Run 4 The Roses: 17U (Part-2)

<!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"small"} --> <p class="has-small-font-size"><em>The featured image is of [player_tooltip player_id='298263' first='Sydney' last='Gorman'] (2024) of Fort Wayne's Wayne High School and [program_tooltip program_id='714258' first='Lady' last='Legit'] 17U.</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>During the stretch of July 6 through July 11, many of Indiana's top prospects and grassroots teams found themselves in Louisville, Kentucky, at some point, participating in either the Run 4 Roses Classic (<em>July 6-8</em>) or the Run 4 Roses Championship (<em>July 9-11</em>), or possibly both tournaments. With more than 150 Indiana grassroots teams in attendance, it was improbable to see everyone for a duration long enough to offer a fair evaluation, so I focused more so on the teams I was less familiar with. Below is a look at six more young ladies who participated in one of the 17U divisions and stood out because they either (a) made a good first impression, or (b) they played better than expected.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='177311' first='Aubrie' last='Booker'], 2024, 5-8 G, Center Grove H.S., [program_tooltip program_id='716173' first='Always' last='100'] VTR 17U</strong><br>- Aubrie is best defined by her well-roundedness, as she is able to help her team in a variety of ways. She can handle the ball and run offense, knock down shots from the perimeter, get to the basket for scores, and she is a very good defender, both on and off the ball. In one specific game in Louisville, she caught fire, knocking down five consecutive 3-pointers in a matter of ten possessions, helping her team expand a 6-point lead to near 20 points. She is a nice, fluid athlete, and she brings tremendous value each time out.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Lauren Bradley, 2024, 5-7 G, Western H.S., [program_tooltip program_id='714250' first='Indiana' last='Pride'] Xpress 17U</strong><br>- It had been more than a year since I last saw Lauren, so it was good catching her in action again. She looks noticeably stronger, solid athletically in most directions, and she continues to play with a motor. She is a very balanced combo guard who can play on the ball and run offense, but she can also play off the ball effectively and knock down open shots. She is a nice small college prospect who makes up one-third of a strong 2024 backcourt at Western, sure to have success in the Winter of 2023-2024.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='298263' first='Sydney' last='Gorman'], 2024, 5-8 G, Fort Wayne Wayne H.S., [program_tooltip program_id='714258' first='Lady' last='Legit'] 17U</strong><br>- Sydney comes from a line of athletic siblings who have advanced to the college ranks in multiple sports. She is a long, wiry-strong, and athletic guard who acts primarily as a scorer on her teams. She glides to the basket almost effortlessly, and she can finish through contact or around length fairly well. Additionally, she has the skill to slide over and play a little on the ball. Defensively, she certainly has the talent to be a nice on-ball defender at the next level, as she can contain the ball or create turnovers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='177329' first='Keylee' last='Hudson'], 2024, 5-10 G/W, Eastern Greene H.S., [program_tooltip program_id='712566' first='Indiana' last='Elite'] Lightning S40 17U</strong><br>- Keylee has always been a very skillful wing prospect, and she continued to show that versatility throughout her time in Louisville. However, what stood out most to me was, she looked leaner, quicker, and all-around more explosive and well-balanced. I have always liked her ball skill and felt like she was more of a point forward in the past, but now she's showing the quickness and urgency to defend true guards better off the bounce, plus the ability to turn the corner and get to the basket more consistently.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='455932' first='La'Kyra' last='Johnson'], 2024, 5-7 G, Jeffersonville H.S., Louisville Legends 17U</strong><br>- La'Kyra is a big part of a backcourt for the Lady Red Devils that possesses great depth, but she is able to stand out at times because she is extremely athletic. She has nice length and wiry strength, but again it is her ability to change directions effortlessly, as well as explode North/South, whether that be in transition or attacking the basket. She is a scorer at heart, and if she can continue making her perimeter shot more consistent, she will be doubly dangerous. She also defends with effort, length, and athleticism.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='486537' first='Naja' last='Winston'], 2026, 5-10 F, Decatur Central H.S., Ty Harris Elite UA Rise 17U</strong><br>- A Summer ago, Naja was a little raw skillfully, but she was bouncy, quick, fast, and strong for her age. She made a lot of plays by simply being a better athlete than her opponents. Now, she looks so much more comfortable and decisive handling the ball, scoring from multiple levels, and she is becoming a complete all-around offensive threat. She still looks to the interior when she absolutely needs a bucket, but her perimeter skill has improved tremendously. She can also defend three positions at a high level.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->