Johnston Winter Tip-Off: Five College Level Prospects
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Competing in Johnston’s 3rd annual Winter Tip-off was a plethora of individuals that one day will be playing at the collegiate level in some form or facet. In the article below we are going to cover five college level prospects,…
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Continue ReadingCompeting in Johnston’s 3rd annual Winter Tip-off was a plethora of individuals that one day will be playing at the collegiate level in some form or facet. In the article below we are going to cover five college level prospects, that did a good job showing out in their right throughout the day.
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The best player that I saw compete on the day at this event was Liv McGill Liv McGill 5’7″ | CG Hopkins | 2024 State MN of Hopkins High School. McGill is an aggressive guard with size, speed, and skill. She understands what makes her game so consistent and the best way to attack her opponents each possession. The Royals came in and got matched up with the Johnston Dragons. The Dragons are the #1 team throughout Iowa regardless of Class and they possess several future Division-1 players. This didn’t stop the Royals or McGill from killing it though. She was dominant on the drive while creating a lot of contact after her first dribble, she hit shots from deep off of the catch or dribble, and she defended really well in the half court. The Universities of Oklahoma and Nebraska were in the building to watch everyone compete throughout the day and I have a feeling that they would have been all over McGill if she wasn’t already committed to the University of Florida.
Alex Flattery had to step up big time in her teams past few games. With her teams best 3 out of 4 players being out due to sickness or injury, Flattery has been tasked to step up in a big way. On Saturday, Flattery was her teams engine on both sides of the floor. She never stopped moving and was being productive both on and off of the ball. I’ve only had a limited chance prior to this to see Flattery play and she has gotten much better. She is a college level player that will definitely help whatever team she is lacing up with in that moment. If she continues to keep up her aggressive play while everyone else returns to their roster, this team is going to be scary during the Playoffs.
Highlights
The DCG Mustangs had a furious comeback on Saturday in their contest against the Xavier Saints. One of the Mustangs main contributors comes in the form of Guard Kayla Reis Kayla Reis 5’7″ | PG Dallas Center-Grimes | 2024 State IA . Reis is a shooter. Someone that can handle and create for others but her best ability is letting it go from down town. Her release is balance and coordinated each time she lets it go, replicating the same shot over and over again throughout a contest. Another component that is impressive about this ability is how far away she is making some of these shots from. If her defender gives her any space over the Volleyball line, the shot is most likely going up and it’s usually going to be good. After this year, Reis will take her talents to Rockhurst College to continue her basketball journey. Her shooting ability is going to translate in more ways then one to the next level so whenever she starts to see the floor there, I’m expecting her to give them quality minutes. She has worked her tail off to get here, now she just needs to go out there and continue to stay confident in that work.
Another player that Nebraska and Oklahoma would have been in for playing in this event is Divine Bourrage Divine Bourrage 6’0″ | CG Davenport North | 2025 State IA of Davenport North High School. Bourrage is a 6’0 Combo Guard that is skilled, athletic, and possesses a high motor while competing. Bourrage is someone that has blown up over the past few months as it pertains to her college recruitment and that is going to continue to happen until she ends up committing somewhere. Her game is unique but simple. She is dominant because of her knowledge of when to do what, her natural skill and size, and her aggressive demeanor. There really isn’t anything she can’t do the hardwood expect maybe guard a true Center but that doesn’t happen to often in general and practically never during high school ball. I’m not sure where she is going to end up but in the right system, she is going to flourish in college. She has all the intangibles, once she is put in the position to succeed, it’s over for everyone else.
Ari Phillips Ari Phillips 5’10” | CG Johnston | 2027 State IA is going to be a player that is in the consideration for the #1 spot out of the 2027 Class in Iowa when their rankings come out in a few weeks. Phillips is only seeing the floor in small amounts but it makes sense as to why. Her high school team is loaded with talent and she is slowly gaining experience along side some of those great players. I’m sure it would be frustrating for most but not Ari. She is holding her own, staying positive, and producing when she is seeing the floor. She demonstrates the ability to dribble, creating for everyone else around her whenever the opportunity presents itself. In my opinion, she is only going to get better. By the time she is a senior, I’ll be surprised if Ari and her sister don’t have a handful of Power 5 offers. They are skilled enough, smart enough, and good enough at producing, they just need some more chances to show off those skills and everyone is going to realize how talented they truly are.