OPS Showcase: 2025 Standouts
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Over the years, I’ve attended showcases put on by various grassroots programs, and this past Sunday, September 10, was the OPS Elite Showcase in Fort Wayne, Indiana. It had more than 40 prospects from Northeast and Northern Indiana in attendance,…
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Continue ReadingOver the years, I’ve attended showcases put on by various grassroots programs, and this past Sunday, September 10, was the OPS Elite Showcase in Fort Wayne, Indiana. It had more than 40 prospects from Northeast and Northern Indiana in attendance, as well as coaches from at least six small colleges, plus it was a great opportunity for me to see a lot of younger players perform. In this first of two articles, I will focus on seven members of the Class of 2025 who I felt stood out in the action I was able to see. Tomorrow, I will have some notes on the classes of 2026 and 2027.
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Emily Bleke
Emily
Bleke
5'8" | SG
Bellmont | 2025
IN
, 2025, 5-8 SG, Bellmont H.S.
– This was my first time seeing Emily, and she should be on a lot of small college radars. She has an athletically strong frame, some length, and she moves well in most directions. She can handle it a little, but I would consider her more of a scorer/driver than a true ball-handler. She looked best on attack, plus she was a willing and effortful defender, and she rebounded her position well.
Olivia Fry, 2025, 5-4 PG, Homestead H.S.
– Homestead was well-represented at this event, and Olivia stood out because of her energy. She is a tough-nosed, feisty, quick, fast, and very active point guard prospect. Obviously, she’s in a battle of numbers at Homestead, but she has nice skill, some ability, and she plays with a tremendous motor. She willingly finds open teammates, plus she can knock down an open rhythm jumper.
Cella Kaiser, 2025, 5-9 PF/SF, Concordia Lutheran H.S.
– Cella was another prospect who played with great activity. She has a wiry-strong frame, length, some bounce, and she was flying around the floor trying to make a number of hustle plays. She showed a little skill with the ball and the ability to knock down an open 15-footer, but I felt like she was more of a frontline player than a wing. I did thoroughly enjoy her toughness, though.
Sydnee Kessler, 2025, 5-7 SG, Eastside H.S.
– There have been a couple of Kessler girls to precede Sydnee, but she will lead the Blazers this Winter. Sydnee has broad shoulders, nice strength, and she’s a solid all-around athlete. What stood out to me most was, she knocked down just about every jump-shot she took throughout the day. She competed at both ends, she rebounded her position, but it was her shooting that topped it all.
Ella McCarter
Ella
McCarter
5'10" | PF
Rochester | 2025
IN
, 2025, 5-10 PF/SF, Rochester Community H.S.
– I talked about Ella a bit during the grassroots season, and she continued her solid play this past weekend. She has an athletically strong frame, some length, and she’s very bouncy and active. She has nice shooting mechanics, so repetition should help make her more consistent with range. I like how aggressive she is on the boards, plus she can defend multiple positions around the floor.
Adriyanna Phillips, 2025, 5-8 SF/PF, Whitko H.S.
– Adriyanna is another prospect who stood out throughout the day because of her ability to make shots. She has a strong frame, she can battle inside, rebound, and defend, but offensively she’s best around the perimeter. If she had any space or rhythm, she was almost automatic to about 27-feet. She even stopped a couple of times in transition from that depth and casually buried 3-pointers.
Reese Rhodehamel
Reese
Rhodehamel
5'9" | PF
Bishop Luers | 2025
IN
, 2025, 5-9 PF/SF, Bishop Luers H.S.
– Reese is a strong, physical, versatile inside-out style of forward. She is willing to get inside and mix it up, she will rebound, and she defends the interior with effort. At the same time, she can attack the basket from the perimeter, defend out on the floor a little, and she can knock down an open jumper. She’s probably best in the mid-post right now but could eventually play outside full-time.