Capitol City Classic: 7 Standout Players

Prep Girls Hoops named ten Oregon girls high school players to a <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/2024/12/capitol-city-classic-first-team-all-tournament/">First</a> and <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/2024/12/capitol-city-classic-second-team-all-tournament/">Second</a> team from the Capitol City Classic, which took place on Dec. 19-23 at Chemeketa Community College in Salem. Here are seven other players who stood out at the tournament, including a Sixth Player pick and an exciting freshman.    Sophomore guard [player_tooltip player_id='1158199' first='Payton' last='Andersen'] is consistently a plus player off the bench for Oregon's defending champions South Medford. Andersen is my pick for Sixth Player of the tournament. She averaged 4.6 points at the Capitol City Classic. Sometimes role players don't show up big on the box score. Andersen is a great defender who is involved in more rebounds and steals than the statistics show. She consistently boxes out and tips balls loose for her teammates to secure. Andersen can sub in and make crucial plays—an offensive rebound, a transition assist— to change the game's momentum. McMinnville was close with South Medford in the first quarter until Andersen came in to hit a catch-and-shoot corner 3 and snag an offensive rebound on back-to-back possessions to start South Medford on a winning trajectory (she was a +32 player that game).     Grants Pass freshman [player_tooltip player_id='1124499' first='Millie' last='Lathen'] averaged 11.3 points with at least 3 assists, 3 rebounds, and 2.3 steals per game at the Capitol City Classic. She was named player of the game in the semifinal against South Salem. Lathen can score from all three levels. She averaged 1.6 three-pointers made per game and has a quick release from the catch-and-shoot from behind the arc. Lathen is a lefty who can drive strong to both sides of the basket and score with either hand. She's also a playmaker with excellent vision. Lathen whips passes in transition, finding teammates in shooting position or leading them straight to the hoop. She is a strong dribbler and can bring the ball up the court from a rebound or outlet pass and make the right play to get the assist. She can hustle and has the competitive instinct to dive to the floor to win a loose ball. Lathen is an exciting 6-foot-0 freshman who is the full package with a high ceiling. She's one to watch.     Grants Pass 5-foot-7 senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='985212' first='Kenzie' last='Kleiner'] averaged 15.3 points and 2.3 three-pointers made per game at the Capitol City Classic. She was named Player of the Game against McNary. Kleiner is a playmaker with good vision and ball-handling skills. She's good at quickly navigating a pressure defense on the dribble and transitioning to run the half-court offense. Kleiner can hit from behind the arc or beat the defender on the perimeter and take it to the basket with speed and athleticism. She finished several times through contact and the foul. Kleiner is a good on-ball defender and can jump the passing lane to make steals for coast-to-coast layups.     South Salem 5-foot-9 junior wing [player_tooltip player_id='842740' first='Emma' last='Burlison'] averaged 15.3 points per game at the Capitol City Classic. She was named Player of the Game against Western Christian and Central. Burlison is strong and she's a hard worker on both ends of the court. She cleaned up on the offensive boards with several put-backs. She isn't afraid of contact and uses her body well. Burlison has good footwork in the paint, makes athletic drives to the basket, and is a good finisher off the glass.     Cascade junior [player_tooltip player_id='991277' first='Rozalynn' last='Schmunk'] averaged 14.6 points per game at the Capitol City Classic. She was named Player of the Game against Sprague and McNary. Schmunk has long arms, can jump, and has a high shot release. She has an athletic finish at the rim and can kiss the ball off the glass over the contesting defender. Schmunk penetrates the paint hard on the dribble and uses excellent footwork to jump stop and pivot to create an open look. She can hit the turnaround pull-up jumper inside! Schmunk can tip the ball on the offensive rebound to extend the possession for her team. She's a competitor and will hustle for the steal or to save the ball and keep possession.     South Salem 5-foot-10 junior forward [player_tooltip player_id='832624' first='Brook' last='Tate'] averaged 14 points and at least 5 rebounds per game at the Capitol City Classic. Tate can score and win tough boards. She had a huge game against a good Grants Pass team with 29 points and 7 rebounds, giving the Saxons a fighting chance to win the semifinal. She hit a big-time three-pointer to tie the game in the third quarter. Tate is fast on the dribble in transition. She can secure the defensive rebound and beat defenders coast-to-coast for a quick layup.     Sprague 5-foot-7 junior [player_tooltip player_id='832618' first='Carly' last='Skogstad'] averaged 12.6 points per game at the Capitol City Classic. She's a great ball-handler and uses a nice, low behind-the-back dribble with eyes up ready to make a play. She can quickly bring the ball up the court after a rebound or outlet pass. She can hit from the stop and pop at the top of the key and has the confidence to shoot a pull-up three-pointer in transition. She hit the catch-and-shoot from behind the arc. Her shooting form looks good. Skogstad is a playmaker with great vision and passing in the half-court, finding the open teammate under the hoop. Skogstad is a good defender and delivered an athletic block on a drive.

Prep Girls Hoops named ten Oregon girls high school players to a First and Second team from the Capitol City Classic, which took place on Dec. 19-23 at Chemeketa Community College in Salem. Here are seven other players who stood out at the tournament, including a Sixth Player pick and an exciting freshman.