyone’s radar.   [player_tooltip player_id="462427" first="Isis" last="Dojan"]| Lancaster Wave|6’3’’|PF/C|’23 [caption id="attachment_462432" align="alignnone" width="300"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/07/E579AF53-07CB-4FC3-B120-53EBAB09C349-crop-1365x897-1658183175.jpeg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-462432" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/07/E579AF53-07CB-4FC3-B120-53EBAB09C349-crop-1365x897-1658183175-300x197.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a> Photo: JT Shotz[/caption] Dojan was near impossible to stop inside, not just because of her intimidating size but her good technique, finishing ability, and footwork that gave her an even greater advantage inside.Dojan also rim runs hard and will beat her opponent up the floor and score easily in that fashion.   [player_tooltip player_id="462426" first="Autumn" last="Cook"]|Lancaster Wave|5’4’’|PG|’23 <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-462429" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/07/2EFBE184-1CB5-489C-BA77-EEEF89A7C0CE-crop-1365x897-1658183087-300x197.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /> Cook always gives max effort, especially on defense. She came into the game and displayed good instincts defensively. Cook has quick hands and, after forcing turnovers, took off the other way in transition and made a few dynamic plays. Cook plays physically and aggressively when guarding the ball, and the pressure she applies makes ball handlers extremely uncomfortable.   [player_tooltip player_id="458226" first="Ava" last="Gallup"]|Buffalo Titans|5’11’’|SF|’24 I like Gallup’s size as a scoring point-forward who is a confident playmaker in transition. She can get into the paint using the least amount of dribbles due to her length and long strides when penetrating. She is an adequate ball handler who shoots proficiently from the perimeter off the dribble.   [player_tooltip player_id="462445" first="Leah" last="Thompson"]|Buffalo Titans|5’10’’|’24 Thompson’s inside presence was apparent during the East Coast Summer Showcase. She altered a number of shots in the lane and forced the opposing offense to take rushed field goal attempts. Thompson is also effective around the basket. She has good hands, can make clean catches in traffic, and can finish strong.   [player_tooltip player_id="462447" first="Jaida" last="Helm"]|Mid-Atlantic Magic|5’11’’|SF|’23 Helm was one of the most athletic prospects in the gym, and she also had one of the best motors. There is nothing better than a player who is an insane athlete and goes 100% every play. Helm was a force defensively and on the glass, proving that no team could match her combination of speed, strength, and quickness. She has the tools to switch out and defend anyone whether they play on the perimeter or down low.   [player_tooltip player_id="462425" first="Anne" last="Keneally"]|PD Hoops|5’9’’|SG|’24 I am glad I stayed until the last game of the East Coast Summer Showcase, or I would have missed Keneally putting on a show offensively. She was on fire from the outside and did the majority of her damage off the dribble. She knows how to separate from her defender and is fluid with the basketball. Keneally knows how to get to her spots and fills up the scoring column fast.   [player_tooltip player_id="462423" first="Nylah" last="Davis"]|717 Hoop Dreams|5’5’’|PG|’25 <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-462424" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/07/F2D5D83C-B100-4992-AEE7-9EDF113E3723-crop-1365x897-1658182661-300x197.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /> Davis was a monster on defense and was monumental in forcing turnovers for her team. She has great ball-hawking skills and awareness. Davis read the passer’s eyes well, jumped the lanes, and showed good timing when intercepting passes.   [player_tooltip player_id="413877" first="Madalyn" last="Barrows"]|NY Royals|5’8’’|PG|’23 Barrows was one of the best sharpshooters at the Showcase and needed little to no space to get her shot off. She is a pure shooter who defenses need to locate. She looked comfortable shooting on the move and in transition as well. With her size at the 2 guard position and three-point acumen, Barrows checks the boxes of a scholarship-level specialist.