Hustle N’ Bustle: Preseason All-802 Third Team Hoopers
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Last Preseason All-802 installation! Lots of work ethic with this group. Enjoy! Karsyn Bellomo, 5’7 G – Rutland High School Class of 2023 With Karsyn we have a savvy point guard who shines in big moments. Bellomo is a three-level…
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Continue ReadingLast Preseason All-802 installation! Lots of work ethic with this group. Enjoy!
Karsyn Bellomo, 5’7 G – Rutland High School Class of 2023
With Karsyn we have a savvy point guard who shines in big moments. Bellomo is a three-level scorer whose natural inclination is to get downhill. Outfitted with crisp handles, particularly a double crossover, Karsyn is able to shake defenders and get inside the second layer of the defense. Once in the interior, Bellomo has a nice floater/lay-up package to finish looks. Yet she’s also someone who’s keen to get teammates involved, and her drive and dish game creates a lot of opportunities for shooters and forwards down low. Defensively gritty, Karsyn loves to apply pressure and make opponents work. Last year I watched her carry RHS in a grueling away playoff game where she made numerous big plays and tough shots, playing a full 32 minutes. Karsyn has that competitive spirit plus a clutch gene. She shines when it counts.
Sakoya Sweeney Sakoya Sweeney 5'6" | CG Lake Region | 2023 State New E , 5’8 G – Lake Region High School Class of 2023
Driven, communicative, and joyous. That’s how I’d describe Sakoya in a nutshell. Sweeney plays hard and with a smile on her face, regardless of if it’s a Thursday night practice or a Sunday league game. She gives it everything. Sakoya applies pressure on the defensive end with nice footwork and pure hustle. Moreover, she’s in constant communication, calling out incoming actions for teammates. More often than not, her talk inspires other teammates to speak up as well, making the team defensive scheme ever more effective. Sweeney’s hustle also reels in lots of rebounds and 50/50 balls. With the ball in her hands, Sweeney is a natural facilitator. Sakoya breaks defenses down well and sees passing lanes intuitively, often times finding teammates with nifty passes. She’s also an adept scorer, especially inside the arc. Lastly, Sakoya celebrates her teammates often. Sweeney’s upbeat attitude and passion for the game shine through as she cheers on teammates constantly. Sakoya has a lot of game, and you have to love her spirit.
Nicole Norton Nicole Norton 5'8" | CG Colchester | 2024 State New E , 5’9 G – Colchester High School Class of 2024
Nicole’s length and athleticism are evident once the ball is live. Norton is a ballhawk who can really take opponents out of their game. Nicole reads passing lanes well, often times making deflections; she’s due to collect a couple steals off the ball each game. On the ball too, Norton’s defense is agile yet measured. She doesn’t take many chances, yet she can rip the ball off of ballhandlers naturally, especially once she has an opponent’s crossover timed out. Offensively, Nicole does lots of damage around the rim. She’s a tough slasher who never shy’s away from contact. Nicole finishes through defenders well and picks up lots of fouls, collecting free throws with her solid percentage from the line. In addition, she has a nice stroke and is efficient inside and outside the arc, especially off the catch. Off rebounds she’s a coast-to-coast threat, making plays for herself and others. Nicole’s two-way ability and hustle are a pleasure to watch.
Brianna Brownell, 5’10 W/F – Mount Mansfield Union High School Class of 2024
We all know players whose hustle and physicality allow them to play bigger than they really are. That’s Brianna in short. Brownell is a relentless pursuer of the ball. Whether she’s boxing out and securing defensive rebounds, collecting second chance points, or reeling in 50/50 balls, you can bet Brianna’s coming out with the rock. Yet she can also play the wing, sticking with perimeter players with nice footwork and anticipation. Offensively, Brianna maintains that tough playstyle. Brownell can play down low with her nice post-up game which features drop steps, baby hooks and face-up jumpers. Or she can step out to the wing, move the ball, and take it to the rim with tough takes. An intuitive screener and cutter herself, Brianna finds a way to get herself and others open. Brownell plays 3-4, runs the floor well, and leaves it all on the court.
Samara Ashooh Samara Ashooh 6'0" | PF Champlain Valley Union | 2024 State New E , 6’0 F – Champlain Valley Union High School Class of 2024
Samara has a nice pace to her game. I’ve rarely seen her in positions where she looks rushed and sped up, and that’s not to say she doesn’t play at a high gear. Ashooh is a mobile forward with inside out abilities. Samara does most her work around the rim, making great post flashes with target hands as she keeps defenders on her back. Once she’s got the rock, Ashooh can back them down and finish with nice baby hooks, or she can face-up and knock down the jumper. In addition, she’s an aware passer. Samara senses double teams well and is quick to kick the ball when the defense collapses. On the other end, Samara defends the post mighty well. She chooses a shoulder to take away, forcing tough post entries, deflecting passes, and effectively taking away an opponent’s post presence. Ashooh rebounds well, is a quick outlet, and runs the floor in transition when it’s there. Samara does a little of everything and makes lots of winning plays that don’t always show up in the box score.