PGH Freshman Showcase: Team 8 was loaded

When the teams are selected for a Prep Girls Hoops showcase our event operations team uses an algorithm to distribute players evenly by height. That prevents one team from having a plethora of 6-footers while others have none. What it doesn't account for is talent level, experience or a prospect's long-term potential. When the rosters for Sunday's Freshman Showcase were distributed to PGH scouts Tony Ragulen, Ally McGinnis, Paxyn Rendahl and I, one thing became immediately obvious: Team 8 was loaded!   One could make the case that the top five players on Team 8 are all Division 1 college basketball prospects. All five were well-known prior to play on Sunday from their inclusion on the PGH Class of 2030 Watch List and the many articles and evaluations they've been part of over the past year or so. Well guess what – all of them showed once again on Sunday that they can flat out play.   Here's our evaluations on the top 5 prospects on Team 8. We'll follow with part 2 featuring Team 8 players on the rise.    Not surprisingly, Helmer was dominant from the get-go on Sunday. What stood out wasn't how much she could do herself, though.  It was how easily she made everyone around her better. Pictured above, the 5'10 guard from Mounds View has the strength, athleticism and skill to take over whenever she chooses, yet consistently embraced a team-first approach, getting teammates involved and making the right play. Helmer combines confidence and swagger with unusual poise and professionalism for her age. Her feel and understanding of the game are exceptional, and she has just enough swagger to make you sit up and take notice. Already holding multiple Division I offers after playing up with [program_tooltip program_id='712722' first='North' last='Tartan'] EYBL, Helmer looks like she could challenge for the title of Minnesota's top prospect in the Class of 2030.     We've watched Wright for a long time and she never fails to entertain and impress. Every time we see Lariah play she seems to have improved a little more. The continued maturation of her game was certainly evident again Sunday. The 5'5 Minnetonka guard plays with remarkable composure, seemingly always a step ahead of what's happening around her. She's lightning quick, fearless attacking the defense and exceptionally crafty with the ball in hand. The key is that she doesn't allow her aggressiveness to become recklessness. Wright sees the floor, handles pressure and can create either her own shot or a better opportunity for a teammate. She's equally comfortable running the show at point guard or working off the ball, while bringing plenty of energy defensively. Wright has proven herself against bigger, older, stronger players in the toughest high school conference in the state. Against her age-group peers, she's clearly near the top of the heap.     Easily 6 feet tall, Gess has the length and physical tools that immediately get your attention, but it's the completeness of her game that makes her such an intriguing long-term prospect. The Moorhead guard is remarkably comfortable in her growing frame, moving fluidly with quick feet while rarely appearing hurried or out of control. Gess plays fundamentally sound, no-nonsense basketball, consistently making good decisions and positioning herself with purpose. She's crafty with the ball, shoots with a high release, plays effectively off two feet and reads rebounds exceptionally well. Defensively, her combination of length, mobility and anticipation can be disruptive. Gess may not depend on highlight-reel plays to make an impression, but her height, length, skill, athleticism and basketball IQ make her an extremely appealing college prospect.     We were excited about Schupp's potential the first time we saw her at a Breakdown Fall League game last October. Watching her at the Freshman Showcase we saw those tools morphing into a remarkably complete offensive game. The 5'10 guard is a high-octane scorer with an explosive first step, the ability to create her own shot from virtually anywhere and enough strength and body control to finish through contact on either side of the rim. She's also an efficient perimeter shooter and an impactful defender whose quick feet and active hands create problems. She makes it all look so natural. After averaging around 18 points per game as Westonka's primary option, Schupp moves to a deeper Orono roster this winter. Her scoring numbers will likely decline but playing with a talented group should provide an opportunity to better demonstrate the abilities we saw on Sunday.     Few players in the class elevated their profile as dramatically this summer as Stone. The 5'11 Minnetonka guard went from relative unknown to a PGH Class of 2030 Watch List member. Her performance at the Freshman Showcase simply reinforced why. Long, wiry and exceptionally fluid, Stone plays with natural pace and timing that are difficult to teach. Her long strides and shifty handle allow her to glide past defenders, while she can finish at the rim, knock down perimeter shots or create for teammates. Stone's prodigious length is equally useful defensively, where active hands generate deflections and transition opportunities. There's still plenty of development ahead, but the combination of size, versatility, skill and natural feel that made Stone a breakout prospect this summer gives her considerable long-term upside.

When the teams are selected for a Prep Girls Hoops showcase our event operations team uses an algorithm to distribute players evenly by height. That prevents one team from having a plethora of 6-footers while others have none. What it doesn't account for is talent level, experience or a prospect's long-term potential. When the rosters for Sunday's Freshman Showcase were distributed to PGH scouts Tony Ragulen, Ally McGinnis, Paxyn Rendahl and I, one thing became immediately obvious: Team 8 was loaded!