Top 250 Expo: Natural Born Leaders

A coach's dream (among many) is to have an extension of themselves on the court. Someone who can direct traffic, motivate the team, settle things down, lead by example, etc. On Saturday at the Prep Girls Hoops Top 250 Expo at Hopkins High School, this group did just that at a very high level.    Not every leader does it with a big voice. Some just go out there and play as hard as they possibly can, and with that I give you [player_tooltip player_id='302306' first='Kate' last='Drury']. Whether it was tracking down loose balls, boxing out for a rebound or hustling back in transition on defense, Drury will never cheat you. As a teammate it's hard not to get on board when you have someone like Kate laying it on the line possession after possession. She was fun to watch on Sunday just grinding her opponents down and getting her teammates involved.    Amina is what you would call a "student of the game". I watched her all day on Saturday giving teammates praise, encouraging them after maybe missing a shot or an opportunity, and when her own number was called she delivered. Allen has always liked to shoot the rock, but now she's doing so at a pretty good clip. She made a living on Saturday knocking down catch-and-shoot 3's, pump fake one dribble pull-ups, and getting out in transition. When she would miss an assignment on defense or an open teammate, she was the 1st to acknowledge it and that's what being a leader is all about: accountability.    While I enjoyed watching all of the prospects do their thing at Hopkins, I have to admit that Dreckman was one of my favorites. 1st thing 1st, the mouth guard. Anyone wearing one is not to be trifled with. From the 1st possession of the day, her energy was infectious. She was taking charges, slapping the floor, dropping dimes and talking non stop. Any team at the next level lucky enough to nab her instantly becomes better.    It's been a joy watching the maturation of Brandi over the years from her Park Center/Champlin traveling basketball days to a main cog for the Metro Stars and her Fridley High School squad. She's fresh off of an injury and isn't all the way back in game shape yet, but her ability to lead by example was fun to watch at the Expo. Brandi understood her limitations and did a great job getting her teammates involved all while doing it with a smile on her face. Her 1st step is still quick as ever and she finishes with her off hand as well as anyone I've seen. Her squad was down to 5 players in their last game of the showcase and under her leadership, stole a win!! Once her legs get back under her, watch out!!     Kristi and Rachel's style of play are so similar it was an easy decision for me to make them a package deal in this piece. They are skilled, silent assassins. They aren't overly talkative on the court, but again, when you play the right way and let your game do the talking, the rest is easy. They defend and play each possession like it's their last which rallies the troops to jump on board and run through walls for them! I was in attendance at the Nickle Dickle 3-on-3 competition last year watching them give Nia Holloway and company all they could handle to walk away with the chip and I've been fans of theirs ever since!

A coach's dream (among many) is to have an extension of themselves on the court. Someone who can direct traffic, motivate the team, settle things down, lead by example, etc. On Saturday at the Prep Girls Hoops Top 250 Expo at Hopkins High School, this group did just that at a very high level.