Going Above and Beyond

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The month of April was very good to the following hoopers, from local showcase events to the live period just a week ago. They put their game face on and their best foot forward, playing great basketball and putting their talent on display. From scoring the ball, to playing hard-nosed defense, to the intangibles that don't show up on the box score, these ladies have given 100% and look to ramp it up even more heading into May.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='782582' first='Morgan' last='Kottka'] | United NJ</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Morgan's strength and versatility shined through in Maheim as defenders scrambled to contain her, sometimes even doubling her as single coverage just would not do. Not easily moved off her base, she was assertive and aggressive in the low post, fending off defenders and muscling up for two. She stepped out behind the arc and swished in 3's and ran the floor hard. On the pick and roll, she set tough, effective screens and cut to the basket with confidence. At just under 6'0", she used her reach to deflect passes and stood firm under the rim to deter the dribble-drive. I loved to see how scrappy she was on defense, unafraid to get on the floor and fight for possession; very blue-collar.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='333337' first='Grace' last='Love'] | CJ Hawks</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A super reliable shooter, Grace had her offense clicking at Spooky Nook, especially from deep. She swished in corner 3's with a pretty shooting form and quick release, giving defenders virtually no time to successfully close out on her. With a solid combo of size and speed, she attacked the baseline and tried to make plays happen at the rim. Her long arms and enviable reach were keys to success on defense as she swatted away shots in the paint and rebounded with authority from the guard spot. One thing you can count on when Grace takes the floor is unrelenting effort!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='651483' first='Sam' last='Orlando'] | [program_tooltip program_id='714654' first='NJ' last='Shoreshots']</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sam is quickly emerging as a legitimate two-way threat as her game continues to evolve on both sides of the ball. At nearly 6'0" tall, her presence in and around the paint acts as a deterrent for ball-handlers on the drive. Her mid-range shot continues to improve, as does her toughness and efficiency under the rim on the post-up. She isn't afraid to go the extra mile for her team, whether it's by giving up her own shot and delivering the extra pass or by sacrificing her body on defense and taking charges.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='868732' first='Brooke' last='Shust'] | United NJ</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A commanding presence at 6'2", Brooke was a lot to handle at The Clash. She swished in runners in the lane, banked shots in the low-post and rattled in 3's to tally points and put her team in a position to win tough games. Fundamentally sound with sheer athleticism and a ton of physicality, Brooke is a nightmare to contain. A dynamic shot blocker, she meets opponents at the rim and sends their shot back with tremendous power. Something tells me she is just scratching the surface of her full potential as she continues to grow her skill-set and dominate.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Emily Donahue | [program_tooltip program_id='714654' first='NJ' last='Shoreshots']</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A zippy point guard who sees the floor well, Emily is always looking to make plays, be it on her own shot or dishing it out to others. Strong cuts to the basket, step-back 3's, smooth middys, you name it! She handled the ball with care and ran the point with poise at the Nook. I was totally impressed by her speed and ability to make smart decisions on the fly. Emily never seemed frazzled by the moment or intimidated by the defender; she simply put her head down and went to work, giving maximum effort each game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='900483' first='Sadie' last='Finn'] | United NJ</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sadie's inside-out scoring is a very impressive part of her game and it was on full display in Ohio during the eval period. She's long, quick and athletic, with a tireless motor and supreme energy to make things happen on both ends of the floor. I really love her confidence shooting it from just about anywhere, unafraid to let it fly even with a defender's hand squarely in her face; whether it's the 3 ball, a tough layup or an elbow jumper. She stood her ground on box-outs and did a solid job pulling down defensive boards.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->