Cardinal Classic Shootout: Top Performers
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Photo By: Cam Anderson I was in attendance for the 2023 Cardinal Classic Shootout in Winchester, KY. This was the first ever June NCAA scholastic live period event for girls basketball in the state of Kentucky. The event took place…
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Continue ReadingPhoto By: Cam Anderson
I was in attendance for the 2023 Cardinal Classic Shootout in Winchester, KY. This was the first ever June NCAA scholastic live period event for girls basketball in the state of Kentucky. The event took place from June 15th-16th and included 50 teams total from across the state as well as some prestige’s programs from Ohio and Tennessee. The level of talent on display all at once at multiple gyms in close proximity to one another was amazing to see. I noticed college coaches and scouts from Power 5, D-I, D-II, D-III, and NAIA schools filling their seating sections looking for future players to recruit. Check out part one of my top performers from this event.
Lauren Hassell Lauren Hassell 6'2" | PF Clarksville Christian | 2027 TN
Lauren Hassell Lauren Hassell 6'2" | PF Clarksville Christian | 2027 TN
I was fortunate enough to get my eyes on the top 2027 prospect in the country Lauren Hassell Lauren Hassell 6'2" | PF Clarksville Christian | 2027 TN . The daughter of Trenton Hassell a former second round pick who spent 10 years in the NBA. She is a towering figure with incredible length and size, her physical presence alone made players think twice about bringing the ball inside. Offensively, she’s almost unguardable with her ability to score from the perimeter and on the low block with her back toward the basket. Hassell is truly a generational talent with endless potential.
Highlights
The Princeton Vikings finished with a record of 23-4 this past season and are fresh off of winning the 2023 Ohio Division-I state championship. This team is coached by the former Princeton star Deaonna “Dee” Davis who was a McDonald’s All-American that played four years at Vanderbilt University and was selected in the second round of the 2007 WNBA draft. This team is locked and loaded with D1 talent but the difference maker was the starting point guard Mari Gerton Mari Gerton 5'7" | PG Princeton | 2025 State OH . She is a very gifted player with tremendous ball handling ability, elite court vision, quickness, and athleticism. Gerton is a crafty finisher around the rim as well as a consistent dribble pull-up and spot up three point shooter. With Sole Williams at Texas A&M Gerton looks to step into a bigger role this season and lead her team to another state title.
Highlights
Niah Rhodes Niah Rhodes 5'7" | CG Frederick Douglass | 2025 State KY has been playing up for the United Family 17U team on the 3SSB AAU circuit. Playing against elite competition this spring/summer has obviously made her a better player. She played very well at the Cardinal Classic. Even with a short-handed Frederick Douglass squad she still managed to lead them to victory. Rhodes showed that she is indeed the best three-point shooter in Kentucky, while also displaying some ankle-breaking crossover moves. After watching Frederick Douglass compete I see them winning the 42nd district and contending for the 11th region championship once again.
Kailee Bransford
Kailee Bransford
The Bransford name holds a lot of weight when it comes to girls basketball in Cincinnati, OH. Kailee Bransford is the younger sister of the former Ohio Miss Basketball and current University of Notre Dame star KK Bransford. Kailee is also a standout player for Mt. Notre Dame and she really represented at the Cardinal Classic. She has blazing speed along with serious handles that allowed her to penetrate the defense with ease and finish with some pretty layups at the rim. Bransford is playing at a really high level and it would not surprise me if Mount Notre Dame makes it back to the state championship game again next season. (Featured Image)
Marley Spiers Marley Spiers 6'3" | C Clarksville Christian | 2027 TN
Marley Spiers Marley Spiers 6'3" | C Clarksville Christian | 2027 TN
Clarksville Christian has another top 2027 prospect in the country in Marley Spiers Marley Spiers 6'3" | C Clarksville Christian | 2027 TN . As an 8th grader she averaged a double-double on the season scoring 10.9 points while grabbing 10.1 rebounds per game. Spiers is a dominant force down low that impacts the game on both ends of the floor. She has outstanding footwork on low block that made her a matchup nightmare for defenders. Spiers also has great instincts and discipline on defense she used her length to wall up and block shots making it difficult for teams to score in the paint.
Aadriana Moses
Aadriana Moses
There is a reason why Aadriana Moses already has interest at the D1 level she is hands down one of the top 2027 prospects in Kentucky. Moses is a lockdown defender that suffocates ball handlers with immense pressure. She can also score at a very high level making her a legit 3&D type player. After losing 10 starters in two years due to graduation the Bowling Green Purples will be looking for their young players to step up and produce this season.