17U Standouts From the Champions Challenge

Brady Peterson May 6, 2024 @ 10:37 AM

Plenty of basketball games happened this past weekend, and we're starting the recap today. Let's start talking about standouts in 17U and 16U this morning.   [player_tooltip player_id='474774' first='Leah' last='Nordin']   I've seen Nordin multiple times these past few years, but I'd never seen her take a game over as she did down the stretch on Friday night. I thought she played like the best player on the floor and made multiple clutch plays down the stretch. She finished through contact at the rim, got to her little mid-range pull-up jumper from the elbow she likes so much, and made extra-effort plays that led directly to points. I thought the way she played this past weekend was the best I've seen her play.   Kamarah Banks   I'd never seen Banks play in person, but she was excellent on her first weekend with Midwest Elite Meanstreets. In a stretch in her first half with them, she scored five points in about 20 seconds, if that tells you how explosive she can be as a scorer. Banks looked like one of the most comfortable kids with the ball in their hands, and with good reason. Banks will have some catching up to do because she's playing with girls she may have never played with before, but she'll be helpful for them in EYBL basketball for the rest of the summer. She is talented.   [player_tooltip player_id='500610' first='Gina' last='Davorija']   I adore watching Davorija because she knows what she's good at and how to play as an off-ball kid. She can do some things off the dribble, but she's usually hurting teams when the ball gets to her on the weak side. Davorija can shoot, get to the rim, and pass at a high level. Kids like her make guards' lives easier. She's not as flashy as other high-level wings in the region, but I can imagine she doesn't sit on the bench that often because she does a little of everything.   [player_tooltip player_id='448322' first='Torie' last='Neubauer']   There isn't much to dislike about what Neubauer does. I feel like she's a kid coaches would love. Neubauer is a 6'0 athlete who can play inside and out on both ends of the floor and has the length to defend at the rim and alter shots all over the floor. Every time I watch her, she does positive things on both ends of the floor. She's a kid who should garner significant interest at the scholarship level this summer. The Appleton native keeps improving, and any program looking to play or add some versatility on the wing should look at Neubauer.

Plenty of basketball games happened this past weekend, and we're starting the recap today. Let's start talking about standouts in 17U and 16U this morning.