Battle at the Beach Top Hustle Players

David Yapkowitz

November 27, 2023 @ 11:32 PM

This week, Redondo Union High School plays host to the annual Battle of the Beach tournament. The event always features some of the top teams and talent in the Southern California area. The tournament runs from Nov. 20-25. I was able to attend the event on Wednesday, Nov. 22 and here's a focus on some of the top shooters I saw. 1. [player_tooltip player_id='267595' first='Lindsay' last='Gould'] - Oak Park 2024 Gould is a tough player who does a lot of the little things that contribute to winning; moving off ball, cutting the basket, boxing out and hustling after loose balls. She has an improved off the dribble game faking the hand off and getting to the basket. Defensively, she can body up in the post against taller players with her strength and doesn't allow herself to get pushed off her spot. 2. [player_tooltip player_id='835351' first='Lexi' last='Shapiro'] - Windward 2024 Shapiro was scrappy defensively, using her hands on defense to disrupt passes and force turnovers. Solid on ball cutting off the dribble and forcing ball-handlers into difficult passes. Makes a lot of hustle players and does well moving off ball. Good shooter from three-point range off the catch. She spots up well, gets her feet set and has a good shooting release. 3. [player_tooltip player_id='835357' first='Laurel' last='Hinds'] - Windward 2024 Hinds was the ultimate hustle player. Chasing down loose balls, diving on the floor, constantly in motion on the court. Active defender with quick hands and feet to frustrate ball-handlers. Good positioning on the glass fighting for rebounds. She was able to handle the ball in the halfcourt at times and did well navigating the defense and making the right passes. 4. [player_tooltip player_id='574388' first='Quinsey' last='Bryan'] - Crean Lutheran 2026 Bryan consistently put her body on the line drawing charges. She beats the ball-handler to their spot and gets her feet planted. She makes a lot of little plays like the extra pass that may eventually lead to the shot. She has good vision and is a pass first player. Handles the ball well and consistently saw her teammates. Took what offensive opportunities she had.

This week, Redondo Union High School plays host to the annual Battle of the Beach tournament. The event always features some of the top teams and talent in the Southern California area. The tournament runs from Nov. 20-25. I was able to attend the event on Wednesday, Nov. 22 and here's a focus on some of the top shooters I saw.

1. Lindsay Gould Lindsay Gould 5'9" | CG Oak Park | 2024 State CA - Oak Park 2024

Gould is a tough player who does a lot of the little things that contribute to winning; moving off ball, cutting the basket, boxing out and hustling after loose balls. She has an improved off the dribble game faking the hand off and getting to the basket. Defensively, she can body up in the post against taller players with her strength and doesn't allow herself to get pushed off her spot.

2. Lexi Shapiro Lexi Shapiro 5'6" | CG Windward | 2024 State CA - Windward 2024

Shapiro was scrappy defensively, using her hands on defense to disrupt passes and force turnovers. Solid on ball cutting off the dribble and forcing ball-handlers into difficult passes. Makes a lot of hustle players and does well moving off ball. Good shooter from three-point range off the catch. She spots up well, gets her feet set and has a good shooting release.

3. Laurel Hinds Laurel Hinds 5'8" | SG Windward | 2024 State CA - Windward 2024

Hinds was the ultimate hustle player. Chasing down loose balls, diving on the floor, constantly in motion on the court. Active defender with quick hands and feet to frustrate ball-handlers. Good positioning on the glass fighting for rebounds. She was able to handle the ball in the halfcourt at times and did well navigating the defense and making the right passes.

4. Quinsey Bryan Quinsey Bryan 5'10" | PF Crean Lutheran | 2026 State CA - Crean Lutheran 2026

Bryan consistently put her body on the line drawing charges. She beats the ball-handler to their spot and gets her feet planted. She makes a lot of little plays like the extra pass that may eventually lead to the shot. She has good vision and is a pass first player. Handles the ball well and consistently saw her teammates. Took what offensive opportunities she had.