Hidden Gems: Frontcourt Prospects Who Stood Out This Spring

There were a ton of players who showcased their talents in the frontcourt positions this Spring season. Let's highlight a few of our favorites who boosted their stock as prospects.    Julia Junkovic was one of the better centers we saw play this season. As we've mentioned in previous articles, Julia brings legitimate size that impacts the game in its own right. The defensive end is where she mainly makes her mark on the floor. Julia is an elite rim protector who uses her verticality to her advantage. She has good timing for when to contest shots at the rim as well. Overall, Junkovic is just a difference-maker on defense with her ability to guard the rim and finish plays on the glass. She has a solid feel for the game as a whole. Julia showed some flashes on offense as someone who can convert around the basket—displaying quality touch and strength to finish through contact.     Olivia Sliwa is a big wing who can put the ball in the basket. She's able to put constant pressure on the rim as a driver. Sliwa has physical tools that are tough to cover for opposing defenses. Not only can Olivia finish at the rim, but she's a true threat on the perimeter. Her shot mechanics are consistent and textbook. She can get after it on the boards as well, playing with physicality to gain positioning while anticipating misses off the rim. Olivia is a player that lets the game come to her. Understanding how the game is going in the moment and playing within the flow are among her best traits.     Alyssa Traille plays with an intensity and energy level that are admirable for anyone who enjoys basketball. She's a "Swiss-army knife type of player especially on the defensive end of the floor. Traille can guard multiple positions on the floor. She's got a well-rounded mix of agility and strength. Alyssa is one of the better rebounders we saw during the Spring season. Her knack for getting on the offensive glass to create second-chance opportunities for her team is special. Traille does the things that go beyond the box score when she's on the basketball court. Those intangibles are what will always make her valuable to her team.     Maddy Horel was a player that we were really impressed by throughout the Zero Gravity Tri-State Spring season. She plays with one of the highest motor's you will see on a basketball court. Constantly being aggressive on the glass and willing to run the floor at all times. Defensively, Horel shines with her high-level instincts. She makes sure to be in the right position and communicates with her teammates. Offensively, Maddy does an amazing job with gaining extra possessions for her team. In addition to her prowess on the offensive glass, Horel showed improvement as a finisher throughout the Spring.     Tessa Laros plays the game with a certain poise that separates herself from the rest. As an on-ball creator she knows how to attack defenders at her pace and get to the paint. Laros is an ambidextrous finisher around the rim. She stretches the floor out for team as well; thriving specifically as a popper from beyond the arc. Her versatility to play both on and off the ball offensively is key to her team's success. As a defender, Tessa impacts the game as a weak-side rim protector. Laros has proven that she c be a true two-way player when she's on the court.

There were a ton of players who showcased their talents in the frontcourt positions this Spring season. Let's highlight a few of our favorites who boosted their stock as prospects.