Even More Thoughts from the Kentucky Convention Center

Brady Peterson May 23, 2023 @ 10:21 AM

There's still quite a bit to unpack from The Classic down in Louisville, and we're continuing to look at some of the kids who stood out in games I watched this past weekend. Today, I'll continue highlighting kids who had solid showings at games I watched them play.   [player_tooltip player_id='338951' first='Natalie' last='Mueller']   I hadn't seen Mueller since December, but some things will always be true about Mueller. One of those things is that she never misses shots left or right. She only missed shots long or short. When I saw her on Saturday, she made about five in the first half, and the opposing coach was frustrated by her even having room to shoot, and that's understandable. I love watching her shoot the basketball, but her defensive ability flies under the radar. She's 5-7, but she's long, gets her hands in passing lanes, and does an excellent job contesting shots.    [player_tooltip player_id='533084' first='Vanessa' last='Johnson']   Johnson is another kid I hadn't watched in a while, but she is one of the best perimeter defenders in Wisconsin, regardless of class. The pressure she puts on opposing ball handlers for 94 feet is palpable, even if you're not playing and watching from the top row of bleachers. Having her defend someone for a game is like taking body shots in a boxing match. It won't be evident early. However, at the end of the game, that guard Johnson's defending won't be the same kid.   [player_tooltip player_id='184019' first='Laura' last='Johnson-Shedd']   The Massachusetts native was one of the kids from Bay State Jaguars I loved because of her effort, even when things weren't going well. No matter the score Johnson-Shedd covered the entire floor and made plays on the ball. There was one moment that stood out and described her game well. After her team committed a turnover late in the game while trailing by a solid margin, Johnson-Shedd flew down the court after starting from about 15 feet behind the ball handler, dislodged the ball, and hit off the opposing player out of bounds. An effort like that makes people take notice.   [player_tooltip player_id='533067' first='Nataya' last='Donaldson']   The Beaver Dam native is a kid who's wired to score the ball, to the point she converted a few and-ones she didn't know she made until her teammates told her. Watching her work at all three levels of the floor shows a clear understanding of what she wants to do when she gets to her spots, whether it be a turnaround jumper from 8 to 10 feet, a step-back jumper from the top of the key, or a creative finish around the rim. She has a formula that works against elite talent right now, and all she'll do is refine those skills, and she'll be one of the better scorers in her class.

There's still quite a bit to unpack from The Classic down in Louisville, and we're continuing to look at some of the kids who stood out in games I watched this past weekend. Today, I'll continue highlighting kids who had solid showings at games I watched them play.