Classic Motors

<!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"small"} --> <p class="has-small-font-size"><em>The featured image is of [player_tooltip player_id='486552' first='A.J.' last='Mallad'] (2026) of Borden High School and [program_tooltip program_id='712570' first='Indiana's' last='Best'] 17U.</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This past weekend marked the second "live" period of the Spring for women's basketball prospects, as teams traveled all across the country to be evaluated by college coaches of all levels. I spent my weekend in Louisville, Kentucky, at The Classic, an annual event put on by Ohio Basketball. I have had a few follow-up articles, with this one focusing on seven ladies who played with outstanding motors when I was able to see them. With 41 courts and roughly 500 teams at the event, I wasn't able to see everyone or everyone's entire slate of games, but I tried to see teams I was less familiar with, though there was some overlap.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><font color="FFFFFF">.</font></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["776078"],"_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":"Tianna was a transfer student this past season, coming to the Irish from nearby North Central. She gave an immediate boost to the rotation, because she is an extremely hard-working player. She gets out and runs the floor both directions, she is willing to play with physicality, even battle forwards defensively, when necessary, plus she makes a lot of hustle plays, gets on the floor, take charges, etc. Additionally, she has a balanced all-around offensive skillset.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["295772"],"_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":"Ava has had a really nice stretch of play here these last couple of months, and she is really working on boosting her recruiting profile. She is a nice athlete, she has some length, and she is another player who will u0022run through wallsu0022 to help her team(s) succeed. She has typically been more of a North/South attacker, but she is starting to show a more consistent touch from the perimeter. Additionally, she is an effective and versatile defender.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["874335"],"_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":"Recently, I have really enjoyed familiarizing myself with Mya's game at a couple of different grassroots tournaments. She has a fairly strong, athletic frame, a little length, and she's another hard-working, high-motor wing guard. I feel like I always see her around the basketball, whether that's picking up a loose ball or rebound, or in the mix defensively. She wants to help her team(s) win, plus she has a solid and balanced skillset outside.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["295774"],"_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":"Gabby has always been a very good basketball talent, but she has had some standout moments this Spring, and she is making college coaches notice. She has an athletically strong frame, really nice length at her height, and she is a solid North/South athlete. She is aggressive and effortful, but she does so with a nice all-around awareness of the game. She is steady and efficient offensively, plus she is playing with greater urgency defensively.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"D'Mari Gilbert","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"5'8u0022","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"12124","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"North Central (Indianapolis)","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"[program_tooltip program_id='712970' first='The' last='Family']","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_4_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"D'Mari looks to step into a bigger role at North Central in 2024-2025, and based on the way she was playing at The Classic, there's a strong possibility of that. She is a broad-shouldered, powerful wing forward, and she plays at one speed...all downhill, all the time. She is a very aggressive attacker who not only absorbs contact well, she actually seeks it off the bounce. She has a little touch outside, but she loves that mid-range game and finishing at the basket.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_player":["486552"],"_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":"Coming from Southern Indiana, A.J. is a unique fit on this Lafayette-based grassroots team, however she has been a nice addition, and she is adjusting to playing u0022upu0022 as well. She is a strong, physical, tough-nosed guard who possesses a rugged attitude but also nice skill. She can handle the ball and initiate the offense, she has some touch from the perimeter, and she is a willing passer who can find teammates.","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_6_player":["750165"],"_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":"I actually first received Claire's name back in March, and I finally saw her for the first time this past weekend. She is an extremely long, wiry, but hard-working and physical frontline player. She looks like she might still be growing and figuring things out, but she plays the right way and is very aggressive. Right now, offensively, she is best in the mid-post and at the block. She uses her length and physicality well. I do think she'll eventually be able to stretch her game, though.","_player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":7,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66506c0aceab4"} /-->