Notes on Team 1, Kansas PGH Top 250 Expo

I have been in catch up mode for a few weeks now. Among the backlog has been sharing more about players who competed in October's PGH Top 250 Exposure event at Okun Arena, Shawnee, Kansas. Enjoy this look at the team.   <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-thumbnail"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/10/78-Daphne-Bracker-Sturm-150x150.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-530849" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Lawrence 2023 Daphne Bracker Sturm. Photo: Prep Girls Hoops.</figcaption></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='335963' first='Daphne' last='Bracker-Sturm'], 6'3", C, Lawrence (KS), 2023 - Bracker-Sturm is a all-event <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/2022/10/kansas-pgh-top-250-expo-all-event-second-team/">second team</a> selection. A terrific garbage collector around the basket, she more than held her own against other top posts. She has good anticipation and quick feet to help on off-side basket attacks, walls up well, and uses her size; strength; and length well to otherwise clog up the lane. Bracker-Sturm made good use of the baby hook around the basket with both hands and frequently bullied smaller build post players.   [player_tooltip player_id='525616' first='Jaicee' last='Carrasquillo'], 5'4", SG, Verona (MO), 2026 - What I really liked about Carrasquillo's play was how good her head and ball fakes were. Matched with her handles she often got a full step to drive. She also used them to set up a slide dribble to get a clear perimeter shot.   <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-thumbnail"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/10/5-Jaicee-Carrasquillo-150x150.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-530824" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Verona 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='525616' first='Jaicee' last='Carrasquillo']. Photo: Prep Girls Hoops.</figcaption></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='525602' first='Hannah' last='Coady'], 5'4", CG, Maur Hill Mount Academy (KS), 2026 - One little thing Coady does that I really like is how she can turn a casual dribble-up into a canned three. Defenders forget to put ball pressure on or do not respect her shooting or ... something. She also showed good ability to split defenders on the top of the key drive. I need to see her passing improve. Poise, discipline and floor reading will come but defenders would sit on ball reversals and other passes to get the pick.   <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-thumbnail"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/10/35-Hannah-Coady-150x150.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-530833" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Maur Hill Mount Academy 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='525602' first='Hannah' last='Coady']. Photo: Prep Girls Hoops.</figcaption></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='525597' first='Abbie' last='Numrich'], 5'7", CG, Blue Valley Northwest (KS), 2025 - As the day wore on I started watching who the strongest perimeter defenders were guarding. At times Numrich would draw one of them, a real sign of respect. While Numrich runs well, she is not as fast as many of the strong guards. Where she was most effective was moving into space and catching on the move. Numrich often could be found flashing through traffic into the lane. Off the catch she finished well and did so with athleticism. I also liked how well she boxed out on the perimeter.   <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-thumbnail"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/10/49-Destiny-Smith-150x150.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-530841" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Derby 2024 [player_tooltip player_id='198606' first='Destiny' last='Smith']. Photo: Prep Girls Hoops.</figcaption></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='198606' first='Destiny' last='Smith'], 5'8", PG, Derby (KS), 2024 - Smith is a all-event second team selection. Smith has a confident, unassuming personality on the floor. With other ball handlers on the team she did not start off running the point. That enabled me to watch how she works off the ball especially against the stronger defenders. With an without the ball she has poise and smarts to free herself up and create. Eventually she took over the point as she had the handles and IQ to not get ate up. Smith is a solid defender and works well within the team. In transition she keeps her head up and makes quality lead passes including bounce passes.   [player_tooltip player_id='335965' first='Monece' last='Thomas'], 5'7", SF/CG, Leavenworth (KS), 2023 - Thomas did a great number of things well. She hustled, showed speed with and without the ball, moved well without the ball, finishing ability, and the ability to make perimeter defenders look bad with her offensive rebounding. I need to see Thomas stay on the floor as she gets jumpy and to improve lateral quickness and athleticism against quicker defenders. Thomas made a valiant attempt to play some point against the strongest defenders at the event but she is not quite there yet to play Not a strong ball handler. 15 ate her up when tried to bring it up and run the offense. Slips in for ORBs well. Fast, hustles. Solid build. Moves well w/o ball. No quicks or athleticism to defend 15 well. Must stay down.   [player_tooltip player_id='525622' first='Skyte' last='Wilson'], 5'3", PG, Clinton (MO), 2025 - A all-event <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/2022/10/kansas-pgh-top-250-expo-all-event-third-team/">third team</a> selection, Wilson was in the middle of everything it seemed. She matched up well with the quickest guards and was assertive on both ends of the floor. She showed good hops when rebounding, athleticism on finishes, and was unafraid to challenge the trees inside. Wilson does need to work on changing gears as she has a tendency to force things. If Wilson can turn herself into a perimeter shooting threat her half-court game will explode.

I have been in catch up mode for a few weeks now. Among the backlog has been sharing more about players who competed in October's PGH Top 250 Exposure event at Okun Arena, Shawnee, Kansas. Enjoy this look at the team.