PGH Victory Region Kick Off: JB's Weekend Notebook (17U)

I had the chance to sit down and take a lot of notes at this event while I was in the gym.   In this article we cover some of those notes and the prospects that stood-out at the 17U level in their efforts throughout the weekend.   Thanks for tuning in and enjoy!   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='514034' first='Danielle' last='Brooks'] - PG - Kenwood Academy High School (IL) - [program_tooltip program_id='712446' first='Chicago' last='Hoops Express'] (IL) "Brooks, the UIC college commit, was all over the court this weekend. Brooks was her CHE team's PG per usual the past few days and she competed at an impressive rate. The thing about Brooks is that she competes at a high level and at a very high speed. Usually when you have someone who moves this quick, they are a little sloppy or out of control but that's never the case here. Brooks always has the rock on the string, leading her team by example and that was no different this weekend." </li> </ul>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>Alli Linke - SF/CG - Mount Prospect (IL) - [program_tooltip program_id='716192' first='Wolverinas' last=''] 17U EYBL (IL) "The Wolverina's 17U program went to work this weekend for their first AAU showing of the 2025 Season. Their star this season, which isn't news to anyone, is going to be SF/CG - Alli Linke. Linke has that mixture of height (6'1), skill, and athletic ability that every coach wants to have on their squad in college. Not to mention that she is very intelligent when it comes to the IQ portion of the game. Linke was her team's most dominant prospect this weekend in multiple contests. She handled her own by the basket with her size and strength, she displayed versatile in her ability to step out to the three point line for some action, and she defended the middle like her life depended on it. Linke was consistently getting tips/deflections near the paint and that became an issue for their opponents. [program_tooltip program_id='712375' first='All' last='in'] all, great weekend and way to kick off the 2025 travel season." </li> </ul>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>Emma Szany - C - Lake Central High School (IN) - City Elite 2026 Supreme (IN) "There was a lot of natural height at this event, which was nice to see. Someone from Indiana that came to compete, who has a noteworthy presence is Center - Emma Szany of City Elite 2026 Supreme. Szany was a dominant interior prospect for her City Elite team over the past few days, holding her own against ANY matchup in between the blocks. When Szany has time, space, and confidence, she is a tough one to stick with and contain. She can bury most of her opponents under the hoop with ease when they are running their sets. Which isn't something you can say for everyone. Szany's City Elite 2026 team did a great job of getting her the b[program_tooltip program_id='712375' first='All' last='in'] favorable positions near the post and from there, she went to work with some production to follow. This is the first time I've seen Szany in person but hopefully it's not the last as she goes have some promise on the hardwood!" </li> </ul>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>Cambria Carlino - PG/CG - Kenosha Bradford High School (WI) - D.F. Elite 17U (WI) "This is the third year in a row that I've seen Cambira Carlino of D.F. Elite and each time she seems to get a little better in the smaller aspects on the game. Carlino, a 5'8 PG/CG, runs points for her current team but she will also play off the ball. Off of a rebound if she can, she will push in transition and look for an easy bucket for herself or another open teammate. If not, she lets others bring it down the floor and she is willing to space things out so that everyone can an area to work with. This is one of those prospects that holds her own but she also makes everyone else around her better. She can handle under pressure, assist when opportunities open up, or she can bring it back out and continue to run her team's motion. All of this was on full display over the past few days in Bedford Park." </li> </ul>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='758055' first='Emily' last='Naraky'] - SF/CG - Loyola Academy High School (IL) - [program_tooltip program_id='712517' first='Full' last='Package'] 17U 3SSB (IL) "[player_tooltip player_id='758055' first='Emily' last='Naraky'] is going to be a college player before you know it. Naraky is one of those individuals that has good enough size to be a Forward, but she also has an elite passing and shooting ability from deep so it gives her some options as to where she can play on the floor at any given moment. This weekend she was defending the basket on one possession and then running to the outside to defend a guard-like opponent on the next. Offensively, she did a good job of making the most of her opportunities while keeping her dribbles limited in the moments she went to work. When you consider this is someone that is playing up an age-level, you start to see the promise and what she could become down the line with the correct guidance." </li> </ul>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='335765' first='Kiaya' last='Johnson'] - PG/SG - Whitney Young High School (IL) - Legends United 17U - E40 (IL) "Johnson is fearless. Someone that you give the ball to, you tell her to take it to the bucket for a good look, and she is going to listen while trying to get contact while going to the rim. Multiple times this weekend the Legends needed to make a play to win and Johnson was there to help in some sort of way. Usually it was her taking over, herself but not always. Other times she differed and tried to get others involved when things became too "busy" near her. This demonstrated that she isn't only a player that can make plays for herself but for others as well." </li> </ul>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>Olivia Adams - CG - Kankakee Valley High School (IN) - NWI Thunder 17U (IN) "Olivia Adams is a CG that has great size, strength, skill, and knowledge of the game. Adam is one of the bigger players on her team but she runs the guard spot like a pro. Most of the time this weekend, Adams was bringing it up and doing all that she could to help out her squad. She would run PG, she would pass and move off the ball as the SG, and she would even post when someone smaller was trying to defend her. When oppositions would press in the full-court, Adams would even be in charge of breaking that pressure. This team did a have some other individuals with solid skill-sets but their most impressive overall was Adams and how versatile she might be down the road. That's for sure."</li> </ul>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='593853' first='Lexi' last='Baer'] - CG/SG - Peoria Norte Dame (IL) - Midwest Elite Meanstreets 17U EYBL (IL) "This is a scholarship level player. [player_tooltip player_id='593853' first='Lexi' last='Baer'], a 6'0 CG/SG, is a natural on the offensive end from all three levels. She can step up and hit big shots from deep, she can work the mid-range and get to favorable spots for herself, and she can take it all the way to the rim to finish though contact. At 6'0, she uses her height to her advantage and it shows on almost every other possession. Not to mention, her understanding of balance, coordination, and touch is next level. With Baer's skill-set and size, this is a mismatch nightmare for most who try to matchup. She can kill you a number of different ways and that was obvious at the PGH Victory Region Kick Off."</li> </ul>

I had the chance to sit down and take a lot of notes at this event while I was in the gym.