Washington Expo Team 7 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 girls 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 7. There was a fascinating mix of quick guards and smooth forwards on this roster. Every one of these names was new to me at the start of the showcase, but I walked away with plenty of players I'll be keeping tabs on.    Kiesau played with a high IQ all day. She has a feel for off-ball movement and loves to cut backdoor behind ball-watching defenders. She has textbook shot mechanics and makes you pay if you leave her open behind the arc or in the mid-range. With the ball in her hands, she is a decisive player who attacks gaps. She is a well rounded player, and I trust anyone who plays AAU with the Blazers.     Much like her brother Zane, [player_tooltip player_id='1655352' first='Grayson' last='Zilliax'] has a rare combination of size and skill at the wing position. She was the tallest player on the floor most of the time on Sunday, so she took a stretch-big role and excelled. Her shot release is quick, fluid and unblockable. She guarded every position on defense, contested shots and rotated on time. She showed flashes of post-scoring prowess, catching an entry pass on the block before immediately pound dribbling into a left-handed hook. She can be physical when she wants to, but once she learns how to play aggressively for longer stretches, she will take off as a prospect.     Swobody is a versatile, mobile wing who is a lot to handle when she gets to run out in transition. She uses her body to shield the ball and create finishing angles, and she was also reliable on corner threes. She is a top 10 player in her class because she can fill whatever role her team needs. She can score perfectly well in the half-court, but on Sunday she played unselfishly, ran the floor hard and let her guards cook. She also lived up to her two-way reputation, playing tough on defense and not getting beat.     Farmer Clark made most of her impact on the defensive side. She hung with quick guards, boxed out for rebounds and blocked some shots. She made some heads-up plays to take advantage of sleeping defenses, including one where she cut to the rim unabated for a layup right off the opening tip. Her size and strength make her a valuable part of any rotation, and she will have plenty more chances to show what she's capable of on offense.     Roberts made productive passes to set her teammates up for success. She was not afraid to drive into the teeth of the defense and force a rotation. She didn't get a ton of shots during 5-on-5 play, but she made them count, knocking down threes and getting open off of timely backdoor cuts.     Sampson's game has polish that goes beyond most sophomores. She can create her own shot from deep or from the midrange in a 1-on-1 situation, and she's just as dangerous as a spot-up threat. She is the kind of shooter that can go on a personal 9-0 run in a moment's notice, but she's also got the strength to play with her back to the basket, which makes her stand out from most guards. She is an extremely smart player who doesn't force anything or dribble herself into trouble. Sampson played with supreme confidence, which will serve her well through her high school career and beyond.     Sinclair is one of the shiftiest dribblers in the PNW. The spin seems to be her favorite out of her bevy of moves, and it is incredibly effective at freezing defenders. She doesn't struggle with tunnel vision; she adapts to the coverage she sees and can wiggle her way out of adversity. She makes quick reads in the pick and roll game. On her drives, she can fire quick, accurate kick-outs against a collapsing defense. She can also take it all the way herself for a fancy finish, or she can step back into a comfortable middy. If you are a fan of creative point guard play, this is a name to know.     Despite being undiscovered going into the event, Villegas's athleticism and first step stood out among other guards. She ran the point well, pushed the ball down the floor in transition and made some tough passes. The backcourt of Villegas and Sinclair posed one heck of a problem for opposing defenses because they were both making unpredictable plays all day.

The Auburn Fieldhouse was a madhouse on Sunday, Sep. 6, as some of the Pacific Northwest's elite girls 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!