Intangibles Series: Hoop IQ

We've all seen them. Some players have an incredible sense of spacing and timing, and how the defense might react to certain jabs or fakes. Such players understand the game deeply, noticing intuitively when and where to move to. They begin their cuts when the defense looks away, use ball fakes to create separation, and rarely get bunched up in the halfcourt. On the defensive end, high IQ players have a knack for keeping the ball in front because they know themselves how to manipulate a defender to give them space. Take a peek at these hoopers who intuit the game.   Gracie Martin, 5'8 W - Blueprint Basketball Class of '24   In my time watching Gracie play I became convinced she could fill it up purely off of cuts. She'll face cut hard and make a quick, but never rushed, move to the hoop, sensing where the defender is and manipulating them enough to get a clean look. With the rock in her hands, Martin utilizes ball fakes well, creating a few more inches of space to get the ball cleanly into a teammate's hands or up for a shot. Moreover, she creates her own look with jab steps, pivots, and a savvy use of her body. Since Gracie has a solid understanding of how to get the defender out of position, she plays solid, straight up defense that is both physical and intelligible. Gracie is a team player with natural hoop instincts.   Lexi Rabidoux, 5'7 G - Blueprint Basketball Class of '25   It seems Lexi is always in the right place at the right time, and hoopers know that's not simply chance or good luck. Rabidoux is a hawk for loose balls and her outlet passes make clear just how strong her court awareness is. Offensively, Rabidoux has a keen sense of spacing and is comfortable all over the floor. Her face cuts and back cuts are sneaky and quick. When the basket cut isn't there, she's confident to flash anywhere on the court, such as the high post. She'll happily operate from there, hitting cutters or swinging the ball swiftly to keep the defense playing 50 feet of lateral defense. Defensively, Rabidoux is solid at keeping the ball in front by moving her feet and watching hips rather than ball. Moreover, she's a pest in help positions or two passes away, sneaking in for steals, deflections and interruptions. Lexi is a heady, multi-faceted hooper.   [player_tooltip player_id='496147' first='Kelli' last='Cieplicki'], 5'9 W - Lone Wolf Athletics Class of '24   Comfort, ease, these are just a couple ways to describe how Kelli plays. I've never seen Cieplicki sped up and out of her comfort zone, and it's not because she's the strongest, quickest, or most athletic player. Rather, it's due to Kelli's intuitive understanding of what the defense is giving and what their taking away. Kelli is adept at manipulating the defense to give her a lane, or she'll simply take the space that's given considering she has the skill to make the most of it. She reads screens instinctually, sensing whether to curl for a bunny or float to the perimeter for a jumper. Or she may be running a lane in transition, sensing her opportunity to attack the open space for an easy bucket. Defensively, Kelli is quick to get a body on a box out, doesn't matter how big they are, and can outlet the rock in an instant due to her savvy court awareness. Cieplicki is the full package.   [player_tooltip player_id='649636' first='Julia' last='Decker'], 5'5 G - Manchester Mavericks Class of '24   Decker is a crafty guard who utilizes wit and anticipation as well as anybody. Julia isn't one to gamble too much on defense, but her knack for on-ball steals and deflections would make anybody hungry for more. She has an uncanny ability to poke the ball out on crossovers, seemingly studying and sitting on them, just waiting to pounce. Off ball too, Julia has a keen sense of when to cut off drives for charges, or she'll show to stop the ball while keeping her hands up and out in order to deflect a kick out. With the ball in her hands, Decker can lull a defender to sleep and then knife into the lane, making plays for herself and others. Furthermore, she's not a point guard who has to have the ball in her hands. Julia moves well to balance the floor and is quick to recover on defense to quell any fastbreak opportunities. Julia is a sharp player and an eager competitor.   [player_tooltip player_id='421353' first='Addison' last='Hunter'], 6' F - Lone Wolf Athletics Class of '23   There's a lot of tricks in Addi Hunter's bag. My favorite place to see her go to work is in and around the post. She's got ball fakes that'll put defenders in the spin cycle, setting up easy looks and crisp passes to cutters or teammates in the post. Hunter's post package is tooled with multiple moves and counters for each, keeping the defense totally in the dark as to what she'll do next. Moreover, Addi is comfortable spacing out to the wing and can pass just as well from the perimeter. Since Hunter's got a full bag of tricks, she rarely falls for an opponent's shenanigans. She's a straight up defender who forces tough shots due to her length and anticipation, she boxes hard and can outlet with the best of them, sparking easy fastbreak looks. Addi is one of my favorite '23s to watch.

We've all seen them. Some players have an incredible sense of spacing and timing, and how the defense might react to certain jabs or fakes. Such players understand the game deeply, noticing intuitively when and where to move to. They begin their cuts when the defense looks away, use ball fakes to create separation, and rarely get bunched up in the halfcourt. On the defensive end, high IQ players have a knack for keeping the ball in front because they know themselves how to manipulate a defender to give them space. Take a peek at these hoopers who intuit the game.