Great Lakes Kickoff: 16U Standouts from Beyond the Arc

The ability to consistently knock down shots from the perimeter remains one of the most valuable skills in today's game, and the 16U division at the Great Lakes Kickoff featured no shortage of players who showed exactly that. Whether it was catch-and-shoot opportunities, pull-up threes, or timely shot-making in big moments, several prospects stood out with the way they stretched the floor and made defenses pay. Here's a look at some of the 16U shooters who left a strong impression from beyond the arc throughout the weekend.    The Lockport product is off to a great start to her AAU season. Goda played with confidence throughout the weekend, and whenever she had the ball in her hands, she was clearly in attack mode. She did a nice job using a hesitation move to create angles and get downhill to the rim. While her overall game was impressive, her shooting ability really stood out. Goda knocked down threes both off the catch and off the dribble, making her a constant offensive threat. Her ability to space the floor also had a major impact, as help-side defenders often looked hesitant to fully commit because they didn't want to leave her open. I expect Goda to receive a lot of attention this spring and summer because she looks ready to make a big-time impact.     Victoria caught my eye quickly, and one of the first things that stood out was how advanced her movement was without the ball. She understood where to relocate based on ball position and consistently avoided the kind of “record scratch” moments where players clog driving lanes or end up in the wrong spot. Her shooting ability really popped because of how consistently she made defenses pay. If left open, she was more than capable of making teams regret it. Against Edom Elite, she knocked down four threes in the first half and played a major role in helping her team build a strong lead heading into the break. She stayed hot in the second half and continued to make shots from deep. Most of her work came off the catch, but she also looked comfortable making shots off the dribble. On top of that, her handle looked smooth and functional. Victoria looks ready to make her name known this spring and summer.     4C Sports Academy had a strong weekend overall, and Lanayja made her presence felt in key moments. Her skill set is in a really solid place, and her ability to shoot the ball from just about anywhere makes her a major problem for opposing defenses. “Unlimited range” honestly feels fitting with her, because she knocked down threes from all over the floor throughout the weekend. The form is smooth, repeatable, and easy to trust. She also did a nice job attacking closeouts and making good reads once defenders were forced to run her off the line. I would not be surprised at all if her name starts getting brought up more and more over the course of the spring and summer.     Paige made an impact in every game I was able to watch this weekend. Defensively, she stood out with how well she moved her feet, competed, and used her length and wingspan to make things difficult. But for the purpose of this piece, her shooting off the catch is what really deserves the spotlight. Paige was a true corner specialist this weekend, consistently making defenses pay when they rotated away from her to help at the rim. She knocked down a ton of threes from the corner, and the mechanics looked compact, clean, and repeatable. One thing that really stood out was how ready she was to shoot before the ball even arrived, which helped her get right into her shot with strong energy transfer. She is definitely a player worth tracking moving forward.     Vanessa was very impressive in my viewings and looks like the kind of player who can help a team win in a variety of roles. If you need her to create on the ball, she can do that. If you need a secondary ball handler, she can do that. If you need her to play off the catch as a floor spacer, she can do that too. And if you need her to defend one of the better players on the other team, she is capable there as well. She plays like a winner, and her impact consistently showed up. Her shooting versatility is what earned her a spot in this article. She knocked down threes off the dribble, off the catch, and even off movement. Vanessa is clearly a big part of what this team does, and I'm looking forward to seeing them again.

The ability to consistently knock down shots from the perimeter remains one of the most valuable skills in today's game, and the 16U division at the Great Lakes Kickoff featured no shortage of players who showed exactly that. Whether it was catch-and-shoot opportunities, pull-up threes, or timely shot-making in big moments, several prospects stood out with the way they stretched the floor and made defenses pay. Here's a look at some of the 16U shooters who left a strong impression from beyond the arc throughout the weekend.