2027 Standouts at River City Run part 1

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Being assigned to cover the Class of 2027 was a great way for me to increase my knowledge of the incoming Freshman Class across the Commonwealth. When I started out working for PGH two seasons ago I believed it was the best thing for the game for me to cover as many Juniors and Seniors as I could. Those were the players that had to have some exposure right away before they aged out and maybe missed on their shot at continuing their careers on the next level. But that strategy came to the detriment of the younger players that I was only seeing if they played on a team that had some of the older prospects on it (or played against those teams). </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>At this point in time, and with the addition of two other Scouts on Staff. I needed to shift my focus younger. Maybe not quite as young as the 2027s, because I am way behind on the 2026's and not near where I would like to be on the 25's, but it was good for the game to get the assignment of the 2027's for the River City Run. It gives me at least some level of knowledge on who these players are and what can they do. A good baseline that will only improve over time. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["652045"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":658419,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Stakelin is a shooter that can handle the rock through any kind of pressure and slides into whatever area of the court she can find an opening.  The first thing I saw her do last Saturday was step into the post and score on a 4 foot turnaround jumper.  She also nailed a few threes out of the offense and in transition and finished on layups during run outs.  But I think her best plays were the ones where she drove the ball through traffic for layups.  She scored at least 12 of her teams 21 first half points by my count (and I could have missed some).rnrnHer best play of the second half was a drive from the left wing to the nail and then kicking the ball out to find a teammate for an open three.  All in all it was an impressive showing for Stakelin.  She displayed an excellent diversity of skills and played with an up-tempo intensity.  She is often involved in the play defensively and does many of the little things to make her teammates around her better.rnrnI would like to se her in another setting before trying to decide which position to settle her into.  I think she has the makings of a Point Guard or a Shooting Guard, but might fit best into the harder to define category of a Combo Guard.  I'm sure I will get another shot on this one, as she is just a 2027 prospect, so maybe by the next time I see her play I will know.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["502108"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_player_featured_image":658417,"_player_evaluations_1_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"If I had to put a position label on Raikes right now I think I would have to go with Small Forward.  She has some Guard skills, but she tends to score in lots of ways more like a Frontcourt player.  She made one very nice drive from the top to penetrate the lane and score at the center of the rim.  But a the same time she also scored on  a post slide into the corner for an 8 foot jumper and that is very much a Forward type of move.rnrnWhatever position she plays, she is a player.  She is not shy about making contact with the body to position herself for rebounds.  She hustles and plays good defense and has some versatility.  It is not surprising to know she played on the State Champion Middle School team in Kentucky this past season or that she will likely matriculate onto a very good High School team next season in Taylor County.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":658410,"_player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"Kaylnn Smith","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"5'8u0022","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"12120","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"Knox Middle ","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"[program_tooltip program_id='712782' first='Richmond' last='Heat'] '27","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_2_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"Smith may be a bit undersized as a Center right now but she definitely has a knack for the Interior game.  She is a banger.  I saw her (legally) shoving a few girls around out there last Saturday and holding her own against much taller shot-blockers in the paint.  I have no idea how tall she might end up being but I have no doubt she is going to continue to improve in using her strength to carve out space on the court.rnrnIf I had one piece of advice to give her it would be to hit those other players harder, but don't change up your technique too much.  You aren't fouling them yet, and until you are getting called for fouls you can keep getting more physical.  Tone it back down a bit when the whistle starts blowing.  Maybe watch some old videos on Dennis Rodman, Charles Oakley or Charles Barkley, but remember that some of that stuff isn't legal anymore.rnrnHer offensive game needs work, but it was a bad matchup for her being defended by a shot blocker that was about half a foot taller.  Developing the skills to use her strength against that size on Defense is easier to learn than it is on Offense.  Just keep working and try to find some tape on players with your specific advantages and disadvantage to learn from and borrow everything they did that could work for you.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":657687,"_player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"Greer Wathen ","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"5'11u0022","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"12120","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"Sacred Heart ","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_3_player_details_club_team":"[program_tooltip program_id='715742' first='Dana' last='Evans Elite'] '27 ","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_3_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"I just learned a few hours ago that there is a Sacred Heart Middle in Indiana across the River from Louisville where there is a Sacred Heart Model.  So now I might be putting Wathen in an article mainly about Kentucky players (and I definitely added her to the Kentucky database) by mistake.  So Greer you will need to correct us if I got that wrong.  But it is best for now if I just plow ahead and write something about her game and let those details work their way out on their own.rnrnWathen was off to an early start blocking shots and challenging shots in the paint.  She has definitely been well coached on the finer points of playing basketball as a Big.  She is active in the paint on defense, has good hands, good footwork and as a rebounder.  She runs the floor as a Rim Runner and knows how to set herself up in the secondary break with a duck in to score.  She doesn't shy away from contact either and will probably supplement her scoring averages by stepping to the free throw line and knocking them down often if her 2 for 2 trip to the line indicates anything.rnrnOther than her excellent timing as a shot blocker she wasn't anything flashy last Saturday.  But she was extremely good.  She was the epitome of starring in your role on a team.  I don't think there was one aspect missing from her game in what it takes to be a fundamentally sound Big and that is a great place to be this early in a playing career.  When you take care of the basic you don't need to be flashy because those are the skills that produce results and win games.  Really looking forward to seeing her grow up in the game.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":657689,"_player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"Jaelee Knowles","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"5'9u0022","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"12120","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"Frederick Douglas","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"[program_tooltip program_id='715742' first='Dana' last='Evans Elite'] '27 ","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_4_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"Knowles is involved in one of the 2 or 3 hottest programs in the 11th Region right now and it looks like she is going to be an important part of their future.  I am assuming she may have recently gone through a growth spurt because she has the slightest bit of awkwardness to some of her movement and then other aspects her physicality are very smooth and highly coordinated.  When she regains full control of her limbs LOOK OUT, because what she currently does fluidly is impressive.rnrnI entered her into our database as a Center and while that (or Power Forward) fits the player she is right now, I think I maybe should have projected her out into a different direction.  She had one impressive drive the length of the court for a layup and that might be an indicator that she is meant for another aspect of the game.  One of the best moves she made was a short drive towards the hoop, after which she executed a textbook jump stop before knocking down a 3 foot jumper.rnrnHowever she continues to develop this is definitely a prospect and she is involved with a club and a school that have been doing excellent work in identifying and developing talent recently.  College Coaches need to see her play by next summer if they can't see her now.  They will want to be in on her early.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_5_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_5_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='801932' first='Channing' last='Jones']","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_5_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_5_player_details_height":"5'10u0022","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_5_player_details_position":"12122","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_5_player_details_school":"Kirkwood Middle","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_5_player_details_club_team":"[program_tooltip program_id='715572' first='Clarksville' last='Crossovers'] '27","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_5_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_5_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"Jones is the lone Tennessean on this list of Kentucky players and her place as last on this list is by no means due to any ranking.  I am just having a few problems loading articles with players from more than two states and wanted options on where to place her and 2 kids from Indiana between this article and the one I will post tomorrow.  Her ability to impact the game was impressive and she was up to the task in handling a very scrappy, hard-nosed opponent.rnrnJones finds ways to score by hitting the glass for put-backs and does a good job hunting shots to block on defense.  She has the skill to bring the ball up against pressure, but as a frontcourt player she most often lets the Guards handle this role.  One one particular full court drive, she took the ball to the hole and executed a very heady jump stop, left the defense fly past and finished with a simple 2 footer.rnrnWhat I liked most about her game is the way she was able to attack the rim from the corners by driving baseline or middle.  She has the skill to react to what the defense is giving her.  On one such drive she slipped herself past two defenders for a layup and on another she put in a floater from about 4 feet out.  She is a very good finisher near the hoop and has the balance and agility to make herself hard to defend.  She will go far in this game.","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":6,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6463283a727cc"} /-->