PGH Victory Region Kick Off: 17U Standouts
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I spent a few days in Romeoville for the PGH Victory Region Kick-Off, and over the next couple of days, we’ll talk about some of the standouts from down in Illinois. Today, we’ll highlight some of the top kids I…
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Continue ReadingI spent a few days in Romeoville for the PGH Victory Region Kick-Off, and over the next couple of days, we’ll talk about some of the standouts from down in Illinois. Today, we’ll highlight some of the top kids I saw in 17U.
Allison Linke Allison Linke 6'1" | PF Prospect | 2026 State IL
Linke’s versatility as a forward gives any team she plays plenty of fluidity. She’s a 6’0 kid who can score from all three levels, rebound, spring transition opportunities with her outlet passing, and be a fulcrum of an offense to fins kids cutting from everywhere on the floor. I thought she did an excellent job at making her teammates better by demanding attention from defenses without having to shoot the ball each time she touched it. I can’t speak highly enough of her game.
Lily Fisher Lily Fisher 6'1" | CG Libertyville | 2027 IL
The Libertyville guard has all the talent in the world. She’s playing up for a 16U Wolverinas team as a freshman, for a team playing up in 17U, and she looked like one of the most influential kids on the floor each time I watched her team for a couple of halves this weekend. She’s a taller lead guard at 5-11 and has plenty of length for her frame that she can add muscle on over the next few years, but there’s plenty to like what she does now. I love how well she finishes around the rim through contact, and she uses her length to cause fits for opposing ball handlers. Her shot looked solid, and I don’t see how she doesn’t become one of the most productive players in her class in Illinois.
JJ Glass-Barnes JJ Glass-Barnes 5'8" | CG The Prairie School | 2025 State WI
I talked to a handful of people who hadn’t seen JJ Glass-Barnes JJ Glass-Barnes 5'8" | CG The Prairie School | 2025 State WI before, and it’s hard to explain without watching her. She’s a 5-8 guard, but one of the elite rebounders you’ll find, and as physical as any post player you’d ever see. As always, Glass-Barnes was at her best around the rim and dominated everything that happened around the rim, even though she’s a guard. I’ve loved how much she’s developed as a perimeter threat. I appreciate how much time and effort Glass-Barnes put into rounding out her game. Few players in the Midwest could be solid one-for-one defenders to handle her. That’s how talented she is.
Ella Hamacher Ella Hamacher 5'9" | SF Stoughton | 2025 State WI
Hamacher is one of the better drivers in Wisconsin. She does an excellent job figuring out ways to beat her initial defender and get to the basket. In the first game, Hamacher didn’t finish as many as the wing probably would’ve liked. However, finding her way to the basket is what the Stoughton native does best, and in subsequent games, Hamacher finished much better around the basket and got to show how much touch she has around the basket. I also thought her shot looked much better, which tracks from my preconceived notion that she’d look like a much better shooter with two other ball-handlers on the floor.