Youth Movement: ME – VT Challenge – ’26 + ’27 Standouts
The Maine – VT Challenge was chock full of young players putting their stamp on the game. Check out a handful of young hoopers who made their mark. Natasha McDonald, 5’7 G – Spruce Mountain H.S. Class of 2027 When…
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Continue ReadingThe Maine – VT Challenge was chock full of young players putting their stamp on the game. Check out a handful of young hoopers who made their mark.
Natasha McDonald, 5’7 G – Spruce Mountain H.S. Class of 2027
When I was told Natasha was an incoming freshman I was taken aback; McDonald plays with the composure of an upperclassman. Confident and skilled, Natasha made great reads on the offensive end, took care of the ball, knocked down 3s with crazy efficiency, and glued the team cause together. Her open court playmaking was clinical and her instincts off the ball are just as sharp. Plus, McDonald’s defense was pesky and tight rotationally. She’s one to know.
Ally Dorman, 5’7 G – Mount Mansfield Union H.S. Class of 2027
With Ally, you can tell she has a mind for the game. Dorman is a savvy combo-guard who’s just as competent on the ball as she is off. Ally orchestrated the offense a bit, drove with purpose, and passed nicely against pressure. Once she got rid of the rock, she moved intuitively. Her cuts were hard and purposeful, often resulting in paint punctures and second layer playmaking. A cognizant defender too, Dorman’s got the wit to be a truly savvy guard.
Maddie Grimaldi, 5’10 G/W – Spruce Mountain H.S. Class of 2027
Grimaldi comes with a versatile toolkit; a true swiss-army knife. Maddie moved fluidly in the fullcourt press, rotating nicely as she covered basically any and every position over the course of a game. Moreover, she rebounded at a high rate and pushed the tempo in transition. An adept slasher and decision maker too, Maddie spaced the floor well, attacked closeouts and made the basketball play more often than not. Her upside as a sizable guard/wing is intriguing.
Mesa Long, 5’11 F – Mount Mansfield Union H.S. Class of 2027
Mesa is the dependable forward necessary to hold down the interior. Long’s rim protection was a result of her quick rotations and length; she stepped over to bother shots, trusting the back side will be covered, yet she used her wingspan to get a hand on dump passes too. Then, Mesa hit the glass with toughness and a sincere pursuit of the rock. On the other end, Long moved fluidly around the post and showed a couple strong moves to finish inside, yet she didn’t force and kicked out when the paint clogged. Good feel on both ends.
Stella Goetz, 5’6 G – John Bapst Memorial H.S. Class of 2027
Shooter! Stella was raining in 3s all day, and they came off of various actions. She hit some in transition, a couple off of screens, and some she just sized up her defender and rose up. Once the defense adjusted, Goetz attacked closeouts. She flashed some mid-range touch and had some finishes inside too. Plus, Stella facilitated a bit and made some nice cuts off ball to get inside the paint for touches. Plain and simple, Stella’s a scorer.
Delilah Locher Delilah Locher 5'4" | CG Mount Mansfield Union | 2026 State New E , 5’6 G – Mount Mansfield Union H.S. Class of 2026
A keen facilitator with some serious mettle, Delilah’s instincts and leadership shined through. Locher’s communication and orchestration are impressive, and her slashing forced defenders to respect her as a scorer in addition to her distribution. Delilah led by example with her hustle and energy as she competed to make plays on both sides of the ball. A true PG with a fantastic demeanor on the floor.
Genevieve Wasser, 5’10 W – Mount Mansfield Union H.S. Class of 2027
Genevieve’s impact on the game was subtle. She didn’t wow in the box score, but rather she impacted the game as a versatile defender and glue player. Wasser defender multiple positions, using her length and athleticism to hold her own inside and out. Plus, Wasser hit the glass a bit, ran the floor, and made simple reads on the offensive end. I’m excited to see her develop.