Washington Expo Team 1 Evaluations

The Auburn Fieldhouse was a madhouse on Sunday, Sep. 6, as some of the [program_tooltip program_id='713132' first='Pacific' last=''] Northwest's elite basketball talent congregated under one roof for the annual Expo showcase. The best thing about these showcases is the even playing field they create. Every kid, whether ranked No. 1, 100, or not at all, puts on the same jersey and has the same opportunity to impress scouts over four hours of play. This year, over 100 girls registered for the Expo, enough for 12 5-on-5 teams and 32 3-on-3 teams. I'd call that a success!   Every 5-on-5 team gets an evaluation article, and we will start with Team 1. This team was on the smaller side but played with a whole lot of heart.    Evelyn took charge of her team's offense at times, directing traffic up top. She is quick, unpredictable, and smart. She can manipulate the defense with her eyes — one of the marks of a great playmaker. Off the ball, she was constantly moving and cutting hard. She also has the strength an touch to score inside with either hand; she had a pivoting step-through finish that I noted. On defense, she picked her defender's pocket to start a fast break that led to a three-pointer. Wilk is not worried about being flashy, but she sees and thinks the game at an advanced level.     This was a team of great passers, and Applin is no exception. She puts great zip on her passes and is scanning for early offense opportunities as she crosses half-court. She made everyone else's job easier with her decision-making and IQ. This was her second time at a PGH event; she showed out at last year's freshman showcase, and she impressed again this year by doing the little things.     Irias's drives were a key element of her team's offense, and she got a lot of points from them. She also displayed smart off-ball movement on offense and a lot of fight on defense. She boxed out and fought hard on the glass, and scored one of the more impressive putbacks of the day. She was reliable in most areas, including from the outside, where she made the defense pay with her three-point stroke.     Riley is an exciting 3-and-D wing who showed up on both sides on Sunday. She has a quick trigger in transition, and her strong base allows her to shoot under pressure. She also displayed toughness and interior presence, faking a dribble handoff and driving inside for a scoop finish. She had to play out of position due to the lack of bigs on the team and held her own.     Despite her normal position being on the wing, Faber looked comfortable playing in the post for this undersized team. She did not back down during her matchups with elite players like [player_tooltip player_id='1309406' first='Savannah' last='Jeannot']. She is always in position on the help side and was able to step in and wrestle the ball away as Jeannot was driving to the rim. She also stuffed multiple shots and pushed the ball downcourt with outlet passes. She was one of the defensive standouts of the day and played bigger than her size.     Duncan hit some tough shots from the perimeter. She might've been the smallest player in the gym, but her attacking mindset and quick decisions helped her make an impact for her team. I discovered Duncan a year ago when she played at a 3-on-3 league in the Portland area, and it was great to see her at another showcase. She took advantage of the opportunity and stood out as one of the fiercest, hardest-nosed players out there with the full-court pressure she applied.     St. Thomas is a newer name who has been under the radar to this point, and I'm glad she came on Sunday. She caught my eye as one of the quicker and more polished ball-handlers in the whole event; she has the ball on a string and can create her own shot. She also played with the hustle and motor of someone determined to make an impression on us. Her dribble penetrations caught defenses off guard and forced them to send her to the free-throw line.     One of the few Oregonians who made the trip, John was a fundamentally sound two-guard. She didn't force anything and always made the right pass. When she got a chance to drive, she drew the defense in before dumping it off to the big. She also hit a nice catch-and-shoot triple. She didn't get the ball every time, but she often relocated and spaced the floor well without the ball. Defensively, she picked the right times to gamble, stay home, or stunt and recover. She has been pushing herself this summer, and I look forward to seeing results during her final season at Glencoe.     Every time I looked Angelina's way, she was knocking down shots. She hit threes, turnaround jumpers, and crafty finishes down low. She drew the defense's attention, opened up the floor for her teammates when she penetrated, and threaded tight-window passes. She was vocal and engaged on defense, and forced some turnovers. Zarate plays with a confidence and joy that rubbed off on her team. But on top of all the little things, she got buckets, and that's what made her one of the standout performers of the day.

The Auburn Fieldhouse was a madhouse on Sunday, Sep. 6, as some of the Pacific Northwest's elite basketball talent congregated under one roof for the annual Expo showcase. The best thing about these showcases is the even playing field they create. Every kid, whether ranked No. 1, 100, or not at all, puts on the same jersey and has the same opportunity to impress scouts over four hours of play. This year, over 100 girls registered for the Expo, enough for 12 5-on-5 teams and 32 3-on-3 teams. I'd call that a success!