Next Player Up: Marvin Ridge
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With the beginning of every new season, it means there is a changing of guard per se with each high school team. Some teams may have graduated players, and some players may be calling a new school home. In this…
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Continue ReadingWith the beginning of every new season, it means there is a changing of guard per se with each high school team. Some teams may have graduated players, and some players may be calling a new school home. In this series called, “Next player up,” I’m looking at some of the conference winners from last season and the players that are going to step up to help their team continue to have success.
Marvin Ridge won the Southern Carolina Conference last season led by record breaking seniors in Riley Smith and Zahra Douglas. The Mavericks are certainly not going to be hurting for talent, though, with some returning play makers along with more and more contributions from underclassmen that will help lead their team.
Ella Chepul Ella Chepul 5'11" | SF Marvin Ridge | 2024 NC is sure to step up as a leader for her team as she does it all. She uses her height and wide stance to seal off her opponents on the block scoring against anyone even through contact. She can easily have old fashioned three point plays inside the paint, and she can score three from deep around the perimeter. She fills in the gaps flashing in the paint or finding the openings beyond the arc to score some points. She is always a dominant rebounder on both ends of the court.
There are some sophomores that have certainly been catching the eyes of scouts over the summer in Kate Schindler Kate Schindler 6'0" | CG Marvin Ridge | 2026 State NC and Lanie Edwards Lanie Edwards 5'9" | CG Marvin Ridge | 2026 State NC .
Schindler is a lengthy guard who can handle the ball well and attack the basket easily getting by her opponents. She has a nice touch around the rim knowing exactly how to score her points whether she is laying it in off her fingertips or banking it in off the glass. She doesn’t have to get to the hoop to score, though, as she has a nice shot from deep.
Edwards has surged as a leader for her travel team this summer, and we are certain to see that manifest in high school. She’s been showing off how she can handle the rock against tough pressure, and she knows how to move with the ball finding her open teammates. Her IQ is apparent on the other side of the court stripping the ball away from her opponents and jumping into passing lanes to grab some steals. Her quickness and ability to push the tempo will be helpful scoring in transition.
Marvin Ridge also has two freshmen that know how to make immediate contributions. Sabrina Alessandro Sabrina Alessandro 5'5" | PG Marvin Ridge | 2027 NC is an excellent ball handler who knows how to make plays moving with and without the ball. In the fall league, she’s already shown her ability to make some shots from deep in tight games. Allie Heine Allie Heine 5'6" | SG Marvin Ridge | 2027 NC is a high motor player who doesn’t stop moving whether she is making cuts, pushing the ball up the court, crashing the boards, or jumping in front of passes to grab the steal. She shifts defenses with her cuts and is sneaky finding the openings to get the pass to score.