The First Big One: Who Showed Up and Showed Out
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AAU is a whole different animal than the HS season, and gives us all the chance to view the game in a different way. Here are some of my notes: Caroline Osting KY #81 SF #12 HEIGHT 5'8" POS SF…
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Continue ReadingAAU is a whole different animal than the HS season, and gives us all the chance to view the game in a different way. Here are some of my notes:
Ok! I see you Caroline Osting! She’s another Kentucky kid I’d only heard about, but she’s the real deal. I knew she was a high caliber glue kid for a state championship Sacred Heart team in KY. She has all the attributes of a winner. Both games I watched she made an impact on the offensive end without having to force anything. Really high IQ, and let’s the game come to her. Seemed to always be in the right place at the right time (funny how high level winning role players are always in the “right place at the right time”), and brought value on the glass, and on the defensive end. I liked out quickly she moved the ball when the simple pass was there (I know that doesn’t sound like much…but kids and parents….just move the ball to the open man as quickly as you can….the ball has magic and when everyone is selfless with it—the ball finds who it’s supposed to).
Highlights
Love Howard Love Howard 5’9″ | SG Bradley Central | 2025 State TN is the real deal. I’m willing to bet she’d start on 95% of the teams in the state…but she plays for Bradley Central University and playing time is HARD to find. I thought she really showed out as a winning PG this weekend. Her team is loaded with talent, and she knows her job–get others open, collapse the D, bring energy defensively, and simply impact winning. And that’s what she did all weekend. Another kid that is seemingly always in the right place at the right time, and just wants to win. She could be a 10 point a game scorer if she forced it…but instead she just wants to win. I thought she was impressive.
Highlights
Kora Johnson
Kora Johnson
Another kid that is simply full of all the attributes to be special. She dominated the paint this weekend, and has a knack for finding offensive rebounds. Great pursuit of the ball off the glass…just knows where the ball is going while others don’t. She’s going to be a nightly double double for Webb Bell Buckle next year, and with her and Daria Biryk Daria Biryk 5’10” | SG Webb- Bell Buckle | 2025 State TN (and Makynlin Bacon) you’ve gotta think that they have their eyes set on another Gold Ball.
Adison Howard Adison Howard 5’8″ | PG Stone Memorial | 2025 State TN is following up her incredible post season run jumping right into AAU with a splash. She was Trotter’s ’25s leading scorer on the weekend, and that says a lot for a pass first point guard. It was obvious that her HS season really built her confidence and looked like a new player compared to last aau season. Her passing ability is HIGH LEVEL…and with her and Jordan White Jordan White 5’4″ | PG Northview Academy | 2025 State TN on the floor together…..golly bum the ball moves well. This is a fun, unselfish group to watch!
The game I caught vs ETA Thunder Walden she had 15 points, 4 assists, and 3 boards. Already looking forward to watching her next year at Stone! Vs FBC ’25 Priest she scored 11. I think she’s ready to make a big jump.
Highlights
Jordan White Jordan White 5’4″ | PG Northview Academy | 2025 State TN is good at basketball. Her IQ is off the charts, and she understands the value of simply moving the ball–on time and on target as quickly as you can. With her and Adison Howard Adison Howard 5’8″ | PG Stone Memorial | 2025 State TN on the floor at the same time…the basketball just sings. White was a reliable scorer for them as well…breaking down defenses off the dribble, getting to the rim, hitting open 3s. She’s the real deal in a PG.
Highlights
Delaney Weddington Delaney Weddington 5’10” | SG Morristown-Hamblen West | 2025 State TN is my kind of player! She does everything according to what her coaches ask, and what her team needs. Defensively, she’s capable of locking up the oppositions best player. That’s a given for her. Offensively, she’s really turned herself into a diverse ball player that is hard to define by position. TFT Heifner gives her the freedom to make reads, and simply play the game. She’s really smart about when to attack a closeout, when to swing the ball, when to cut….etc.
Cloey Wade Cloey Wade 6’0″ | C South-Doyle | 2025 State TN is another kid that’s about to make a big time jump. She’s playing with a confidence that can’t be faked. Really benefited from playing with Payton Rollins Payton Rollins 5’8″ | PG South Doyle | 2027 TN this year, and looked incredibly comfortable playing off her guards this weekend. She’s turned herself into a post that can stretch the floor a bit, but I was incredibly impressed with her ability to take bigs off the dribble to the rim.
Kids–if you’re a post that can learn to shoot it and stretch the floor, you’re build advantages into your game. Most post defenders aren’t used to closing out on shooters…so most of them just aren’t very good at it. And if you have the skill set-you can make them pay! Cloey Wade Cloey Wade 6’0″ | C South-Doyle | 2025 State TN made defenders pay all weekend long.