"The Finale": Friday Notebook, Part 3

The featured image is of [player_tooltip player_id='570371' first='Brynlee' last='Clarke'] (2025) of Northview High School and [program_tooltip program_id='715952' first='Indiana' last='Elite Havoc'] Gold 17U.   The last NCAA "live" period of 2024 is upon us, and for the 2025 class, it's the last grassroots tournament most of these ladies will play in their careers. Indiana prospects have traveled to Rockhill, South Carolina, Chicago, Illinois, and Louisville, Kentucky, for tournaments, while I've followed a large group to Hamilton, Ohio, for "The Finale". Here there is a regular tournament, the Under Armour Finals, and the UA Rise Finals. Friday, the GUAA teams and the UA Rise teams participated in a 1-day/1-game "showcase" event, before they start tournament play Saturday, while the teams in the true "The Finale" began their tournament play. Below is a look at several more prospects who I felt stood out throughout the first day of games, including a handful from other states.   .    When Lauren is able to get her feet set and find rhythm, there might not be a better lefty shooter in Indiana in 2025. Friday, she found that rhythm in a stretch that extended from late in the first half through much of the second half. She knocked down deeeep 3-pointers, pull-ups in transition, and she was very active in other parts of the game. She handled the ball a lot more than she's probably accustomed to, she did a nice job defensively, plus she was active on the boards. Coaches seem to be noticing her potential as a weapon around the perimeter, and I think she'll see her recruiting pick up quickly.     Brynlee is a somewhat under-the-radar prospect who I think several of the Midwestern small colleges would like. She has an athletic frame, she plays with a nice motor, and she does a good job of working the baseline/short corners, as well as the mid-post area of the court. She has some touch in the mid-range game, but she's also comfortable stepping outside and playing around the perimeter for stretches when it's needed. I also think there's still some room to grow her game, so she has nice upside and the potential to keep improving throughout college.     This was my first time seeing Macie, but she was certainly an intriguing prospect from the Bluegrass State. She has really nice length, but she also has some strength that can continue to improve. She runs the floor well North/South, she has solid hands, and she can finish around the paint in a variety of ways. She also showed some touch facing the basket, and I think with more work, she can become a consistent 3-point shooter over time. Her ability to play a "trail" role and either knock down an open jump-shot or attack the basket at 6-2 could be coveted by schools.     Erica is a twin, and she and her sister have been a thorn in the side of opponents over the years because of their nature to play with outstanding motors and toughness. I felt like Erica stood out on Friday, consistently scoring the ball at all three levels. She was good off the bounce, she knocked down jumpers, and she was flying around the floor defensively harassing opponents trying to handle the ball. She has nice strength at her size, she is willing to be physical, and on a short-handed and undersized team, she often matched up with forwards and battled on the boards until the end.     Whitney has been a favorite to watch all Spring & Summer because of her outstanding motor, toughness, and competitiveness. She showed off her ability to knock down jump-shots at a high level on Friday. When she has any rhythm, there's a good chance it's going in. She is a nice North/South athlete, and she understands how to run lanes and find openings in the defense in transition, plus she moves well without the ball in the half-court and is a willing & capable screener. She just does so many of the "little things", that combined with her skill, she has drawn a great deal of interest this year.     Tarajah is a younger prospect, but you couldn't tell in the game I saw Friday evening. She is an impressive, explosive young athlete. She has an athletic frame, nice length, and she plays with speed, quickness, bounce, and even some shiftiness. She's almost so athletic, she gets a little ahead of herself at times. However, she was very good off the dribble, often getting to the basket or at least drawing contact. She has some touch, but she is much better as an attacker. Additionally, she is a gritty and active defender who changes direction in a moment's notice. She'll be one to watch moving forward.     Kourtney is another nice youngster playing for the [program_tooltip program_id='712684' first='Midwest' last='Takeover'] 16U squad. She has a big, strong, physical frame, but she's quick on her feet at her size. She loves to use her physicality around the elbows and inside the paint, but she can also explode vertically to the rim a little and finish over taller, longer defenders. She absorbs contact well, has good hands and solid footwork, plus she finishes at odd angles a lot of the time. With a little more polish, maybe another inch or two of growth, she could be a consistent problem in the paint at the next level.

The featured image is of Brynlee Clarke Brynlee Clarke 6'0" | PF Northview | 2025 State IN (2025) of Northview High School and Indiana Elite Havoc Gold 17U.