8 With Great First Days at the Wichita I-35 Showcase

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Wichita I-35 Showcase event attracted 135 teams from Nebraska, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas and Kansas. Games were divided between the Farha YMCA courts in Andover and Wichita and attracted some serious talent. I spent the first day in Andover to be sure to catch as many 17U and 16U teams as I could. Below are some of the players that I especially thought stood out.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='536974' first='Jessica' last='Borders'], 5'11", SF, Olathe West, 2026 - Borders has the quickness, speed and talent to defend well on the wing. But where she especially impressed was with her physicality to deny entry passes to posted up bigs and her play on the offensive end. One game I watched she just owned bigs who could not handle her quickness nor deal with her ball skills on basket attacks. Her speed and being a box-out monster also solidified be a cut above.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='649149' first='Alex' last='Crouse'], 5'7", PG, St. Thomas Aquinas, 2026 - Crouse played with strong physicality on both ends of the floor. She scrapped and battled to deny entry passes. She also took mid-range shots and went to the hoop with authority. I liked her quick mid-range jumper and her head and shoulder fakes to get a step. Players drawing Crouse on either end have to bring it or risk being on the wrong end of a lot of her film highlights.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='779249' first='Lily' last='Edwards'], 5'9", SF, Clay Center, 2027 - I love Edward's length and diversity of abilities and she used it to good effect challenging shots inside and out. But what really helped her team was her shooting. With a quick, fluid trigger she buried three balls from everywhere included when the shot was challenged. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='910362' first='Rylie' last='Edwards'], 5'10", PG, Blue Valley Northwest, 2026 - Edwards was just flat on it all day. Just tearing up opponents. A defender would reach, she would be gone down the lane with the ball. Attacked the basket with authority and finished with extension. A right handed reverse layup showed off creativity with athleticism. I really liked how well, as a offensive rebounder, Edwards tracked the ball on a teammate's shot. She was in such a groove that at times she tried to do too much. A big point guard with length and three level scoring ability. Edwards did need to consistently put a body on someone when defensive rebounding.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='544010' first='Deena' last='Holmes'], 6'2", C, The Independent School, 2026 - Holmes' growing offensive game is turning her into a big problem on both ends of the floors. So much so that she was among the most talked about players from the many college coaches I talked to. Always having great feet, sticky hands and terrific shot blocking ability, Holmes showed off post game and put-back chops off of rebounds. Her ceiling is high and it will be fun watching her continue her climb toward it.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='931949' first='Keimara' last='Marshall'], 5'3", PG, Topeka, 2026 - Marshall has long been known to me as a fast, quick and athletic point guard but on this day she showed herself to have perhaps the most explosive first step with the ball I have seen. The bounce she played is a major contributor. It was so good it would stun defenders even if she did not go anywhere with it but step back or take a couple slicing dribbles to feed a shooter. I liked her hops and finishing ability as well. Defensively her quick hands and feet were disruptive. She was also sticky in the half court. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='544018' first='Faith' last='McCallop'], 5'4", PG, Piper, 2026 - McCallop did to people what I love to do with my 450hp Mustang California Special (stick shift of course), blow their doors off. Nobody I saw could consistent guard her in space. She may be small with a light build but her quickness and bounce with the ball, and decision-making to use those talents, was strong. Toss in her being a shooting threat and vision to feed teammates and you have a complex, sharp offensive game. Defensively she used her quick hands and feet do disrupt ball handlers. McCallop impressed me with her off-ball defensive positioning and ability to fight around to deny opposing guards working in the elbow area to get entry passes. A terrific, fundamentally sound two-way point guard.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='456513' first='Gabrielle' last='McFall'], 5'11", SG, Blue Valley Northwest, 2025 - McFall was a playmaker on both ends of the floor. A lengthy guard who handles well at speed I liked how she could create transition opportunities for herself and her teammates working in space. Defensively she showed smarts giving ground or sliding with ball handlers in a variety of situations. A credible shot blocker when opposing guards think they have McFall beat.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->