NW Hoop Summit: 2027 Standout Forwards

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Valley Tropics, PNW Rain, NW Reign, and Cowlitz FCA club basketball teams competed in the Northwest Hoop Summit 17U bracket on Saturday and Sunday in the greater Portland area. The Tropics took home first-place medals after winning a close game against the Rain in the final.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I took in the second-day action at the Beaverton Family YMCA. Here are the class of 2027 bigs from the 17U and 16U brackets who caught my eye:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["832069"],"_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-68126dfeaf74f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Valley Tropics 5-foot-11 power forward [player_tooltip player_id='832069' first='Hazel' last='Pepperling'] continues to impress. Pepperling is a strong and mobile big who takes care of the ball. The sophomore is an efficient scorer in the paint. She has a soft touch and can comfortably hit a fadeaway jumper from the baseline or a kick-out wing three. She rebounds on both ends. She's a tough defender, bodying to win position and poking away the inside pass for the steal. She runs the court and scores in transition.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["839070"],"_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-68126dfeaf7a4"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Valley Tropics 5-foot-10 forward [player_tooltip player_id='839070' first='Reagan' last='Heiken'] is a smart, athletic, and positionless two-way player. Heiken seems to play more as a big on her club team and a guard on her high school team, but she gets to the rim either way. The sophomore can drive strong and finish soft at the basket through traffic and the foul. Even at full speed on a breakaway layup, she absorbs contact, hangs in the air, and has a controlled finish. She can post up and finish inside. She's effective in the pick-and-roll action. She has great vision and passing. She follows her miss for the offensive rebound and putback.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='1259863' first='Camrie' last='Ingram']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'11u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"12122","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Stanwood","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"PNW Rain","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68126dfeaf842"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">PNW Rain 5-foot-11 power forward [player_tooltip player_id='1259863' first='Camrie' last='Ingram'] is a strong rebounder and midrange shooter who runs the floor. Ingram can post up and score inside, and she crashes the boards for the putback. She's tough and will dive to the floor to win the loose ball. She secures the defensive rebound and makes the crisp outlet pass. She protects the paint, battles for position, and blocks the shot.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Avi Desjarlais","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'0u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"12124","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Columbia River","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"In Motion","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68126dfeaf8cb"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">In Motion Avi Desjarlais has a long wingspan to block shots and protect the paint. The 6-foot forward has a smooth midrange catch-and-shoot jumper and a soft touch at the rim. Desjarlais is a great passer inside, finding the cutter and making the assist. She boxes out to secure the defensive rebound and crashes the offensive boards for second-chance points. According to her development coach, Desjarlais is putting in the work and has been progressing rapidly during her time with the club team. She helped In Motion top the 16U bracket at the NW Hoop Summit.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->