Checking In: Always 100 Morning Showcase, Part-1

<!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"small"} --> <p class="has-small-font-size"><em>The featured image is of [player_tooltip player_id='414465' first='Gabby' last='Helsom'] (2026) of Homestead High School and [program_tooltip program_id='716173' first='Always' last='100'] Elite 3SSB 16U.</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[program_tooltip program_id='716173' first='Always' last='100'] has grown to be one of the biggest programs in the Midwest in terms of total teams and players. For the 5th consecutive year, I attended their individual player showcase on Sunday. The event had two sessions, with close to 80 prospects in the morning session and close to 60 prospects in the afternoon session. Below is a look at a handful of girls who I felt stood out during the morning session in Fort Wayne.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><font color="#FFFFFF">.</font></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><font size="+2">[player_tooltip player_id='692249' first='Layla' last='Williams'], 2025, 6-3 C, [program_tooltip program_id='716173' first='Always' last='100'] Liberty</font></strong><br>- Layla could have a huge Spring &amp; Summer. From when I saw her last Spring until now, she has grown 2-3 inches, improved her motor, and really worked on her skill. She has a fairly strong upper body, paired with length in her lower body, and she can get out and run for a big post. She can play with physicality, but she also has nice mid-post skill. She will still need some work, but her ceiling is high, and she will likely draw a lot of college interest.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><font size="+2">[player_tooltip player_id='496026' first='Jaeda' last='Wilson'], 2025, 5-7 G, [program_tooltip program_id='716173' first='Always' last='100'] Next Level</font></strong><br>- Someone early Sunday morning asked me what I liked most about Jaeda's game. I think that's such a tough question, because she is one of those kids who is so well-rounded. She might not be elite at any one thing, but she's also not deficient at anything. She has nice athleticism, wiry strength, and she plays with a motor. She can handle it, knock down shots, and she defends hard. She reminds me some of IU-South Bend commit <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='177311' first='Aubrie' last='Booker']</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><font size="+2">[player_tooltip player_id='414465' first='Gabby' last='Helsom'], 2026, 5-11 F, [program_tooltip program_id='716173' first='Always' last='100'] Elite 3SSB 16U</font></strong><br>- Gabby is an incredibly tough matchup for opponents. She has the strength, physicality, and toughness to play around the paint, but she is also an excellent perimeter shooter and can bury shot after shot from beyond the arc. She works hard and is a solid one-directional athlete, but as she continues to improve her creativity/handle and her lateral quickness, she could continue to become more of a true wing than an inside-out forward.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><font size="+2">[player_tooltip player_id='670343' first='Anna' last='Sachire'], 2026, 6-1 F, [program_tooltip program_id='716173' first='Always' last='100']-Wright Black</font></strong><br>- Anna is another nice, developing forward in this 2026 class. She has good height, length, and skill facing the basket. She could definitely stand to get stronger, work on playing lower, and that should help her quickness/explosiveness. But she can knock down shots consistently at all three levels, and she has worked on developing somewhat of a handle as well. Defensively, though, she's still best defending forwards and smaller posts.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><font size="+2">[player_tooltip player_id='888190' first='Suzy' last='Perego'], 2028, 6-0 W, [program_tooltip program_id='716173' first='Always' last='100'] Elite 3SSB 14U / Basket Roma (Italy)</font></strong><br>- Suzy is definitely someone to keep an eye on moving forward. Watching her for the first time Sunday, my initial impression was that she looked a little young, maybe like a Sophomore, because she had a mature game, a lot of skill, and she moved effortlessly and completed play after play. When I found out she was an 8th Grader...wow! She has ball skill, some touch outside, and she is really good at attacking, changing directions, and finishing. She participates on her home Italian team, and she will eventually head to Homestead High School next season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->