Notes from the WPA Bruins Spring Tip-Off (Part I)

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>USE CODE&nbsp;<strong>webb30</strong>&nbsp;for 30% OFF THE FIRST PURCHASE OF ANY ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION!</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I tuned into the live stream of the 2025 WPA Bruins Spring Tip-Off this past weekend at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh, PA. Kentucky was well represented across multiple divisions, with several players standing out and making noise on the big stage!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here's a look at some players from the Bluegrass State who caught my eye throughout the event:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["747645"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68044f417ca8a"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700"><strong>WV Thunder 16U Johnson vs SLAAM 27 Grate</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Haylee had a strong showing against SLAAM 27. She scored the first bucket of the game then forced a turnover right after. I like the pressure she applied in trapping situations, and how well she turned her hips on defense, keeping ball handlers in check. She made good use of a pump fake to get the defender off her feet then drove to the rack and got the hoop and harm. Haylee showed off her range with a wing three, always looked to initiate the fast break when she pulled down a rebound, and denied a post entry pass with all her might on a possession.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["376789"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6805f64bb345b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700"><strong>West Virginia Thunder 17U Riego</strong> <strong>vs HER Elite 17U EYCL</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ashlinn did a good job letting the game come to her and making sure her team stayed in the flow and ran their sets. She displayed good court-vison, setting up her teammates for quality shots, and was always willing to make the extra pass. She leaked out in transition for her first points of the game, and had a play where she crossed the defender then pulled up for a smooth elbow jumper. Ashlinn was also active on defense, made a really good cut that led to a wide open layup, and knocked down a short baseline jumper off an inbound play late in the game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["743652"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68044f417caef"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700"><strong>WV Thunder S40 Souder vs SLAAM 27 Osborn</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Baylee was in beast mode! Her size, skill, and versatility was on full display. She guarded the perimeter and the post well, using her length to challenge and alter shots. Baylee was relentless on the boards, provided a ton of second chances opportunities, and made a living at the stripe. She looked confident bringing the ball up, and showed she can deliver from three and put the ball on the deck and get to the basket.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["741172"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6805e1e16f9e4"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700"><strong>WV Thunder 16U Spreen vs Next Level 16U 3SSB</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Makiyia immediately forced a steal with her ball pressure to start the game, then followed up with a timely backdoor cut and finished with a layup. She did an excellent job penetrating the defense, dishing it to open teammates, and racked up several assists by doing so. Makiyia has tremendous straight-line speed and it was clear to see when she went end-to-end with the rock, for coast to coast buckets. I also liked her innate ability to finish at the rim, making difficult shots look effortless. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["561511"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6805e1e16fa9a"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Next Level 15U 3SSB vs Michigan Storm</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">All I could see is great upside and potential watching Peyton compete. She made her presence felt on both ends, using her long arms to block shots and scoring from anywhere on the floor. Peyton drained multiple 3-pointers, with a pure stroke. She went baseline for a bucket early in the game, showed a soft touch on a floater, and on a hook shot in the post. She jumped the passing lane for a steal and took it the other way for an easy one as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->