Victory Region Kick Off: 17U – Players To Take Notice In

<!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["419468"],"_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":"The best pure center that I saw all weekend was [player_tooltip player_id='419468' first='Nora' last='Ezike'] of [program_tooltip program_id='716186' first='M14' last='Hoops'] 2024 3SSB. Ezike was a punisher on the insane. A player who welcomed contact from any opponent on her way up to the basket, looking for an AND1 opportunity or at least some free throws. She is big, strong, and confident in her ability. Something that is easy to see when you are watching live. She has solid footwork and can use both hands to finish, going over either shoulder. Other than scoring she does everything else well and efficiently. Things such as boxing out, rebounding, passing out of the post and mid-post, and being able to take a dribble or 3 while attacking the rim. Nora is going to be gaining a lot of interest this spring/summer. This was the first time I had the chance to see her in person this weekend and I will definitely be back to watch this group again before the season is over, in big part because of her. ","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["265963"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"The most exciting game this weekend I witnessed was [program_tooltip program_id='712517' first='Full' last='Package'] Black 2024 Vs Mac Irvin Fire 2024 - 1. A game that was loaded with over 10-12 players with D1 talent, if not more. It was an exciting one. Both teams battled and had stretches of good and bad throughout the contest, with Mac Irvin coming out on top by 1 point in the end. One of the most intriguing players in the match up was [player_tooltip player_id='265963' first='Reagan' last='Sipla']. Sipla is a lengthy shooting guard who is not afraid to let it fly from deep. When I say deep, I mean that as soon as she steps out of the car in the parking lot she is in her range. She has a decent handle and can put it on the ground if need be, to get out of sticky situations. Along with this she has great size to be a difference maker on the defensive end of the floor. She can switch and stay with a smaller guard or even play up and impact shots in the post, if that's what her team needs her to do. In the game I watched, Sipla did a lot of good things to help her team out. Efficient player with solid talent across a few different aspects of the game.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["251741"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"The [program_tooltip program_id='713394' first='Kentucky' last='Ice'] program brought the fire this past weekend in Illinois and have some nice players across the board on their rosters. A player on their 2024 team which interests me was [player_tooltip player_id='251741' first='Laiken' last='Hardin']. Hardin, a 5'10 shooting guard, has some promise in her game, she just needs to keep working hard and keep trying to put it together. She did a good job of knocking down open shots when given to her from deep and wasn't afraid to be aggressive, attacking off the dribble when she saw the opportunity. She has solid size and speed with a good change of direction for her position. Looking toward the future I would tell Hardin to just keep working hard and being fundamental. Sometimes it just takes one thing in our games to u0022clicku0022 and it all becomes a lot easier, that's something I could see happening in this situation. She is a nice player with some real potential, it'll be interest to what her future holds. ","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["265977"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"When talking about some of the best post players I saw there this weekend, [player_tooltip player_id='265977' first='Hayven' last='Smith'] was one of them. The 6'6 center did everything in her power to help her team to victory over some really tough competition both Saturday and Sunday. Everything about her screams D1 to me. Good size with the knowledge of knowing how/when to use it, good speed from basket to basket up and down the court, great feel for the ball, and overall a real team player. She had her hands full with 2 power forwards around her height when I stepped in to watch her on Saturday night and she did just fine, showing that players she guards can't just go through her in post but need to go around her in some sort of way. She has a good sense of balance and nice footwork within 10 feet of the hoop, making her even more dominate when you accompany it with her size/strength. I'm not sure who has interest here as this is my first time watching her compete but man can she ball. Whoever gets this one is getting someone who works hard and brings a lot of positive things on the floor for whoever she is lacing up with. ","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["352110"],"_player_evaluations_4_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"Another player for [program_tooltip program_id='712679' first='Midwest' last='Elite EYBL'] 2024 that stood out to me right away was [player_tooltip player_id='352110' first='Ariella' last='Henigan']. Henigan is a quick point guard with a shifty dribble and some real craftiness near basket. When I stepped in to watch her team play the first thing I saw was a smooth left to right cross-over into a clean one-dribble pull up in the mid-range. A shot that ended up being nothing but net. From there I watched the versatility of her game unfold. She was a vocal leader and unselfish passer when she had the chance to take it herself on a number of occasions. Not saying that she wasn't being aggressive on offense but she seemed very calculated in when she would attack VS pass, something impressive of a younger guard playing up on an older team. The team she is on is loaded with a ton of high-level talent, to stand out in general is impressive, to do it while playing up is something that I can't really put into words. Keep an eye on Henigan and this team, they are fun to watch. ","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_player":["209597"],"_player_evaluations_5_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"This weekend there weren't a whole lot of shooting guards who shot particularly well throughout the duration of the weekend. One of the best I did see though was [player_tooltip player_id='209597' first='Savannah' last='James']. Savannah comes from Wisconsin to join along with this [program_tooltip program_id='712679' first='Midwest' last='Elite EYBL'] 2024 team from this spring/summer. A nice addition for Midwest Elite as she is a shooter who can make it rain and she can do it in a hurry. She has a nice stroke from long range that seems to always be balanced and shot in the same exact way, a good habit to have when you are a shooter. She can shoot off of the catch or dribble depending on the situation and how her teams offense is flowing. If her defender over-plays her then she has the ability to make a quick dribble or two and get by to a spot she likes to either score or distribute. When you watch her on the floor, everything about her screams shooter but she is more than that. She is an elite shooter BUT with some capabilities of a combo guard. I like her ceiling. She is a player who has a lot of room to grow and is still playing some real competitive ball right now, a combination you don't see quiet to often.","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_6_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_6_player_details_player_name":"Abigail Janociak","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_6_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_6_player_details_height":"5'11u0022","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_6_player_details_position":"12122","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_6_player_details_school":"Sandburg","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_6_player_details_club_team":"[program_tooltip program_id='715556' first='Illinois' last='Dream'] 2024","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_6_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_6_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"This weekend out of the 17u teams one of the overall better defenders and players I saw was Abigail Janociak. Janociak is a 5'11 forward who has to play the center position for her [program_tooltip program_id='715556' first='Illinois' last='Dream'] 2024 squad because she is basically her teams tallest player. With that being said after watching her I think it is safe to say that she could move to the 3 spot with her size, for defensive purpose at the least. She is a younger player who played up and held her own against some other physical competition all weekend long. She isn't afraid of contact in any form and is pretty efficient near the basket on the offensive side of things. Her team this spring/summer is primarily made out of lengthy and authentic guards, so we are going to see what Janociak can really do while playing in the middle with this group. A challenge I think she will accept and end up thriving in eventually. She is going to be showing off a lot of versatility this AAU season, not a bad thing when you consider that college coaches want a player who can come in and fit into their system that they already have in place. ","_player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":7,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-642b40d3389d3"} /-->