Or3gon Tripl3 16U Competes at End of the Trail NW Showcase

Dozens of fantastic AAU clubs descended on Oregon City and Clackamas gyms for End of the Trail Northwest Showcase Sunday through Tuesday. One of them was [program_tooltip program_id='1233997' first='Or3gon' last='Tripl3'], whom I got to watch play against Meta Hoops, a team with some of the top players in the Boise area. Tripl3 has assembled a crew of up-and-coming hoopers who are hard at work developing skills for the season ahead.    If you don't know the name yet, you do now. The incoming freshman is playing two levels up in AAU this year and looks quite comfortable. She is highly crafty and has an advanced feel for the point guard position. She plays at a relaxed pace but can still turn on the jets to get by defenders. When she gets in the paint, she can deliver timely wrap-around and dump-off passes to bigs. In isolation, she creates a lot of space for her shot, and then she hits the shots that she creates — it's almost second nature. As a defender, she doesn't get knocked off her spot. She looks engaged and takes pride in making life hard for her opponent.     Watching Jones play her heart out in what some players would deem a meaningless AAU game helps explain how Springfield reached the 5A final last March with such a young core. Jones brings her lunch pail wherever she goes — her strength, speed and hustle translate to grabbing rebounds that others her size wouldn't get. She is going to take on an increased playmaking load next season with Darissa Romero Ah-Sam and Kimora Wright both graduated, and Jones looks ready. She throws speedy passes at tough angles with either hand. She also has a great first step on her drive, and she was able to shake a defender with an in-and-out dribble for a wide open layup.     Muchunu did lots of dirty work on the interior for her team in this game despite going up against bigger posts. She is a natural wing with good defensive instincts, active hands in passing lanes, and the physicality to bother her matchup. She is also getting some pick-and-roll ball-handling reps that should help her reach her potential as an all-around player for West Salem.     Zendejas knocked down a couple of threes to start the game with smooth form. She led Glencoe in points and three-pointers last year and has the skill to approach 15 points per game. She is getting lots of on-ball reps to improve her already solid passing. She moves her feet well on defense, and while I didn't see her get any steals, she clearly doesn't lack in that department, as she swiped 2.5 per game as a sophomore.     Sitton spent last year on Sherwood's JV team, but she figures to fit into the program's exciting future. She is a high-IQ post who wanted to take the next step in her game this summer by learning to make decisions outside of structure. She was very reliable as an interior passer with the JV Bowmen, and her post back-downs were hard to stop. She is certainly going to help her team win games at the varsity level, and I can't wait to see the work she's put in this summer pay off.     Flower swung between JV and varsity for the Bowmen last year, and served as the JV team's captain. She is comfortable putting the ball on the floor and can scan for open teammates while doing so. She put her shooting range on display with JV, and she has the feel and athleticism to become a really nice scorer at the varsity level in the coming years. She was vocal, engaged, and willing to fill whatever role she was needed in.

Dozens of fantastic AAU clubs descended on Oregon City and Clackamas gyms for End of the Trail Northwest Showcase Sunday through Tuesday. One of them was Or3gon Tripl3 , whom I got to watch play against Meta Hoops, a team with some of the top players in the Boise area. Tripl3 has assembled a crew of up-and-coming hoopers who are hard at work developing skills for the season ahead.