West Coast Spring Showcase: 17U Standouts

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Clackamas, Ore.— </strong>Two Washington grassroots teams topped the 17U/16U bracket at the HoopSource West Coast Spring Showcase over the weekend. Undefeated Northwest Reign (4-0) beat [program_tooltip program_id='716033' first='West' last='Academy'] (3-1) twice, including 57-46 in the final to win the championship.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Central Washington Select (2-2) had a good showing and hung with the top two teams during pool play. FCA Sports (1-3) picked up a 51-39 win against Camas (0-4) and had good moments in a 75-51 loss against eventual Champions Northwest Reign.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here are five 17U players who caught my eye on Sunday:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1249065"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":1250011,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","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-6830f05423f55"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Central Washington Select 5-foot-7 point guard [player_tooltip player_id='1249065' first='Delainey' last='Nelson'] is a competitor and hustler who doesn't stop working. The Waterville sophomore (2027) did some of everything at the West Coast Spring Showcase. Nelson attacked the rim with strong drives and consistently knocked down the catch-and-shoot three. She navigated the full-court press and drove coast-to-coast. Nelson created for others, making crisp passes to shooters' hands around the perimeter and dishing in the paint. She wasn't afraid of contact and took the ball straight through the defense to draw the foul. She was efficient at the free-throw line. She moved well off the ball and had a slick back-door cut for the easy bucket. Nelson ran the court, got back on defense, hunted down the loose ball, and forced turnovers. She had a tough block on the driver, jumped the passing lane for the steal, and finished the fastbreak layup. She boxes out, secures defensive rebounds, and crashes the offensive board.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1051361"],"_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-6830f05423fe6"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Northwest Reign 5-foot-8 combo guard [player_tooltip player_id='1051361' first='Myla' last='Larry'] popped every game and played at a level above most players at the West Coast Spring Showcase. The Union junior (2026) is a strong athlete with smooth handles, excellent vision, and explosive lateral movement. She can finish around the rim, rebound on both ends, and play smart and tough defense. She makes the extra pass and just makes everyone around her better. Larry is the gem in the gym weekend after weekend at the local HoopSource tournaments. If she can add “efficient three-point shooter” to her bag, she'll go far.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["985979"],"_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-6830f0542403f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[program_tooltip program_id='716033' first='West' last='Academy'] forward/guard [player_tooltip player_id='985979' first='Janelle' last='Krise'] has a strong frame and went to work inside and out at the West Coast Spring Showcase. The Shelton freshman (2028) was playing up in the 17U bracket. Krise rebounds on both ends, wins the offensive board, and finishes the putback through contact and the foul. She uses her body well to get downhill or post up inside and back down the defender. She's an efficient finisher around the rim on the turnaround or drop step. She has a quick release inside and finishes high off the glass to beat the defender's contest. Krise has the ability to bring the ball up and she can comfortably hit the pull-up and catch-and-shoot three. If no one gets in front of her she will find the lane coast-to-coast for the athletic finish, and-1. Krise is a smart defender, beats the driver to the spot inside, stands her ground on help defense, and gets the steal.</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":"Payton Thayer","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"null","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"12125","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Toutle Lake","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"FCA Sports","_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-6830f054240f2"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">FCA Sports shooting guard Payton Thayer worked hard, finished at the rim and from three, and played tough defense at the West Coast Spring Showcase. The Toutle Lake junior (2026) pushed the pace and created looks for herself and her teammates. Thayer attacked the lane with speed to get to the basket. She crashed the offensive board, was a strong rebounder, and took the ball quickly back up for the putback. Thayer runs back on defense to make the stop. She closes out quickly, stays in front of the bounce, and can make an athletic save on the baseline.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1151407"],"_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-6830f05424147"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Northwest Reign point guard [player_tooltip player_id='1151407' first='Mikayla' last='King'] is a small and quick player who can shoot the ball. The Columbia River freshman (2028) has great ball-handling and passing skills and has been a consistent role player for her grassroots team at the local HoopSource tournaments this spring. King has the ability to bring the ball up and get her team into its offense. She has a quick first step and can hit the pull-up three. She pushes the pace and finds the assist. She runs the court and can score in transition. King works hard on defense and can guard the perimeter. She's a smart player and was named second-team all-league in her high school freshman season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->