Last, But Not Least, From “The Clash”
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A little over a week ago was a big step in the course of a grassroots season, as it was the first time NCAA Division-I women’s basketball coaches were allowed to be out evaluating prospects. I spent my time in…
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Continue ReadingA little over a week ago was a big step in the course of a grassroots season, as it was the first time NCAA Division-I women’s basketball coaches were allowed to be out evaluating prospects. I spent my time in Hamilton, Ohio, watching The Clash…a huge event that has provided many kids the opportunity to be “seen” over the past several years. After you remove the core shoe company teams, many of the rest of the better teams/programs in the Midwest, Northeast, and South were in attendance. This serves as the last of eight articles I have written to review some Indiana prospects who stood out to me at the event. This is not everyone who played well, nor is it someone from every single team…there were too many teams/prospects in attendance to cover everyone adequately. However, below are several prospects who played well when I was able to see them.
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If Aubrey is one thing, she is a fun watch. She has very good speed and quickness, she flies around the floor in all directions, and she always seems to be around the basketball. Offensively, she is constantly moving and changing directions with the dribble, she gets into the lane and puts pressure on defenses, and she can either find open teammates or make shots at all three levels. She will need to play a little more efficiently offensively, learn how to change speeds, etc., but she definitely has some tools. Defensively, she is a pain on the ball and can really cause havoc for opposing ball-handlers.
Highlights
Emma Hicks
Emma Hicks
Beech Grove tends to have these nice, solid, steady ballplayers, and Emma looks like she fits that bill. She has a solid frame, some length, and she’s a balanced all-around athlete. She plays with a really nice motor and competes at both ends of the floor. I wouldn’t necessarily say she is elite at any one thing, but she strikes me as one of those kids who is well-rounded and not deficient at anything either. She handled it okay, attacked the basket aggressively, knocked down a couple of rhythm jumpers when I saw her, and she was effortful at the defensive end, on and off the ball.
This was my second time seeing Marissa this Spring, but the first time was at an individual showcase, so it was good seeing her with her team. I really like her balance, from her solid athleticism, to her motor, to her versatile skillset. She can play at all three levels, and she can defend most bigger guards, wings, and undersized forwards. She will get inside and rebound, plus she’ll pursue rebounds, but she also has multilevel offensive skill. She can knock down an open 3-pointer consistently when in rhythm, she’s really good in the mid-post, and she’s a nice North/South driver who can finish inside.
Grace Czubik
Grace Czubik
I made mention in a previous article about good young kids with some size at Westfield, and here is another. Grace is very long, wiry, and fairly fluid. She’s also somewhat bouncy. Her ability to move around the floor helps her defend some outside, and her length and height help her defend inside. She will need to continue getting stronger, which will come with time. Offensively, she has some mid-range/mid-post skill, and I feel like she will be a face-up ‘4’ long-term and never a true post. But she also has the physical tools to step outside, sit down, and defend wings, as well as the length to block shots inside.
Sydney Moffatt
Sydney Moffatt
Sydney is another young, extremely long, wiry forward in this 2026 class. She plays with energy and moves around the floor well, but she also looks like she might still grow another couple of inches. Once she finishes, she will need strength, because she gets bumped off her line too easily right now. But she doesn’t shy away from contact, which is a good thing. She is more of a mid-post-and-in kid offensively, right now. She also pursues rebounds outside of her area and is willing to get on the floor for loose balls. At this point, she just needs time to finish growing, but she has a chance to be good.
As opposed to the previous couple of prospects mentioned, Miley is a big, strong, broad-shouldered, and physical front-liner. She loves to seek contact and enforce her will at either end of the floor. She does have some quickness to her as well, and she will run the floor hard. She is also effortful and somewhat technical when defending ball screens. Offensively, she has soft hands, touch to the mid-post, but she’s great at earning her position early, sealing her opponents, and just moving them to score at the rim. She was great at the end of the season for the State Champion Knights.
Highlights
Ava Richie
Ava Richie
When Ava gets to high school next year, just wait for her to impact the Varsity level. Currently, she is a little on the small side, but she should grow another couple/a few inches, then start to add athletic strength. In the meantime, she has a really nice, tight handle for her age, she can go either direction and finish around the basket, she knows where all of her teammates are, and she just has a very good understanding of the game. Ava can also knock down an open rhythm jumper, and I think she’ll be a real threat outside by her Sophomore year of high school. She’s one to watch in 2028, for sure!