PGH Illinois Freshman Showcase: Team 5 Recap

<!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">With over 70 players in the gym, this year's Freshman Showcase gave me a chance to get an early look at a group of young prospects. At this stage, it's less about being a finished product and more about the foundation already in place. Here is a small recap of what I saw from the players on Team 5.</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='914381' first='Morgan' last='Jones'] (#73)</strong> - <em>Jones has the makeup of a player who can be a playmaker. The handle is solid, and the ability to find and hit angles is there too. The scoring ability is present as well. She is a player worth tracking as time goes on.</em></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1795405' first='Hanna' last='Dziedzic'] (#78</strong>) - <em>Getting past Hanna isn't the easiest thing to do. She is handsy, active, and not afraid to play up and tight on her matchup. She does a good job making ball handlers uncomfortable and forcing them to work for everything they get.</em></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1810517' first='Aaliyah' last='Solomon'] (#79)</strong> - <em>Solomon isn't a player who lets up on either end of the floor, but on the drive, she is as aggressive as they come. She has the athleticism and length to get downhill, play through contact, and put pressure on the rim. That same energy shows defensively, where she stays active and finds ways to impact possessions.</em></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1213702' first='Gabriella' last='Kromkowski'] (#92)</strong> - <em>Her game today showed more of her off ball ability, and the effort came from the catch and shoot areas. As her overall confidence grows, she could find ways to separate herself. </em></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1227230' first='Alexis' last='Richardson'] (#107)</strong> - <em>A ballhawk. Whether it was on the boards or in the middle of a scrum, Alexis was not afraid to get her hands on the ball. She also showed the ability to score at the rim when the opportunity was there. As her handle becomes more solid, she will be able to play more at the 1 spot when needed.</em></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1803666' first='Emily' last='Nelson'] (#112)</strong> - <em>The length is Emily's top attribute, and she doesn't shy away from using it. She can be a problem on the offensive boards just as well as on the defensive boards. </em></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Heavenlee Harper (#140</strong>) - <em>A lot of the impact from Heavenlee is in her ability to attack the rim without being bothered by contact or traffic. She has solid body control and knows how to get to her spot without making it more difficult for herself. </em></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1223322' first='Taylor' last='Kravarik']</strong> (#150) - <em><em>There weren't many players in the building today who could hang their hat on defense, but Taylor has that. Her offensive game is there, and as she gets more confident from behind the arc, she can develop into a strong two-way player. </em></em><br></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list -->