The Clash: 2026 Prospects Pt 1

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Clash tournament in Hamilton, Ohio was an outstanding weekend of elite competitive travel basketball at the most eye-popping facility I have ever seen in person. Countless travel teams came from across the country to compete April 19-21st in this NCAA Live-Period event. S-40, P-24, and independent circuit travel teams competed in front of 300+ D1, D2, and D3 college coaches across 28 courts at the Spooky Nook Sports Championship Mill facility. Here are some of the 2026 prospects who impressed me as I watched their games courtside last weekend.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["894657"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":898233,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='894657' first='Dakota' last='Graham'] was an explosive guard for Midwest at The Clash. She utilized push-out dribbles to create space off the dribble and knocked down a mid-range jumper. Dakota is an accurate outside shooter, drilling a wing 3-pointer. Dakota accelerated through the defense to score an impressive left-hand finish full speed at the rim.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["734966"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_player_featured_image":898253,"_player_evaluations_1_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='734966' first='Hailey' last='Durland'] displayed outstanding toughness, while competing for Mystics 26-P24 at The Clash. During a game, she had her contact knocked out after hard contact, and had to leave the game. After a few minutes, she returned to the bench and continued competing at a high level for her team. Hailey plays with a relentless hustle and effort on both ends; she applied pressure on the ball to cause a steal and leaped onto the floor for loose balls. Hailey drilled a 3 from up top and on the wing; she beat her defender to the basket using a quick behind the back snap and caused a foul on her drive.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"Samantha Barton","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"5'9u0022","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"12121","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"Dexter Southfield","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"MCW Starz","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_2_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"u003cstrongu003eSamantha Bartonu003c/strongu003e (5'9, CG, 2027, MA) was an impressive scorer for MCW Starz 2026-P24 at The Clash. She had no issues playing up against elite competition in the 2026 decision. Sam caught my attention from across the gym because of her lights out shooting from beyond the arc. Samantha knocked down four 3-pointers in one game both off the catch and creating separation off the dribble. Her length and versatility as a ball-handler made her an extremely difficult matchup for defenders.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["860186"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_player_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='860186' first='Summer' last='Stopczynski'] contributed in all areas for [program_tooltip program_id='713024' first='Michigan' last='Drive Premier'] 26-P24 at The Clash. She demonstrated toughness and courage to plant herself firmly in front of a hard downhill drive in an effort to draw a charge. Summer effectively used a sweep off the catch to beat her defender and score on a drive. She cuts off drives with her quick lateral slides on defense and used an effective drop step in the paint to finish with her left off the glass. Summer high pointed an entry pass to finish off two inside with her left and buried a triple from the wing. Her motor on both ends was impressive to watch over the weekend.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["502309"],"_player_evaluations_4_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_4_player_featured_image":898257,"_player_evaluations_4_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='502309' first='Lilly' last='Thelen'] demonstrated her dynamic abilities for [program_tooltip program_id='713024' first='Michigan' last='Drive Premier'] 26-P24 at The Clash. She made impact plays on both ends of the court for her team and completed well against elite opponents. Lilly backed down her defender with left pound dribbles then spun quickly to score at the rim. She used her length and anticipation to steal the ball on defense and convert transition layups. Lilly knocked down many 3's from different spots including one from way downtown around the volleyball line. She works hard for offensive rebound put backs and has the ability to make layups from difficult angles in the paint.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_player":["860231"],"_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":"[player_tooltip player_id='860231' first='Faith' last='Carlson'] impacted the game for [program_tooltip program_id='713024' first='Michigan' last='Drive Premier'] 2026-P24 on both ends at The Clash. She used her quickness and length to swipe the ball away multiple times on defense. Faith scored at multiple levels, drilling a wing 3, beating her defender on a baseline drive, and knocking down free throws. She is a CG prospect I saw for the first time and look forward to seeing more in the future.","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":6,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-662948c1733b4"} /--> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Upcoming Events</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:image {"id":896847} --> <figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/04/Northern-Michigan-Flyer-QR-Code.png?1713979245" alt="" class="wp-image-896847" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">At the Buzzer</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Evan Bell</strong>&nbsp;is currently a scout for Prep Girls Hoops and Director of Prepare 2 Win Basketball. Our&nbsp;<a href="https://www.prepnetwork.com/frequently-asked-questions/">mission</a>&nbsp;at PGH is to cover as many athletes with D2, D3, NAIA, and JUCO potential in the state as possible. If you know a prospect off our radar, please DM Evan through Twitter @CoachEvanBell or email him at prepare2winbasketball@gmail.com</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->