16U Black Sanford Sports Academy Team Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Roster</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='342177' first='Isabella' last='Anderson'] - Milbank - Class of 2025 - 5'8" G</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='317765' first='Brooke' last='Jensen'] - Vermillion - Class of 2025 - 6'1" F</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='391251' first='Reagan' last='Rus'] - Mount Vernon/Plankinton - Class of 2025 - 5'10" F</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='304526' first='Kasey' last='Hanson'] - Vermillion - Class of 2025 - 5'8" G</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='525673' first='Melina' last='Snoozy'] - Dakota Valley - Class of 2027 - 5'11" G</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='329047' first='Thea' last='Gust'] - Centerville - Class of 2025 - 5'9" G</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='375940' first='Logan' last='Smidt'] - Brookings - Class of 2025 - 5'7" G</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='304516' first='Madala' last='Hanson'] - Dell Rapids St. Mary's - Class of 2025 - 5'4" G</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Abby Lee - Bishop Heelan - Class of 2026 - 6'0" C</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Coach - Matt Daly</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Roster Breakdown</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='342177' first='Isabella' last='Anderson'] is a well-rounded guard that gets it done in a variety of ways. She is an explosive athlete that shows no fear when attacking the basket and does a nice job of finishing around defenders in the paint. She's smart and picks her moments to get to the rim and when to get her shot up. A low turnover player she takes care of it very well and gets quality looks for herself or others. She has great length on defense and plays with a very high IQ. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='317765' first='Brooke' last='Jensen'] is an immensely talented scorer who can get looks at all levels. She is long and uses her body well inside to get the ball to the basket and finish. She can create with the dribble and has a nice mid-range game as well as great consistency from beyond the arc. She helps out on the boards and on the defensive side as well with a 6'1" frame paired with pure athleticism.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='391251' first='Reagan' last='Rus'] is a terror for opponents to defend. She can shoot it, drive it, and facilitate for others and shows off one of the most complete games in the state. If teams guard with her with an undersized quicker defender, she makes them pay in the paint with physicality and vertical moves to get over the defense and finish. If you try and put a taller more physical defender on her, she uses her speed to blow by and get to the rim and score or set up a shot for a teammate. It's a near impossible task to limit Reagan's scoring. On defense she gets after it and serves as a leader who will set the tone on the floor for the rest of her teammates.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='304526' first='Kasey' last='Hanson'] is a talented guard who does a lot of things really well. She has a nice shot from deep and in the mid-range. She has a high basketball IQ and does a nice job ensuring quality possessions for her team on offense. Defensively she shows off great lateral movement and the same IQ, making her an extremely effective defender on the perimeter. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='525673' first='Melina' last='Snoozy'] is playing up two grade levels but you wouldn't know it! She's an immensely talented prospect that might have the highest ceiling of almost any of our prospects at Prep Girls Hoops. Her knowledge of the game is beyond her age and she loves competition. Her scoring game is very balanced and she gets it done every possession. She's ball secure and does an excellent job creating shot opportunities for herself and her teammates.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='329047' first='Thea' last='Gust'] has immense range and can knock shots down from anywhere once she crosses half-court. She has great footwork and hit off the hop or step-in which allows her to score off the pass or the dribble. Her shot is smooth with a rhythmic dip of the ball and is extremely fun to watch. She gets attention for her offense but she also is a very talented defender. She can guard all positions and uses her 5'9", long and athletic body to shut down opponents. Thea adds a pure scorer and elite defender to an already loaded group.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='375940' first='Logan' last='Smidt'] is a gifted ball handler and an aggressive scorer. If she gets it you better be ready because she's going to get downhill and make you pay if you can't keep her in front. She has a variety of moves to allow her to beat people off the dribble and she might have the best explosion to the rim of about any prospect we write about. On defense, she has a ton of grit and competitive spirit and makes her opponent earn every inch they might get. A very talented rebounder from the perimeter as well, Logan has one of the most complete games in South Dakota.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='304516' first='Madala' last='Hanson'] is an absolute force on the floor. At just 5'4" you may not believe it until you see it but this kid gets after it. She has great range and gets her shot off fast allowing her to score from deep. She is one of the quickest guards you will find and does a great job of using a vareity of moves to get by the defense and finish. Rounding out her game is a great competitive attitude in which she uses to get after people defensively. She has great hands to get steals and anticipates well putting herself in effective positions on defense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Abby Lee is an intriguing prospect who can play inside out on both ends. An athletic six-footer she can post up and finish, as well as use her quickness to score off the dribble. Pair in a mid-range game and the ability to face up and score and you have a dynamic player who can fill all sorts of roles on the offensive end. On defense she brings the same versatility and is able to guard a vareity of positons as well. She is physical enough to hang in the paint and athletic enough to get stops on the perimeter. Abby rounds out a really talented group for [program_tooltip program_id='787122' first='Sanford' last='Sports Academy'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Schedule</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:table --> <figure class="wp-block-table"><table><tbody><tr><td>4/21-23</td><td>Spring Showcase</td><td>Ames, IA</td></tr><tr><td>5/19-21</td><td>May Madness</td><td>Ames, IA</td></tr><tr><td>6/3-4</td><td>Hardwood Challenge</td><td>Sioux Falls, SD</td></tr><tr><td>6/16-18</td><td>North Tartan Summer Jam</td><td>Minneapolis, MN</td></tr><tr><td>6/23-25</td><td>Dakota Challenge</td><td>Sioux Falls, SD</td></tr><tr><td>7/7-10</td><td>Nike TOC</td><td>Chicago, IL</td></tr><tr><td>7/20-22</td><td>North Tartan Meltdown</td><td>Minneapolis, MN</td></tr><tr><td>7/23-25</td><td>Summer Finale</td><td>Des Moines, IA</td></tr></tbody></table></figure> <!-- /wp:table --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Thoughts from Coach</strong> <strong>Daly</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Coach Matt Daly is excited about the merger between two dominant programs that took place before the summer ([program_tooltip program_id='713321' first='South' last='Dakota Attack'] and Sanford's Pentagon Basketball Academy) as he has a group of young ladies with a high basketball IQ, great work ethic on both ends of the floor, up-tempo style, and a lot of firepower from beyond the 3-point line. They will practice two or three times per week and have skills sessions each week as well. Strengths that he feels this group has perimeter players who can push the tempo and aren't afraid to step up and take big shots. They have a ton of tremendous ball handlers that also take pride in their defensive and rebounding. Coach feels once this group has digested their offensive and defensive schemes, they will come together, play good team basketball, and have success once the kinks get worked out in early spring. On offense, they will look to play up-tempo and take advantage of the outstanding jump shooters that they have on their roster. They plan on developing their post players in order to create a well-balanced offense. Defensively they will show a variety of man and zone schemes to counter other teams' strengths. They will utilize zone traps and defensive rotations to force turnovers and keep opponents on their toes. Coach is excited about numerous events this summer including early tournaments where this group can show off their skills, and other big This group has a competitive summer ahead and is loaded with top prospects.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->