PGH Top 250 Expo: Teams 4-6 Standouts
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I’m going to dive deeper into this event as the week goes on, but I wanted to at least get some quick hitters out today, so I’m going to pick 3 standouts from each team from the expo and discuss…
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Continue ReadingI’m going to dive deeper into this event as the week goes on, but I wanted to at least get some quick hitters out today, so I’m going to pick 3 standouts from each team from the expo and discuss what I saw from them on Saturday! Before I start, I want to be transparent and say that I only caught 1 game for each team, so I could’ve caught some players worst game and some players best game. For teams 3, 4, 11, and 12, I saw them play significantly less as the last 2 games of the day were 12 minute halves (running clock with no halftime) versus the 1st 4 games that were 20 minute halves. So, all of these factors definitely played a role into who I’m going to discuss in these quick hitters, but I will get into more detail throughout this week.
Team 4
Gentry was one of the best scorers I saw on Saturday. She can really put the ball in the basket and she does it in a variety of ways. Her pull-up jumper was looking really good and she keeps the ball up high enough that it’s difficult for the defense to block even if they are right in front of her. Gentry’s ball handling and passing looked good too. She was making some impressive no look passes that made it difficult for the defense to anticipate where she was going with the ball. Gentry recognized when her teammates were hot and she delivered them the ball.
Highlights
Spieker can shoot the lights out of the ball and it feels like her range is limitless. The lefty is constantly working to get open looks on the perimeter. She makes good cuts and does a great job moving without the ball. Spieker can also shot fake and drive. She finishes floaters and layups well. She also can handle the ball with pressure. Spieker’s basketball IQ is high and it’s evident when you watch her play. She doesn’t typically force shots that aren’t there, but rather, she works really hard to get good looks for both herself and teammates.
Brown didn’t score much in the game I watched (granted it was one of the shorter games at the end), but she had to be included as a standout because of everything else she was contributing. She was truly giving 110% when she was on the floor. There wasn’t going to be another player that was out-hustling her. Brown played excellent defense and was the first to pick her teammates up when they went down. She was also the first to stand up and cheer when they did something good. Brown is an excellent shooter, but it was all of the other stuff that really made her stand out in this one.
Team 5
If you looked up true point guard, a picture of Rowe should be what pops up because she is the definition of a point guard. She has proven time and time again that she can, and will, stand out no matter how big of a stage she’s playing on. Why? Because her basketball IQ is off of the charts. She makes great passes, she sees the floor, she has so much variety in her ball handling skills, and she handles pressure like it’s nothing. On top of her PG skills, Rowe scored in every way imaginable. She knocked down 3s, got to the rim, hit jump shots, floaters, etc. She competes every time she steps on the floor and she never fails to impress.
Armstrong is another point guard, and she showed off those skills so well on Saturday. Her ball handling was really impressive, especially her quick moves that allowed her to get a step on her defender. However, she also showed how strong her court awareness and court vision are. Armstrong was thinking a play ahead and delivering great passes, including some no looks that had everyone in awe. Since she had to play off of the ball a lot, she also showed her abilities as a scorer, finishing drives and knocking down shots.
Highlights
Clark plays incredibly hard. She can have a bad game and I still would walk away impressed by her work ethic. She has excellent length and she’s a really versatile player. At one point, Clark was one of the players furthest from the ball when it came off of the rim and yet, she somehow out-hustled everyone to get the rebound. Plays like that automatically make you a standout in my mind, but she was also knocking down shots, creating for her teammates, and securing a ton of rebounds.
Team 6
Knox was wearing a different number than what I had on my paper, so the whole time I was watching her game I just kept wondering who #3 was because she kept making impressive plays on both sides of the ball. I’m glad I eventually found out who it was because she was by far one of the best players out there on Saturday. Knox’s passing ability is beyond impressive. She sees the floor and can throw perfect passes over/through a defense. Knox has such good handles and her moves can get her past her defender with ease. She’s quick and she is a tough defender. She was elevating to get steals and deflections all game. Knox also was a vocal leader on the floor and I was extremely impressed with her overall game.
Chestnut has all the skills you would want in a point guard, plus she can put the ball in the basket better than most point guards. She has great ball handling skills and she made great passes. Chestnut’s basketball IQ is extremely high, especially for a freshman. She was consistently making smart passes, pushing the tempo, and bringing a lot of intensity. She was drawing the defense to create for her teammates. Chestnut also showed her ability to score inside and out, knocking down floaters and jump shots.
Highlights
Meade is strong and has great size. She really makes it hard to get a shot off because she stays straight up and alters a ton around the basket. On offense, she showed that she can score around the rim or step out to knock down short jump shots. When her teammates were driving to the basket, she did a great job of recognizing that and stepping out of the way. However, when she did so, she stepped into the open areas and was able to knock down those shots when her teammates kicked it out. She was strong on the boards as well.