PGH Sophomore ID Camp: Team 4 evaluations, part 2

We're back with part 2 of our look at Team 4 from the Prep Girls Hoops Sophomore ID Camp held on Sunday at Maple Grove, and there's still plenty to talk about with this group. Camps like this give players a chance to show more than just who can put the ball in the basket. I'm watching how they compete, how they defend, the decisions they make and what they do when the ball isn't in their hands. Sometimes it's those little things that make a player stick in your mind.   Some of these sophomores came in with a name we already knew, while others used the opportunity to make sure we know it now. Either way, Team 4 had no shortage of players who gave us something to write about.   Here are a few more prospects who caught my attention.    With a few dominant scorers on Team 4, Kolberg, the big guard out of Maple Grove, was the perfect puzzle piece. She didn't need the ball in her hands to make an impact. In transition, she kept her head up and looked to push the ball ahead instead of overdribbling. Without the ball, she moved with purpose, catching defenders sleeping with well-timed backdoor cuts for easy buckets. What stood out most was how Kolberg always seemed to be in the right place at the right time. Whether it was making a timely cut, sneaking in for an offensive rebound or tracking down a loose ball, she found ways to make herself useful. Her activity, size and willingness to do the little things make her a nice piece to have on any team.     The 5-foot-6 guard out of Perham displayed a versatile offensive game at the Sophomore ID Camp. She showed impressive patience and body control in tight spaces while consistently playing well through contact. One play in particular stood out and perfectly defined her day: she beat her defender off the dribble going left and finished with a beautiful sweeping scoop shot with her left hand, extending around the help defender to avoid the block. She simply finished the play and got back on defense like it was just another day at the office. That type of poise reflects supreme confidence and a player who has clearly put in the work. The [program_tooltip program_id='713021' first='West' last='Central United'] guard is as solid as they come.     Purcell (pictured above) is a certified bucket. The Annandale prospect will attack off the bounce, pull up from deep in a defender's face or use her strength to bully opponents on the block. She stayed in attack mode from beginning to end at the Sophomore ID Camp. For one two-to-three-minute stretch, she and [player_tooltip player_id='939000' first='Kiera' last='Willis'] put together an entertaining back-and-forth battle. Willis blocked Purcell's jumper, but on the very next possession, Purcell came back and buried a bomb from beyond the arc right in Willis' face. Don't get me wrong – Willis was just as deadly during the exchange – but this story is about Purcell, and she simply refused to be denied. The [program_tooltip program_id='712687' first='Minnesota' last='Fury'] standout is a next-level prospect with plenty of upside, and her best basketball is still ahead of her.     Eppen has good size, moves well and consistently makes the right play, but at times she may be too unselfish for her own good. She could stand to be more assertive and aggressive offensively. She began looking for her shot more as the day progressed, but finding a rhythm can be difficult at showcase events, so sometimes a player has to take the initiative and force the action. Defensively, Eppen competed, communicated and handled all the little things that contribute to winning. The next time we see her, I'm willing to bet she digs in, becomes more assertive and shows us much more of what she has in her bag.

We're back with part 2 of our look at Team 4 from the Prep Girls Hoops Sophomore ID Camp held on Sunday at Maple Grove, and there's still plenty to talk about with this group. Camps like this give players a chance to show more than just who can put the ball in the basket. I'm watching how they compete, how they defend, the decisions they make and what they do when the ball isn't in their hands. Sometimes it's those little things that make a player stick in your mind.