3x3 Hoop League: 2030/31 Standouts

<h2 class="wp-block-heading">What do players like about 3x3?</h2>   Some of Oregon's top young players were putting in reps at the 3x3 Hoop League in Tualatin over the past three Sundays. I asked [player_tooltip player_id='1246597' first='Flo' last='Borchardt'], [player_tooltip player_id='1323816' first='Layla' last='Conner'], and [player_tooltip player_id='1323243' first='Kya' last='McCrae'] what they thought about the 3x3 format:   “There's a lot more space and room to attack. It challenges you to make smart decisions every possession,” said Borchardt, an 8th-grader who stood out as one of the <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/2025/09/3x3-hoop-league-day-1-top-performers-from-court-1/">top players in the Varsity Division</a>. The 6-foot guard is running with fellow top 2030 player [player_tooltip player_id='1246599' first='Taylor' last='Nash'] for Oregon Basketball Club this winter. Borchardt should make a huge impact at Sherwood as a freshman in the 2026-27 season.   “It's good conditioning. You don't have five players on the court, so you're running more. It shows if you can play good defense,” said Conner, a 7th-grader who stood out as one of the top players in the JV/Frosh Division at the 3x3 Hoop League. She's running with [program_tooltip program_id='1035055' first='Northwest' last='Select'] this winter. Conner should light up the court on both ends at Jesuit when it's her turn.   “The game is a lot faster, and I like how you have more space to just do what you want to do,” said McCrae, a top 8th-grader and smooth playmaker who is playing up with Conner at the 3x3 Hoop League. She is running with Borchardt and Nash for OBC this winter. McCrae is currently slated to go to South Salem.   "Fast," "constant," "one-on-one development," "a lot of touches," and "good practice" were responses from other players I spoke with.   Here's more about Conner, McCrae, and three other 8th-graders who stood out in the JV/Frosh and 8th Grade Divisions at the 3x3 Hoop League on Day 2:    5-foot-7 shooting guard [player_tooltip player_id='1323816' first='Layla' last='Conner'] is an athletic, two-way competitor and three-level shot creator with next-level agility. The 7th grader is nearly unstoppable among her state peers and showcased a well-rounded game against freshmen at the 3x3 Hoop League on Day 2. Conner was 100 percent locked in on both sides of the ball. She was a creative playmaker who consistently made the right read to take or pass. Her smooth handles and quick lateral movement put defenders on their heels. She was patient to sell the fake and had a quick first step to blow by. She consistently found the lane and finished on either side of the rim through contact and the foul. Her spin move downhill is elite. Her step back middy is nice. She knocked down a fadeaway jumper from behind the arc. She can score off-balance. Conner played tenacious on-ball defense with quick hands to pick pockets. She was constantly on the hunt to force turnovers. She moved her body into position to contest everything. She made a help side block and hung to reject the driver at the rim. She was an athletic rebounder on both sides. Conner runs with [program_tooltip program_id='1035055' first='Northwest' last='Select'] and will light up both ends of the court at Jesuit when it's her turn.     [player_tooltip player_id='1323243' first='Kya' last='McCrae'] is a creative three-level scorer and smooth playmaker with a strong frame. She's also a sneaky-athletic perimeter defender and strong rebounder on both sides. She stood out as a top 8th-grader at the 3x3 Hoop League. McCrae was patient and poised with the ball. She had smooth handles, played at her own pace, and consistently got downhill with the hesitation. She faked the handoff, swiftly took the lane, and drew the foul at the basket. If the direct route was cut off, she navigated the open spaces and snaked to the rim. She can hang, absorb the contact, and finish through the foul. She can create her own look from midrange. McCrae didn't lose confidence after a missed take. She got her own rebound, took the ball back behind the arc, and effortlessly drained the pull-up jumper. On a couple of drives, defenders thought they stopped her, but she pivoted and found a way to get open looks for buckets. McCrae is running with the Oregon Basketball Club this winter. She is currently slated to go to South Salem.     [player_tooltip player_id='1323823' first='Elisha' last='Marchbanks'] is a slippery guard who stood out for her ability to take the lane at the 3x3 Hoop League. Marshbanks was a consistent scoring threat with the ball in hand. She had a quick first step and always looked to attack the basket. She was especially effective with perimeter drives from the left wing. She burst to the right and slashed through the paint to finish on the other side of the basket, her strong side. She was a swift and smooth finisher. She could create her own midrange jumper off the bounce. She got up to win rebounds.     [player_tooltip player_id='1323826' first='Mahlani' last='Elder'] played inside with a strong frame, good movement, and athletic physicality. Elder stood out for her smart defense, strong takes to the basket, and ability to step out and net jumpers at the 3x3 Hoop League. She protected the paint and consistently helped on defense. She was a strong rebounder on both sides. She could post up and put the ball on the floor. She had a nice, strong take from the perimeter to the rim. She showcased her ability to spin and change speed on the perimeter with a quick take to the basket to draw the foul. She had a smooth shot from behind the arc.     [player_tooltip player_id='1323827' first='Lily' last='Fitas'] is a young guard with good length, game IQ, and potential. Fitas stood out for her ability to play smart defense and get to the rim at the 3x3 Hoop League. She's a good perimeter defender who can disrupt skilled players. Fitas stayed in front of the driver and kept her arms straight up, switched on the screen to stop the attack, and made a helpside block in the paint. She jumped the passing lane and tipped the pass. She contested, boxed out, and rebounded. Fitas also showed her ability to be a scoring threat with the ball on the perimeter. She beat her defender on the bounce to drive and kick. She had a couple of nice, controlled spin takes and finishes inside. And she crossed over on the perimeter, took the lane, and drew the foul on a reverse attempt. Plus, she crashed the offensive board. The 8th-grader is slated to attend Sunset in a couple of years.