Summer Jam: 2030s Making an impact down the stretch, part 2

Earlier today we looked at five prospects in the Class of 2030 who have been on a roll in the past few weeks of AAU, standing out at Summer Jam over the weekend. Each player has taken a leap this spring, carving out a bigger role for themselves throughout the season. Up next are four more prospects who've been doing the same. Here is part two of our incoming freshmen who are making a big impact down the stretch.    One of the key stories of this AAU season has been the strength of [program_tooltip program_id='713021' first='West' last='Central United'] as a program, but particularly that of their 2030 Blue team, who brought the program their first AAU State Championship back in May. The roster is chock-full of high level collegiate prospects, and Gess is no exception. Long, wiry, and light as a feather on her feet, the 6'0 guard (pictured above) is athletically gifted in nearly every aspect. In addition, she's incredibly fundamentally sound. While Lauren generally doesn't score the most points or garner the most defensive attention, she thinks the game at a high level, makes very few mistakes, and plays hard on every possession. Crafty with the ball in her hands, a proficient shooter, and a disruptive defender, Gess has been a tremendous asset for her team this spring.     We've been watching the evolution of Freeman's game for a few seasons now. While watching her at Summer Jam this past weekend, it felt as though the 5'10 forward is hitting her stride. On the offensive end, Malaya was more assertive with the ball in her hands. She handled the ball well under pressure, attacking the paint from the perimeter with a full head of steam. On the opposite end of the floor, the East Ridge 8th grader turned things up a notch by being more aggressive on the ball, getting her hands in the passing lanes, and getting on the ground to fight for loose balls. With multiple seniors graduating for the Raptors, we may see Freeman have a breakout freshman season this winter.     Standing at just 5-foot-3, Wendel is often tasked with going up against much bigger and stronger opponents, but with plenty of speed and a deadly three-point shot at her disposal, the Prior Lake 8th grader is hardly ever fazed. Over the weekend, Lauren used her lateral quickness to go toe-to-toe with opponents both on the perimeter and on drives to the rim. On the other end of the floor, the [program_tooltip program_id='712687' first='Minnesota' last='Fury'] guard handled the ball well under pressure, finding openings in the defense to weave her way to the basket. Wendel also excels in catch-and-shoot situations where her quick release and high-arcing shot allow her to get the ball off before the defense can contest.     Much like when we've watched her in previous weeks, Zarate was instrumental for [program_tooltip program_id='712722' first='North' last='Tartan'] at Summer Jam. All throughout the weekend, the Forest Lake 8th grader brought a spark on both ends of the floor, injecting energy into each possession for the 14U Elite squad. On the defensive end Eileenah got her hands in the passing lanes, generated deflections, boxed out consistently, and fought hard for rebounds. She then sprinted up the floor in transition, catching passes at long range and finishing with a crafty Euro-step or reverse layup before the defense closed in. The 5'8 guard finished the weekend with multiple strong offensive performances, including a game-high 17 points on Saturday afternoon.

Earlier today we looked at five prospects in the Class of 2030 who have been on a roll in the past few weeks of AAU, standing out at Summer Jam over the weekend. Each player has taken a leap this spring, carving out a bigger role for themselves throughout the season. Up next are four more prospects who've been doing the same. Here is part two of our incoming freshmen who are making a big impact down the stretch.