Fall Exclusive Week 3: A little versatility makes a big impact

The final week of the Jr. All-Star Fall Exclusive concluded this past Friday with two more games for each team at Kennedy High School in Bloomington. When watching this week's round of competition and choosing players to highlight, there was one thing that shined through: versatility. Here are nine players who helped their teams in a variety of ways, making an impact both on and off the stat sheet.   Just like in previous weeks, the event featured eight teams divided into two divisions, middle school and high school. The middle school division consists of the South Carolina Gamecocks, Kansas State Wildcats, UConn Huskies, and Minnesota Gophers. The high school division's teams are the Las Vegas Aces, Golden State Valkyries, New York Liberty, and Minnesota Lynx. PGH scout Tony Ragulen coached at the event, and also provided coverage on his teams, the Huskies and Valkyries. I will be covering the rest of the teams.    MIDDLE SCHOOL DIVISION   [player_tooltip player_id='1325878' first='Eve' last='Schupp'] – Mound Westonka 2030 (South Carolina Gamecocks)   We recently highlighted Schupp's play at a Breakdown Fall League event in October, and in the final week of the Fall Exclusive her performance was no different. The 5'8 lengthy guard impacted the game in a variety of ways for the Gamecocks. She played through contact and drew fouls in the paint, she was relentless on the glass, and shot the ball well from three. What we noticed more than anything, though, was Eve's infectious, positive energy on the court. That's a part of the game you simply can't teach.   [player_tooltip player_id='1214262' first='Briella' last='DeBoer'] – Byron 2030 (Kansas State Wildcats)   DeBoer showed off her versatility on the offensive end during Week 3 of the Fall Exclusive. Her ability to move off the ball, maintain her spacing, and make well-timed cuts to the rim helped to keep the offense flowing smoothly for K-State. The 5'6 guard also handled the ball well on the perimeter, even when under pressure from the defense. The other area where Briella shined? Her passing. The Byron 8th grader has a real knack for finding the open cutter and delivering the ball on a dime.   Alaina Dorn – Rogers 2031 (Minnesota Gophers)   Dorn is a feisty, 5'3 guard that is bursting with quickness. She impacted the game in a variety of ways in Week 3, contributing on both ends of the floor. Alaina brings the energy and physicality on defense, using her explosive speed to chase players down and block shots in transition. On offense, her ability to change pace allows the Rogers seventh grader to get to the rim with ease. When she doesn't have the ball in her hands, Dorn stays in her stance, always ready to knock down a shot from the perimeter.    HIGH SCHOOL DIVISION   [player_tooltip player_id='1314213' first='Gianna' last='Roberson'] – Wayzata 2029 (Minnesota Lynx)   Roberson (pictured above) made a major impact for the Lynx in Week 3, using her size and strength to control the paint on both ends of the floor. The 6'0 forward is well-built with a long frame; she excels on the boards, has a strong post-up, and is a natural shot blocker. With plenty of mobility, Gianna can easily extend her game out to the perimeter, where she can defend much smaller guards and knock down shots from the three-point line. This Wayzata freshman has plenty of upside.   [player_tooltip player_id='1312499' first='Maliyah' last='Ellis'] – Eden Prairie 2029 (Minnesota Lynx)   Ellis brought the firepower on offense in Week 3, providing a major spark for the Lynx. The Eden Prairie freshman scored at every level, showcasing her smooth release from beyond the arc, ability to knock down shots in the midrange, and soft touch at the rim. Maliyah applied pressure on the defensive end, using her lateral quickness and active hands to pester ball handlers on the perimeter. The 5'7 guard works hard and plays with energy, all while maintaining a calm, unshakable demeanor.     [player_tooltip player_id='1275272' first='Kyleigh' last='Berken'] – Faribault 2029 (Las Vegas Aces)   Berken's consistent work ethic and endless motor were hard not to notice on Friday night. The 5'8 guard was all over the floor, playing high energy defense, crashing the boards, and playing with confidence for the Aces. On offense Kyleigh was aggressive on her drives to the hoop, showing no fear and finishing through heavy contact at the rim. The Faribault freshman is crafty with the ball, makes hustle plays, and stays ready to make an impact for her team whenever the opportunity presents itself.   [player_tooltip player_id='939720' first='Hailey' last='Eggers'] – Waconia 2029 (Las Vegas Aces)   A Top 50 ranked prospect in the Prep Girls Hoops Class of 2029, it's no surprise that Eggers was integral for the Aces in all three weeks of the Fall Exclusive. The 5'9 wing is a relentless defender, vocal leader on the floor, and is always willing to make a hustle play for her team. Hailey can score the ball at multiple levels, and is a consistent force on the boards, both on offense and defense. The Waconia freshman is likely to have a big year this winter.   [player_tooltip player_id='1244492' first='Brooke' last='Yonke'] – Edina 2029 (New York Liberty)   Yonke did all the little things for the Liberty on Friday night. The 5'8 guard was solid on the defensive end, bringing energy and effort on each possession. On offense Brooke showed off a smooth floater in the lane, a textbook baseline jumper, and a quick release from beyond the arc. The Edina freshman's basketball IQ was evident in her shot selection, only opting to take good and great shots when the ball was in her hands, and finding an open teammate when the looks weren't there.   [player_tooltip player_id='1254419' first='Evie' last='Backer'] – Wayzata 2027 (New York Liberty)   Backer was consistently impactful for the Liberty in all three weeks of play at the Fall Exclusive. In Week 3, the lengthy 5'11 guard was aggressive on her downhill drives to the basket, and knocked down threes with a high degree of efficiency. Evie has a soft touch at the rim, doesn't get sped up in a fast-paced game, and knows how to maintain her spacing on offense. The Wayzata junior also uses her length well on defense, blocking shots, grabbing boards, and cherry picking in the passing lanes.

The final week of the Jr. All-Star Fall Exclusive concluded this past Friday with two more games for each team at Kennedy High School in Bloomington. When watching this week's round of competition and choosing players to highlight, there was one thing that shined through: versatility. Here are nine players who helped their teams in a variety of ways, making an impact both on and off the stat sheet.