Cage League: Clarkston

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>When I talk to tournament and league directors, I hear a constant theme of despair: teams aren't playing fall and summer like in years past. Despite this trend, several teams are converging at The Cage in Swartz Creek every Sunday in October. I got a chance to watch Clarkston play a couple of games and came away impressed. Clarkston always puts out a talented team, and this year is no different. They play as a team on both sides of the ball and have some very good guards, young and experienced. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_634cad576edd8","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":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Keira Tolmie","_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":"null","_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":"Clarkston","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_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":"","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"preview"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Keira is one of those three level scorers that tv analysts rave about during draft time. She has a smooth stroke and can hit off the bounce as well as spot up situations. She has the ability to dribble by most people and can pull up over help side, with nice lift off the ground on the shot. She terrorizes the other team defensively and does a nice job of organizing her team. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_634cae086edd9","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["424588"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","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:paragraph --> <p>The younger, and taller, Hernandez sister is fun to watch. She is a physical wing that makes plays all over the court: deflections, rebounds, steals, etc. She is a physical driver and seems to understand her strengths. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_634cae196edda","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["190718"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","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:paragraph --> <p>The older Hernandez sister plays with a high IQ and tends to get to the right spot. She is another kid that is always communicating on the floor and plays with a calmness that is needed in a guard. She plays with tons of energy and gets easy buckets in transition. She is a dangerous spot up shooter as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_634cae356eddb","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":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Elli Robuck","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"null","_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":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_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":"","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"preview"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A coaching friend of mine doesn't believe that Elli is a freshman; according to him, freshman don't look this polished. Elli is on my short list of favorite players in 2026. She has deep range on her shots and is a strong driver to the rack, where she lowers her shoulder. She shoots passing lanes with great timing and position and possesses quick hands. Today, she lived on the floor going for the 50-50 balls. She is a natural leader and looks to find the open teammate. Plus, she plays with an edge and has no back down in her.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_634cb2586eddc","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["521048"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","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:paragraph --> <p>Where does Clarkston find all these shooters. Claire is a very dangerous catch and shoot player. She plays physical on both sides of the ball. She is another high energy kid that goes all out every play.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->