PGH Spring Tip Off: Saturday AM standouts

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Prep Girls Hoops circuit is back and it was a great day of basketball at Spire here just east of Cleveland. Several next-level kids including over two dozen D1 recruits were on display this weekend, and today I will look at some of the players I saw today.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I will be having separate stories this weekend on top point guards and the 17U all-tournament team, so some of those kids will not be featured today.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>First up, a look at the players who shined Saturday morning!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":[911123],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Alivia showed me that she is a strong rebounder, and not only stays after the play but she is aggressive! She has a great wingspan, moves well without the ball and is able to catch and score in the paint through traffic. Plays for a talented [program_tooltip program_id='715646' first='Rockford' last='Elite'] team, and she stood out in the early morning 8AM game on opening day.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["509706"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Also playing for the [program_tooltip program_id='715646' first='Rockford' last='Elite'] team is a young lady who can play the game fast, and is able to push tempo with good handles. Lanasia does an outstanding job penetrating to the rim and she is able to read the floor and has great athleticism.u003cspan class=u0022Apple-converted-spaceu0022u003e Showed good u003c/spanu003epoise and able to lead the offense.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["876885"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"Jayla had a really good second half, long and strong at the rim. Able to finish in the paint and she's all over the floor. She's very athletic which she uses to her advantage. Smart basketball player with a knack for the ball. Showed good work ethic while in the game, did some of the little things for her team.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["616559"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"Kiara plays for a solid club team, it was the first time I had seen the Hoopmasters. She anticipates the game very well, can read and react with good handles and quickness. Is able to either handle her business in the paint or on the perimeter.u003cspan class=u0022Apple-converted-spaceu0022u003e Plays hard and her effort in the game is solid. u003c/spanu003e","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["356359"],"_player_evaluations_4_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"Julia is a good strong, physical kid, able to finish shots at the rim through contact. Good body control, elevates well. I really like her pull-up mid range shot, she gets her shot up well, and has good confidence on the floor.u003cspan class=u0022Apple-converted-spaceu0022u003e She didn't let anything faze her, solid performance. u003c/spanu003e","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_player":["607649"],"_player_evaluations_5_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"Leigha is a strong powerful player at the rim, uses her body well to protect the rim, strong hands and good footwork. This young lady has very good court vision, able to find her teammates with a great pass even under pressure.u003cspan class=u0022Apple-converted-spaceu0022u003e Solid u003c/spanu003efundamentally, I would be she continues to improve throughout this summer!","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_6_player":["839317"],"_player_evaluations_6_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"Her team struggled in the game that I saw, but I did like what I saw from a few players. The one that caught my attention was Maddie, who was not afraid of contact, she can slash to the rim and score on the run. She will continue to work and improve, she could be one to keep an eye on throughout this summer.","_player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_7_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_7_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_7_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_7_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_7_player_details_player_name":"Vilte Kacerauskaite ","_player_evaluations_7_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_7_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_7_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_7_player_details_height":"6'1u0022","_player_evaluations_7_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_7_player_details_position":"12124","_player_evaluations_7_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_7_player_details_school":"McLean","_player_evaluations_7_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_7_player_details_club_team":"Elevate Elite S40 ","_player_evaluations_7_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_7_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_7_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_7_evaluation":"Vilte was playing on a very talented, belated team and she was one who stood out to me on Saturday morning. She was very smooth with a solid perimeter, game, able to connect from deep. Good handles, great length and is a mismatch problem defensively.u003cspan class=u0022Apple-converted-spaceu0022u003e She is one that coaches need to watch this summer. u003c/spanu003e","_player_evaluations_7_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_8_player":["502127"],"_player_evaluations_8_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_8_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_8_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_8_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_8_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_8_evaluation":"Katie is a player with a good chance to make some noise this summer. She is only a 2026 so she should be able to continue to add to her arsenal and improve this summer. She is a good perimeter shooter from mid range. I really like the way she can shoot off the dribble well and is a good lockdown defender who moves her feet well and is active. u003cemu003e(featured photo above)u003c/emu003e","_player_evaluations_8_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_9_player":["493166"],"_player_evaluations_9_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_9_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_9_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_9_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_9_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_9_evaluation":"This Dana Evans Elite team has some talented players coming up, one that is surely going to be a player to watch is Ciara. What a great force this young lady is. Runs the floor well, phenomenal length with the ability to score off the rim. She knows the game and if I would expect her to be even better as the season progresses.","_player_evaluations_9_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":10,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6611d23aa21b1"} /-->