Roses Off and Running

<!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"small"} --> <p class="has-small-font-size"><em>The featured image is of [player_tooltip player_id='882835' first='Olivia' last='Esquivel'] (2027) from Griffith High School.</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Another year, and another Run 4 The Roses tournament is taking place to kick off the early July "live" period where NCAA Division-I coaches are allowed to evaluate prospects. As usual, a large number of Indiana teams/programs have traveled to Louisville, Kentucky, where they are participating in the first of two tournaments this weekend. The Run 4 The Roses Classic runs from July 9-11, while the Run 4 The Roses Championship is slated to start tomorrow and run from July 12-14. Below is a quick look at a handful of ladies who stood out when I was able to see them during Friday's action at the Run 4 The Roses Classic.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><font color="FFFFFF">.</font></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["882835"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a51f2e331927"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Seeing Olivia "grow up" over the past three years, she has continually gotten better and better, worked on her game, and become a nice small college prospect. She is a solid all-around athlete in most directions, she plays with versatility at both ends of the floor, and she has a nice motor. Yesterday, she handled the ball quite a bit for her team, initiated the offense, then looked to get it back after screening/cutting. She has some touch outside, but she's better on attack when she can get downhill. Defensively, she guards with effort, and she can take on a variety of positions.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1217562"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a51f2e3319c9"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Leah really stood out with her play, because while she isn't necessarily someone who is going to get you 20 points, she plays extremely hard and flies around the floor, but with discipline. I was really impressed by her defensive effort, as she was able to get from halfcourt traps back to her assignment quickly and on-balance. She has really nice length, some speed, and even a little bounce in her. She's one of those hustlers who wears knee pads and uses them. Offensively, she does have some skill, she can handle it a little, and she can knock down an open jumper when in rhythm.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1137345"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a523a6602e99"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">I've been a big fan of Carly's since I first saw her in the Spring of 2025, and at this point, I was surprised there weren't more small colleges sitting on her court. She is long, quick, and fast, plus she is extremely feisty and tough-nosed, always "in the mix" and around the basketball. She has a good handle, she can push tempo, but she also changes speeds well and has a nice little mid-range pull-up in transition. In the halfcourt, she's an excellent perimeter shooter, but she doesn't force shots, and she's really effective in pick-and-roll situations. I really think a lot of schools are missing out.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1144618"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a523a6602f05"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">I saw Jayla later in the evening Friday, and I felt like she was one of the better players on her court. She is a well-rounded athlete with a wiry-strong frame, she moves well in most directions, and she plays with some bounce. She showed the ability offensively to handle it some in transition, even initiate the offense, but she also basket cut and got inside, flashed to the mid-post, and attacked from there. Defensively, she was effortful and had to defend mostly inside, but she boxed out well and on-time, rebounded well, and pursued rebounds outside of her area.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":1880323,"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a523a6602f56"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">This was my first time seeing ReNiah, and she is definitely an intriguing prospect. She has a very strong, physical frame, with broad shoulders. At the same time, she got up and down the floor well, she could put it on the floor a little and attack, but she did most of her work once she caught it inside of 15' and could body her defender to "bully" them inside. She was good on the boards, very active defensively as well, and she looked like she really enjoyed playing. As she continues to build some mid-post, and even perimeter face-up skill, she could become a really nice small college contributor.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1299748"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a523a6602fa0"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Maleah had a really nice 2025-2026 season for her North Daviess team, so I was very interested in watching her with her DistinXion team. She is a solid, somewhat strong-for-her-size, skilled, and efficient lead guard. She has some touch outside, and she can attack, but she picks her spots well and doesn't seem to force the action. She initiates the offense, finds open teammates, plus she has a calming presence with the ball in her hands. She showed effort defensively, even some physicality at her size, and she pursued rebounds. She should be a really nice small college kid.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1678175"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a523a6602fe6"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">I have mentioned Jaylee a couple of times previously because of her season stats and from some things trusted basketball people have told me, but Friday was my first time see her in-person. She has a chance to be a really nice prospect. She is extremely long, fluidly athletic, and bouncy. She looks like she'll get stronger in time, but she might not be done growing either. She shot it very well from the perimeter, she put it on the floor and got to the basket quickly, plus she was willing to basket cut and post up as well. She could have a big 2026-2027 year for Central Noble.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->