Stretch Forwards of the Freshman Showcase

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>When I played in back in prehistoric times the 3-point shot had just entered the game. We had trained our whole lives developing a way to get a closer shot via every trick in the book at that time. Since it's implementation certain players have become specialists in making one type of shot consistently. It used to be something that just Guards did for a brief period of time. But like most of the basics of Modern Basketball Hubie Brown changed the way it was utilized and several other Coaches have followed his teachings. Many other built off of what Hubie taught us leading to the state of the game today. Out of these new strategies and tactics came new fundamentals and eventually new types of players. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A Stretch Forward is a new category of player from the past couple decades that PGH doesn't really have a category for, unless you want to say SF doesn't stand for Small Forward. I don't think it does. Maybe we will add a category. I imagine that any players at the Freshman Showcase last Saturday, have never seen a live Basketball game without at least one Stretch Forward playing for both teams. I could be wrong about that. Players that can be described as a Stretch Player find their number 1 through 5 defined more by who they Guard that by what they do on Offense. Even some Shooting Guards could be called a Stretch Player. So it makes this category a bit of a loose, ill-defined subject open to much interpretation. Only one thing remains a constant about a Stretch Player. They can Shoot. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>So while you may or may not find a Stretch player in the Yoga Studio you can definitely find a few of them in this article. You can find these players and players like them stretching out the defense by forcing them to Guard them on the Perimeter and help create space for Cutters, Drivers, and Post players on every court in the country. But enough history lesson. On with the players. <br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":740561,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Greylee Kramer","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'8u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"12122","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Biahop Brossart","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Next [player_tooltip player_id='886739' first='Level' last='']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Kramer moves into High School for a team that made an few upsets to advance into the All u0022Au0022 Classic and won what I think was another upset before running into a loaded eventual runner-up.  They have lost 6 of their 7 top scorers to graduation meaning there could be plenty of available playing time,  She has the skills to light it up from the outside and could be useful enough from her skills alone to get some valuable minutes.  But I don't really know what is still on the bench and it will probably come down to how quickly she picks up the system on Offense and Defense.rnrnKramer put in good effort on both ends and more than held her own.  She demonstrated the ability to push the ball up the court on the dribble and knock down the open three.  She wasn't shy about mixing it up to scrap for the ball and did everything she needed to do to force me in to finding what city her school is located in at some point.  But I think I might wait until next year, since I am trying to really focus on Western and Southern Kentucky this year.  I was in Northern and Central Kentucky a ton last season.  But who knows.  Showcase events are everywhere throughout the season.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["502129"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_player_featured_image":740559,"_player_evaluations_1_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"I have seen Benningfield play several times.  Her Club team plays on the PGH Circuit and her HS team is just 30 to 40 minutes south of me and both are good programs.  So they tend to play playing late into the season when I am scrambling to find more content and adjusting to the teams that have been eliminated.  Funny thing is I didn't even recognize her until she smiled for this photo.  That I recognized.  I guess she grew?  Changed her hair?  idk  Maybe she plays with a mean face on.  Maybe I was just too occupied seeing 10 players at a time on the court that were mainly new to me going at it for 40-miutes at a time.rnrnShe can play.  No doubt.  She has good speed and length and a great motor, something I find is common for players on both her high school and club team.  She plays good defense, which stood out some in the confusion of what is basically a pick up game.  You have players who have all learned different defensive fundamentals and the coaches at the event do not have time to organize something cohesive to have all players on the same page.   So one player it forcing someone to the sideline and another is forcing them baseline and another is trying to have containment.  All of those work as strategies but they don't work without a unified plan.  So seeing some good defense in that chaos can stand out and it did for Benningfield.rnrnShe has good ball handling skills, passing skills, is an excellent shooter and has good height and length.  But she is still living in her Girl Body, which is understandable considering her age and fixes itself with time.  When she fills out physically a little more she will be even more effective on the court.  Being able to push others around is better than being the one getting knocked around a little bit.  All things considered, I believe that if she will keep working on her skills, grow and develop some more muscle  over the next 4 years there is no reason she won't play in College.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":740547,"_player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"Ellie Lavey ","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"5'11u0022","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"12122","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"Dunbar","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"[program_tooltip program_id='715808' first='Lexington' last='Crossover']","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_2_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"Lavey proved she can shoot the ball, hence her place in this article.  She ran the floor well, scored some in transition, rebounded the ball well and put in a good showing at a great event against multiple talented players.  She was on the only team that won all 4 of their games at the Freshman Showcase.  There was not much ball to go around because everyone that got their hands on the ball could do something with it.  There wasn't much reason to pass very often on that team, although they did share the ball relatively well.  Lavey got enough chances to show something and she did enough to get Ranked here at PGH.rnrnI think that look she is giving in the photo says u0022I am better than what you saw and I am not happy about it.u0022  Am I reading that right?  She played well, but maybe I didn't see her at her best.  Either that or she was mean mugging me.  I thought she was good.  If I'm right I hope it lights a fire under her to be better and not make her shy away from the game.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["652045"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"I only saw Stakelin in one game Saturday, but she had a great run for a few minutes that caught some notice.  She nailed a 3 from the right corner and drove the ball down the right side of the lane for a layup on the break a play later.  She also showed that she is not afraid of contact by forcing a few fouls onto her defender.  If I had realized before the game which Club she plays for I might have known she would end up in this article.  They all seem to be Stretch Players.rnrnHer High School situation is one that is LOADED with talented players.  It could be a bit before she is showing her stuff in Varsity games.  JV teams watch out.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":740563,"_player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"Loren Macy","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"5'9u0022","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"12122","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"Bethlehem","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"[program_tooltip program_id='712592' first='Kentucky' last='Premier']","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_4_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"I saw Macy play one time in Middle School at what I think was a CSAA Championship game.   She played with poise and stood out over most of the players on the court.  She showed then and last Saturday that she could shoot the ball and has some ballhandling skills.  But I didn't recognize her.  She looks like she has really put in the work in training herself to get into the best possible shape in the last year or more.  Or maybe she just grew out of the old body and into the new one.  It wasn't until looked down at my list near the end of 2nd game they played on my court that I saw her name and knew she was there.  I had already taken her photo after the 1st game not even knowing it was her.rnrnShe did a great job crashing the boards on Saturday putting up at least 6 points off the glass by my count (which never gets everything) made a toss back assist for a three to put her team ahead by 2 in the best game of the day.  Then after their opponents took the lead back she made the winning basket from 2 feet out on the left side after a teammate broke down the defense and found her ready.  I think other than her ability to shoot Macy's best skill is her ability to consistently finish around the basket.  That requires an ability to focus on what you are doing.  A mental ability to block out all of the noise and activity that not every player has.  So many short shots are rushed and missed.  She was locked in.  I have to wonder if the play was designed to go to her or if she was just the best open option at the time.rnrnEither way it worked for a 76 to 75 win.  I usually avoid posting ANY SCORES.  Our goal here is to talk about Individuals that were in games, rather than to talk about Games that had individuals in them.  But that is 151 points scored in 40 minutes of Running Clock.  Team 1 and Team 3 put on an EPIC performance.  I wish they could have played a 7-game series.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_5_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_5_player_details_player_name":"Riley Eberhard","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_5_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_5_player_details_height":"5'10u0022","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_5_player_details_position":"12122","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_5_player_details_school":"Notre Dame Academy","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_5_player_details_club_team":"3SSB Midwest","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_5_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_5_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"I am not 100% sure that this is where Eberhard belongs.  Maybe I should have put her in the Power Forwards article.  (It seems like I do this once with every article.  It is becoming an unintentional trope with me.)  But it doesn't matter that much.  I was only able to see her play once, so with limited info I am limited in what I can say,rnrnBut forging ahead, she handles the ball well in open court, blocked a shot and had a good motor.  She tends to go into the paint to set up or finds a spot along the wing. More than anything that is what made me put her in this article.  She has good size and good length and runs the floor very well.  I know she will be a good fit at her High School and will definitely be a good Cutter before her time is done there.  I wish I could say more.  All I know for sure is that she can play and that she will be in our Rankings and on the radar to be seen again at a later date.","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":6,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64d92d7aa2e33"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><br><br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->