PGH DMV Expo's Standouts | Prep Girls Hoops

The DMV Expo was an opportunity for some players to showcase their talents in front of our evaluators, compete against their peers and sharpen their skills. Players from several states were on hand converging in Baltimore, Maryland for four hours of basketball competition. At the end of the day I believe that all of the intended goals were accomplished.    Charlotte started to heat up as the day went on, gaining confidence with each touch of the ball. After knocking down her first three-pointer, her energy and body language changed, she began to play with a visible rhythm and swagger. She followed that up with back-to-back threes on consecutive possessions, forcing defenders to extend out to the perimeter. On the very next trip down the floor, she showcased her versatility by putting the ball on the deck and finishing strong at the rim. Charlotte was one of the most consistent shooters in the gym, equally effective from short and long range. Her ability to stretch the floor not only created spacing for her teammates but also opened up new scoring opportunities for herself, proving she's more than just a spot up shooter.     Clair showed the ability to shoot confidently from beyond the arc, maintaining good form and follow-through, which confirmed that the deep shot is comfortably within her range. Her mechanics looked smooth and repeatable, and she didn't hesitate to step into open looks when given space. In addition to her perimeter shooting, she displayed strong effectiveness on her drives — attacking closeouts with purpose and finishing at the rim with balance and control. She demonstrated good body awareness, adjusting to contact and using either hand when necessary to complete plays around the basket.     Ciara is a smooth lefty who showed confidence and touch shooting from beyond the arc, especially when given space. Early on, a few of her attempts came up just short, but the mechanics were sound, her release was clean, and her form stayed consistent. Once she settled in and began to get her feet properly set, her rhythm returned, and her accuracy noticeably improved. She demonstrated good shooting instincts, understanding when to use her step-back dribble to create separation from defenders, and those moves often resulted in clean looks at the basket.     Melanie is a tough, physical guard who embraces contact and plays with an aggressive mindset on both ends of the floor. She doesn't shy away from pressure or physical play, instead using it to her advantage to impose her will during drives to the basket. Her strength allows her to absorb contact and still finish plays, often converting through bumps or drawing fouls in the process. She has a powerful first step that helps her get downhill quickly, and once she gets a shoulder past her defender, she's difficult to stop without fouling.     Jenna was a strong interior presence throughout the day and consistently effective operating in the post. She played with confidence and physicality, using her frame well to establish position and seal defenders, which allowed for clean passing angles and high-percentage scoring opportunities. Once she caught the ball, she showed good touch around the rim, finishing through contact and demonstrating patience in traffic. Her footwork stood out, she used drop steps, pivots, and up-and-under's to keep defenders guessing and create space for herself on the block.

The DMV Expo was an opportunity for some players to showcase their talents in front of our evaluators, compete against their peers and sharpen their skills. Players from several states were on hand converging in Baltimore, Maryland for four hours of basketball competition. At the end of the day I believe that all of the intended goals were accomplished.