In the Spotlight- Waynesville Spartans

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Over the weekend, I had the privilege to watch a Southwestern Buckeye League matchup between Waynesville and Brookville, and while Brookville is a team with a promising future with a good group of younger players in their system, it is Waynesville's time now to make some noise in Southwest District Division 3.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A couple of weeks ago, I released my annual Dayton 140 here on Prep Girls Hoops, a look at the top players in the Dayton area for the upcoming season. In a rare move, I had listed the entire starting five from Waynesville among the top players to watch. It may be rare, but deserving for this special group. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In this special team breakdown, I will look at the Spartans as they look to make a deep run through the tournament.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["413291"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"The highest ranked Waynesville player in our PGH rankings is 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='413291' first='Katie' last='Berrey'], who currently sits #26 in her class and she showed me the reason why on Saturday. I love the way she moves to get open for the shot, smaller guard but very deceptive with her speed and can pull the trigger and knock down the shot from anywhere. She has good range and has a good quick release off the pass.rnrnAlso can get downhill and draw the defenders to her, able to then dish it off for the better shot for her teammates. Another one of those players who may be small in stature but big in game! u003cemu003e(featured photo above)u003c/emu003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["319354"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Another PGH ranked player, Avery is listed at #31 in the latest 2026 rankings, and her game has really blossomed over the past year. She has good size and can explode to the rim to score. Able to play physical and play through contact.rnrnShe also has a very good periemter game with range out behind the arc. I have seen her confidence in the game really blossom as she isn't afraid to take the big shot. Solid defender and can pressure her opponent into mistakes. Good basketball IQ.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["808225"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"OK, so I didn't get to see her in the summer, and Saturday was the first time I had the chance to see her in action. Very impressive hard nosed kid who will run through a wall if needed. She has a nose for the ball and will do whatever it takes to make a play. She has a good perimeter game with the ability to knock down the three, or get by her defender to finish in the paint.rnrnI am a believer. Such a tough kid who really has good court vision and gets the ball where it needs to be. Can finsih with either hand and her slick handles make her difficult to defend.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["410397"],"_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":"A familiar face who I have seen several times during the summer. She is the blue-collar worker on this team, she will do whatever it takes for this team to succeed. On the days where she may not score a lot of points, she will do the other little things to make sure her team has the advantage.rnrnShe has a strong frame and can battle through contact at the rim. Good footwork and showed a great finishing ability in the paint. She can also shut you down defensviely, and is a huge part of this teams success.","_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":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"Emme Greely","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"5'11u0022","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"12124","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"Waynesville","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"","_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 threw her in as a small forward, but honestly she can play wherever is needed for her team to be successful. Versatile player who wants her senior year to be her best year, and she has the skills to close out her high school career strong.rnrnWhen I was told about her as a freshman, I saw her play at Milton Union and coach Gabbard sold me on her game. She is such a great athlete she can really hurt you in a variety of ways on the court. She has length and quickness to defend multiple positions.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_player":["743709"],"_player_evaluations_5_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"For a freshman to get to see the floor on a team with this much talent tells you a lot about Kloe's skillset.  She is an up-and-coming 2027 who made the PGH 2027 Watch List and her game will continue to grow.rnrnOne of her strongest attributes is her quickness and the fact that she can knock down shots. Her defense is also very good for a freshman and should continue to get better. As she continues to learn the Waynesville system, watch for her game to explode.","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":6,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-656e1154dc964"} /-->