Washington Expo Team 5 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 up next is team 5. This team had some intriguing forwards who showcased their versatility.    With her team down big in the first game, Ives hit a big three-pointer that swung the tide a bit and kicked off a legitimate comeback attempt that fell short against a dangerous team led by [player_tooltip player_id='1125424' first='Kyoko' last='Beasley']. Throughout the day, her biggest asset was her strength at the guard position, which she used to bully her way down low and finish. She also boxed out well on the defensive glass. Ives made several winning plays despite not taking over with her scoring, but she has the tools to put lots of pressure on a defense.     The Vancouver-based Watson might not be getting enough attention from northern Washington-based scouts, because No. 117 seems a bit low for a player who absolutely dominated stretches of this event and received an offer from Division III George Fox shortly afterward. She displayed a complete skillset — side-step threes, explosive downhill drives, and-one finishes, and the foot speed to defend guards. She was her team's offensive engine and was reliable on the block and on the wing. Her long wingspan was a problem for anyone she was guarding. At the next level, she will be an athletic two-way wing who can slide in to the small-ball 4.     Drees's length stood out above almost everyone else, and she used it well on both ends of the floor. She has soft touch from the short midrange, and she can hit turnarounds from the post. She is also a strong rebounder. She is a solid decision-maker, faking a dribble handoff before swiftly stepping into the free-throw-line jumper. That's a play coaches draw up, not typically something you see in an open run like this. Cushman has a frame and skill set that will get her some long, hard looks from colleges.     The left-handed Mercado has an exciting and unique game. She is shorter than most forwards but plays with a high level of physicality, crashing the offensive boards hard. She can take a slower big off the dribble, spin to the rim and muscle in a high-difficulty finish. She is also a facilitator and always has her eyes downcourt, looking for open teammates. This is a Swiss-Army knife type player who can make a tremendous impact on a high school game, and as she grows, she could become a college-level weapon.     Leckie ran the point well for her team. She was looking to pass first most of the day, and she set her teammates up in good spots. She was active when moving off the ball, cutting when her defender sagged off. She had some nice reps on defense, cutting off drives with her quick feet and active hands.     Zewdu is an impressively complete sophomore. At 5'10, she can shoot, handle, and draw fouls. She showed flashes of her star potential when she hit a stepback three early in 5-on-5 play. She also does a great job initiating contact to create angles on her drives. She took tough defensive assignments and got beat down the court a few times, but when she was at her best, she was a force on defense, blocking shots and grabbing rebounds. She has the skill and tools to play at the next level.     Hill was a lights-out long-range shooter who helped her team climb back from an early deficit in game 1. She stayed hot from range all day long. She gets her high-arcing shot off over strong contests, and she hit those shots multiple times. She also took some ball-handling reps, which are important for her development into a complete guard. She knows she draws the defense's attention with her shooting ability and uses that to her advantage with head fakes to open up driving and passing lanes.     Mackenzie made a strong impression by being the consummate teammate. She encouraged and communicated with her teammates, and she gave her all on every play. She makes quick and fearless decisions off the catch, and she has slashing ability with an interesting bag of scoop and floater finishes. She is a very driven person who shows up for herself and others, evidenced by her social media presence, where she trains a 9-year-old boy learning basketball for the very first time. I will be following both her and the boy's journeys!     HansonSmith was a late addition to this team and made them a whole lot better. She looked comfortable both inside and on the perimeter, and I would describe her as either a big guard or a point forward. She has polished footwork down low, hitting a sick up-and-under in the first game and going on to score a lot of points in that area. She ran the floor hard in transition and fought through contact for an and-one. She's got a smooth mid-range jumper, an efficient free-throw shot, and the confidence to knock down pull-up threes. Like many of these Washington hoopers, I had never seen her play before, but I could tell she is a difference-maker.

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!