2023 UMary Elite Camp

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>-Part 1-</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Basketball may be in the "off-season" but don't let that fool you, the AAU Tournaments and College Camps/Showcases are running at full steam right now giving Coaches, Athletes, Recruiters and Fans something to look forward too. It's an exciting time when you can gather some of the areas elite athletes all together and showcase their skills, talent and put together some high-level intense scrimmages packed with action, and great sportsmanship. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This week I was fortunate enough to be able to attend the University of Mary's Elite Camp in Bismarck, ND hosted by Head Coach Rick Neumann, Asst Coach Chloe Lamb and their respected players on the Marauder WBB Team. The event itself was just as good, if not better then years past, packed with talent from the 8th Grade to incoming Senior High School athletes. It was a good opportunity to not only watch scrimmages, but drills, dribbling, shooting and competition. Let's take a look at a few players who balled out, and caught my eye. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='378042' first='Jersey' last='Berg']</strong>: 2024 (Bismarck High) Bismarck, ND- I've watched Jersey numerous times over the last few years, and she is always a competitive player that goes 100% all the time. At the UMary camp, Jersey was flat out on fire, and stood out bigtime. During the scrimmages she displayed her ability to score at all levels but was also able to create and make things happen as she pushed the ball down the floor with great tempo. Her ball handling skills, ability to read the floor and remain focused really stood out, you can tell she has become a very polished player that handles a wide variety of situations well. She knows how to score, find open players and make things happen. Overall, she had a great day, and you could tell she was having fun doing so.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='235513' first='Stevie' last='Wittler']</strong>: 2024 (Sully Buttes High School) Onida, SD- Wittler is a composed guard who operates very well on both ends of the floor. Defensively she moves laterally very well, has quick feet and hands to match. She was played great defense, pressured the ball and always seemed to be involved in plays during the scrimmages, or 4v4. She isn't the biggest on the floor, but she showed her ability to score with a nice little pull up jumper that she could stroke over and over from various spots on the floor, and in transition. Whatever situation she was put in, she handled it well and had great energy.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":688368,"width":642,"height":482,"sizeSlug":"full","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/06/IMG_2037.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-688368" width="642" height="482" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='520310' first='Ella' last='Carstensen']</strong>: 2024 (Hudson High School) Hudson, WI- Carstensen is a tall, athletic wing with a good frame and isn't afraid to use her strength and physicality to rip down boards off the glass. On top of that she is a skilled Wing who does a little bit of everything on the court and does it very well. She has the ability to score from all angles, but also showed off her ability to guard all 5 positions and gets up and down the floor very well. She has a great jump shot from her mid-range and beyond the three but doesn't need much time to pull up and knock down shots. At the camp her skills really stood out, and she was a big presence on the floor offensively and defensively alike. I liked her overall tempo on the floor, and her ability to find ways to score.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='316049' first='Keelie' last='Sunde']</strong>: 2024 (Horace High School) Horace, ND- Sunde is a talented Guard who takes whatever is thrown at her and works with it. You can guard her at the top of the key, she'll get by you. If you give her room, she's going to let it fly and knock it down. She's a proven shooter, but also has great handles on the ball even with her off hand (left) and sees the floor very well. She can score on multiple levels, but also is a precision passer as well. I expect you'll hear her name quite a bit more this season, keep an eye out for her this season. I have a solid feeling this will be a breakout year for her.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":688369,"width":576,"height":432,"sizeSlug":"full","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/06/IMG_2038.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-688369" width="576" height="432" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='379112' first='Hailey' last='Markel']</strong> : 2024 ([program_tooltip program_id='712656' first='Mandan' last=''] High School) [program_tooltip program_id='712656' first='Mandan' last=''], ND- Markel is flat out a tough kid who ALWAYS finds a way to be involved in every play. Hailey has a great sense of where the defense is on the floor, finding open players but she is absolutely fierce at attacking the rim and finishing at the hoop. When it comes to a Guard who has a keen knack at slashing to the rim looking for a bucket, it's Markel. But don't be fooled, at the camp she also showed she can knock down shots anywhere from mid/long range and has a very smooth shot with a nice release. You can tell she has spent hours working on her form and ball handling skills. When Shes on the floor, Shes going to make things happen, and flat out gets after it. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Kaylie Welstad</strong>: 2028 (Bismarck, ND)- A new name to PGH, but you'll be hearing plenty about her down the road, for all the right reasons. The 8th Grade hooper is fun to watch and has a ton of talent already. She may be younger, but she can run the floor and hold her own just fine. She is a shifty guard who can score on multiple levels, inside/outside and off screens or pull-up in transition and sink um'. You can tell she has spent endless hours working on her game and enjoys being on the court. When it comes to ball handling, she is very dynamic and can switch direction at a moment's notice but is also skilled with her off hand. Welstad overall plays well beyond her years and has a very exciting future ahead of her. It will be fun to keep tabs on her down the road as she will only get better and better. She has a great motor and does many things very well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->