2025 Watch List -Small Forwards Playing BIG
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Turning it up is what these players have done, some just by adding more to their games and one, in particular, making a ferocious comeback after an injury so here are some names you need to know about Ava Anderson…
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Continue ReadingTurning it up is what these players have done, some just by adding more to their games and one, in particular, making a ferocious comeback after an injury so here are some names you need to know about
Anderson was already showing me what was coming yet at the PGH Top 250 Expo, I could see not only her progression but her DESIRE to get better. Her versatility is a big plus as she handles the ball in transition and even showed she could go coast to coast and score yet her deceptive first step in the set is very nice and it helps her to not only get to the basket but score after contact. Her defense, in and outside the paint is solid, so is her midrange jumper
McLaurin has taken her game to another level and her Peggy Whitley Classic performance spoke volumes. She has the potential to make a huge debut in the rankings and her explosiveness off the dribble along with finishing strongly are part of the reason, yet her rebounding and defense is another part. I guess being long and athletic helps also
Nixon grabbed my attention a few seasons ago, yeah I love her progression but she is silently filling up the stat sheet which falls into the “getting hers in the flow” group so as I’ve been keeping up with her flirting with double-doubles this season, I’ll have both eyes wide open Thursday at the Sandra Meadows Classic
Reid was one of the New Faces I caught at the Texas Jamboree and I read her game off the top, with no unwarranted assistance so standing at “the magic number” which is 6’0 and being “long and athletic” are a couple of things next level coaches look for so when you factor in she plays the passing lane, rebounds on both ends and defends “on the ball” as well as inside the paint, what else is there? She thinks the game and when you have good BB-IQ, that’s huge so her court vision in the set as well as in transition was nice, plus she showed she could scorern
Russell closed it at The Opening and after watching her performance at the Sandra Meadows Classic last season, I knew she was on the verge of something big. She’s a cross between a small forward and a power forward but whatever position she’s placed in, she gets the job done because of her “you won’t outwork me” mindset. She BATTLES for rebounds, #THROWBACK, as well as loose balls yet she also scored powerfully inside the paint. Her interior defense is also solid, I’ll check her out this week at, you guessed it, the 2023 Sandra Meadows Classic
Smith continues to showing what a factor she is, both with her club team as well as her talented school squad. One more time, she’s long and athletic and very active defensively and when you’re able to regroup like she does, that’s huge. She has good timing, she rebounds on both ends, she scores off the dribble and around the basket and she plays the passing lane
E Riley Hairston should have been on that initial Watchlist for her class yet minor injuries had me missing her game. One thing I love about her game is her perseverance and she could have easily settled after a knee injury but guess what, that was not happening and as she showed signs of returning to form over the club season with her club team, her Peggy Whitley Classic sealed it as the jumper was clicking, so was her first step to get to the basket and score. She elevates over defenders to score around the basket, I guess being long and athletic is part of it