AAU PREVIEW: United NJ 16U P24

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>AAU basketball is getting warmed up and before you know it, the April live period will arrive (4/25-4/27)! Let's break down the 16U squad from the Power 24 division of a program who draws all the college coaches to the sidelines! United NJ has established itself as one of the premier grassroots organizations in the Garden State.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='835225' first='Cameron' last='Roche']</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cam only played the second half of her sophomore season but left her mark regardless! She can flat-out score the ball and has established herself as a dangerous 3-point shooter. I've noticed changes in her shot release, where the timing seems to be milliseconds quicker than from her freshman year. If you're her teammate, you love it! If you're the opponent, you should worry! She plays just as hard on offense as she does on defense and loves igniting the fast break off a turnover.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='651513' first='Deana' last='Finkelstein']</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>She'll bring size and versatility to this team, able to play inside and out. At 5'10", Deana will play a pivotal role on the glass, especially securing crucial o-boards; something she does a very good job of. She does most of her scoring in and around the paint, but has shown increased confidence in popping from outside, so watching her drain a 3 or two per contest wouldn't come as a surprise. She'll add another layer of defense, both rim protection and lane disruption for steals.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='900483' first='Sadie' last='Finn'] </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hovering right around 5'10", Sadie has great size/length at the guard/wing spot. She's most dangerous when spotting up from 3, where she can really go off! When one drops, plenty more are sure to follow! Advantageous size allows her to get a quality shot up over defenders closing in. She also does a fantastic job moving the ball around and repositioning herself around the arc to get it back and sink the shot. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='651478' first='Tatum' last='Sharpe']</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 5'11" forward saw a bigger role at SJV this season and continued to show everyone exactly what she's capable of! She's really good at several things, from scoring to rebounding and all things in between. But it goes deeper than that. When you watch her play, you see a smart player with sharp hoops acumen. One who rarely gets sped up out of her comfort zone. She has a ton of poise and I think she'll be one of this team's leaders, especially when the pressure builds and games get tight down the stretch.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='868732' first='Brooke' last='Shust'] </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Brooke is the tallest on this United squad, standing 6'2" and ready to be their anchor in the post. She'll be the beneficiary of many entry passes that she'll have to convert at a high clip. Combine that with solid footwork, strong passing out of the post and stout rim protection and you have a really tough PF/C!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='651477' first='Lissy' last='Lyons']</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Running with SJV the past two seasons has helped Lissy's game grow exponentially! Competing day in and day out with some of the most elite basketball players in the state (and the country) has paid dividends. She looks quicker, stronger and most importantly, more efficient. One thing Lissy will bring to this team is quality minutes! Her height at nearly 6'0" makes her a matchup problem because she can play out-of-position and still be effective; savvy, versatile with fluid movement and footwork.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Liv Vieira</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 5'9" guard runs with The George School (PA) for the scholastic season and brings excitement to the back court for United. She has solid build and strength, making big plays off the bounce and carving paths to the rim. She does a superb job working defenders with her dribble, getting to the basket at will and most importantly, finishing at a high clip! She can alternate between the 1 &amp; 2, showing flashes of brilliance both directing traffic/facilitating and scoring the ball.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Grace Anderson</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Grace might just be the most complete basketball player on this team. Not only can she LIGHT IT UP and fill the scoring column, the 5'8" guard contributes big numbers across the board in rebounds, assists and steals; High IQ and undeniable hustle on both sides of the ball. She brings strong ball-handling and the ability to create her own shot even through pressure defense and the double-team. Very reliable (and confident) multi-level scorer.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Live Period Schedule</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:table --> <figure class="wp-block-table"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><tbody><tr><td>April 25-27</td><td>Live at the Nook</td></tr><tr><td>May 16-18</td><td>Atlantic City Showcase</td></tr><tr><td>July 10-12</td><td>Run 4 Roses Classic</td></tr><tr><td>July 12-14</td><td>Midwest Summer Classic</td></tr><tr><td>July 18-21</td><td>Select Events: The Finale</td></tr></tbody></table></figure> <!-- /wp:table -->