Back To School Kickoff Talent

With one final tournament before school gets underway, the gym was full of talent from across the state, along with several teams making the trip down from Idaho. It was one last opportunity to catch players in action before the focus shifts back to their high school programs. From familiar names to a few new faces that landed on our radar, here are the players who caught our attention and stood out on the floor.    The best defender of the day was Gracie. She was relentless and pesky and didn't let a dribble go uncontested, even when it seemed she was beat. Her fearlessness in going up against girls much taller than she is in trying to secure a board was impressive. Her extra defensive hustle and unwillingness to quit are going to be what edges her out over other players this upcoming year.     Anna has a strong sense for where she needs to be as the action develops around her. She can play bigger when needed, but her mobility and versatility allow her to grab a board and bring the ball up the floor herself. She played a key role in her team's win in the final game and established herself as one of their most reliable rebounders throughout the weekend.     Leah is a quick-recovery player who doesn't let a missed shot or turnover turn into another mistake. She immediately gets back into the play and helps rally her team defensively. On offense, she's patient with the ball and does a good job working her way into the lane to create opportunities. She reads matchups well and doesn't force a low-percentage attempt against a defender with the advantage; instead, she makes the quick dish and keeps the possession alive.     Rihanna has a knack for creating second-chance points and making defenses pay for giving her another opportunity. She has a smooth, quick-release shot that gets out of her hands before defenders can recover, and she consistently follows the action around the rim. Her work on the glass led to several putbacks during the game, giving her team extra possessions and easy points in the paint.     Munah was tough and showed her versatility all over the floor. She made an impact by protecting the rim with a solid block, knocking down shots from deep, and defensively she kept her matchup from finding much offensive production. Her consistency stands out, especially on defensive switches where she stays connected to the play and rarely gets caught out of position. She also reads the floor well away from the ball, regularly putting herself in position to provide help defense when needed.     Watching Sage handle the ball is a treat. She plays with the ball on a string, changing pace and direction while keeping defenders from getting a hand on it. Her court vision matches her handle, as she threads passes through traffic and finds windows that aren't always easy to see. She also delivers one of the better hit-ahead passes you'll see, recognizing the break early and putting the ball right where her teammate needs it.

With one final tournament before school gets underway, the gym was full of talent from across the state, along with several teams making the trip down from Idaho. It was one last opportunity to catch players in action before the focus shifts back to their high school programs. From familiar names to a few new faces that landed on our radar, here are the players who caught our attention and stood out on the floor.