Always 100 Showcase: 2029 Standouts

Last Sunday, the [program_tooltip program_id='716173' first='Always' last='100'] grassroots program centered in Fort Wayne, Indiana, hosted their annual college showcase. This has been a staple of the program for about the last 7 years or so, where they invite players in from their 17U teams down to 14U teams to participate in drills and open runs/scrimmages in front of many of the Midwest's small colleges. There were no fewer than 30 schools who showed up throughout the day's two sessions, and there were somewhere between 90 and 100 prospects on hand participating. This is the third of several articles highlighting a few of the ladies who stood out last weekend.   .    Madilyn is an intriguing youngster who I think could have a bright future ahead of her. She has really nice length, she's a fairly fluid athlete, and she has a little bounce to her as well. Beyond her athletic potential, she showed a balanced skill base that should only continue to improve with age and work. She knocked down open rhythm jumpers, she got to the basket for a couple of scores, and she showed some ability defensively, utilizing her length. I'd look for her to have a much bigger year for Lakeland in 2026-2027.     Union County was very young this Winter, starting 3 (and sometimes 4) Freshmen, but they finished the year with a 5-game win streak, including a Sectional title. Brooklyn was their leading scorer, leader in assists & steals, and she was their second leading rebounder. She is an athletic young guard, she has some strength at her size, and she plays hard. Sunday, she showed the ability to take a quick first step off the bounce and turn the corner, plus she was an aggressive defender. She could become a good one.     Zoe is the next in a line of sisters to play in Fort Wayne, following her sisters Giselle (who's playing in college) and Isabelle (a 2027 at Snider). Zoe has a nice, strong frame for her age, she is a solid all-around athlete, and she is more similar to her sister Isabelle in terms of style of play. She likes to put the ball on the floor and attack, and she uses her frame to absorb contact and almost "bully" opponents in getting to the rim. She is probably a better mid-post forward right now, but she will be a full-time wing long-term.     Emelia stood out immediately at the showcase, because she played with the best motor and the most energy. She was seemingly everywhere, flying around the floor and making a number of hustle plays. She is extremely long, possibly still growing a little, but she plays with a great deal of versatility. She can affect the game in the paint using her length and athleticism, but she also has the skill to play around the perimeter consistently. With all of the 2026 graduates at Homestead, she could earn a lot of time as a Sophomore.     Jules is a quick, fast, feisty guard who plays with an outstanding motor. She can play either guard spot equally well because she has a balanced skillset for her age. She has a solid handle, a quick first step, and the ability to get by defenders and put pressure on a defense. She's also a capable perimeter shooter who can get open using screens and bury jump-shots. Defensively, she likes to use her length and quickness to pressure the ball, but she is also capable of getting many steals/deflections from "help" side.     Karsyn put together a fantastic Rookie season for the Patriots, as she was a force offensively and defensively. She possesses tremendous length, she's a smooth & fluid athlete, and she long-strides up & down the floor in transition, fills the outside lanes well, and can really attack or cut from the wings to make plays near the basket. She has some touch from the perimeter, and she can even slide over and play some point guard when needed, but Sunday she was best when she moved without the ball and found ways to get scores.     Sunday was my first time hearing about Addison, and she was very intriguing. She is extremely long & wiry, she is quick & shifty on the ball, and she was a playmaker with it in her hands. She would push tempo getting up the floor, then immediately go into dribble-move combinations at about 40-feet, trying to break down defenders. She has some touch outside, but she was able to get to the rim consistently and make plays for herself and teammates. Defensively, she was also active, and she utilized her length well.     I've seen Laila play since about 5th Grade, plus she has been at this event for the last 3 years, so it feels like she is a seasoned veteran, even though she will only be a Freshman in 2026-2027. Laila has tremendous ball skill for her age. She is quick, shifty, and she plays with the savvy of an upperclassman. She doesn't back down from a challenge, and she is only limited by her size. But she can get into the paint and collapse defenses, plus she has some touch outside. Look for her to make an instant splash as a Rookie at Hebron.

Last Sunday, the Always 100 grassroots program centered in Fort Wayne, Indiana, hosted their annual college showcase. This has been a staple of the program for about the last 7 years or so, where they invite players in from their 17U teams down to 14U teams to participate in drills and open runs/scrimmages in front of many of the Midwest's small colleges. There were no fewer than 30 schools who showed up throughout the day's two sessions, and there were somewhere between 90 and 100 prospects on hand participating. This is the third of several articles highlighting a few of the ladies who stood out last weekend.