Top Centers of the 6th Region
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The 6th Region is loaded with talent and in this series, I will be writing about the Top Players at each position. This particular article breaks down the Centers playing for teams in the 6rh Region this year. I expect…
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Continue ReadingThe 6th Region is loaded with talent and in this series, I will be writing about the Top Players at each position. This particular article breaks down the Centers playing for teams in the 6rh Region this year. I expect all six of these players will be in the 6th Region Tournament this season so get that date of the 1st Round into your calendar Coach. You won’t only see these players but several of the others I will be covering in this series.
White could be effective just by being her size and knowing a few of the basics of positioning her body and arms and doing her best just to get up and down the floor. But she tops this list because she is so much more than that. rnI’ve have always been most impressed with her short jumper. Her shot blocking ability provides the most flash to get the oohs and aahs. But it is her rebounding and post-up game that contributes the most to her high value as a prospect. rnWhite has all of the game needed to transition to a high level of play in College. Making that something I will need to talk to her about for a bit the next time I get to see her play.
Soutar is in the PGH Rankings as a Power Forward but those positions are meant to be projections of where she might play in College. In High School she is a Center in a team lacking in size (like most HS teams) and fits into the list for that reason. rnSoutar has a firm grasp on the fundamentals of her position. She seals off opponent to receive the ball and before extending her long arms for rebounds. She has a good short range shot and some basic developing post moves. The ability to pass and handle the ball in the paint, which is tough when surrounded by a swarm of defenders that are all taught to harass Post Players as secondary defenders. rnShe is right where you would hope a player would be after finishing her Freshman season to set herself up to make it to the next level. Everytime I see her play I can tell she has been working on adding a new tool to her belt to bring to work. Her biggest weaknesses are physical traits that go away as a players body matures past childhood into adulthood. And the body will fix those itself over time allowing her to focus on skills.
Highlights
Kambree Lathery
Kambree Lathery
Lathery is transfering into the 6th Region, based on what I gathered from her at an AAU Event this summer. She will be joining some teammates from the Legends at PRP after leaving a very talented and crowded frontcourt elsewhere. rnShe has a strong, athletic build, runs the floor well and can be a force on the backboards and as a post defender. She will be a key addition on a team that already has good Guards and Forwards that had to hold down the Center position with those Forwards last season Adding an actual Center to a team that did not have one is always good for their prospects. rnI have not seen her play that often but will definitely see her this season. I think she will be taken on the next level by a smaller school that is willing to take her on as a project. If I were Coaching for a small college team she is definitely a player I would take a bet on. She will certainly be able to contibute in spot duty right away based on athleticism alone. If she has a strong worth-ethic (I don’t know if she does or dpesn’t) she could be a very important piece in College.
Packer is likely the heir-apparent at Bullitt East in the frontcourt after graduating several players that moved on to College teams. If there is someone else I am currently unaware of them. rnShe doesn’t come equipped with the great size of the players she is replacing but who does? But she is more than big enough to hold it down in the middle against the opponents she is going to face physically. She is also equipped with a blossoming interior game and good coaches that know how to develop interior talent. rnMaybe this year, but certainly in the future Packer is well-positioed to be one of the top Post players in the Comonwealth.
Highlights
Emily Gerne
Emily Gerne
Gerne is a rebounding force who averaged 9.2 rebounds per game. She will easily grab more than that this season after losing another top rebounder to graduation. Gerne will surely collect several of those extra board for the Dragons in ’22-’23. rnThis is another potential project to keep your eyes on if you are coaching a small college team. Although more likely as a Power Forward on the next level than as a Center.
Ava Bucci
Ava Bucci
I am currently kicking myself for not getting a photo of Bucci when I spoke to her breifly this summer. She impressed me with how much she had improved since the season over the course of the summer. She made some significant strides and that really adds to my eager anticipation of the coming High School season. If every player has improved this much I am really going to enjoy me job this year more than I did last season. rnShe made 54.2% of her shots last season making 45 of 83 shots. She is also a work in progres but there is progress being made. This is another player small college Coaches should have on their radar. She is worth a look late this season or early next season. Maybe in the first round of the 6th Region Tournament where her team will surely be again this year. Along with all of these players in this article.