Great Lakes Region Finals: 16U Two-way Impact Standouts

The Great Lakes Region Finals brought together some of the top 16U talent in the Midwest, providing players with an opportunity to compete against elite competition on a big stage. While scoring often grabs the headlines, several athletes separated themselves through their impact on both ends of the floor. These two-way standouts consistently influenced winning with their ability to score, defend, rebound, create for teammates, and make game-changing plays when their teams needed them most.    Laylaa was one of the more impactful players I watched this weekend when it came to influencing winning. She spent a lot of time initiating offense for her team and consistently found ways to get into the paint, forcing defenses to collapse before spraying the ball out to open shooters. Her ability to create advantages for her teammates stood out throughout the event. When playing off the ball, she also showed that defenses couldn't leave her unattended, as she was capable of making them pay from beyond the arc. Defensively, Laylaa was a pest from start to finish. She made life difficult for opposing ball handlers with her pressure and activity. Off the ball, her event creation was especially impressive. She consistently dug down on drives from the gap, disrupted offensive actions, and created extra possessions for her team. Laylaa's game is a lot of fun to watch because she impacts the game in so many ways, and she clearly understands what it takes to help her team win.     Norah is awesome to watch. She's a player who plays with so much heart on both sides of the floor. She's someone who doesn't give a ballhandler any space to think and make their next decision with the ball in their hands. When she's in her defensive stance, her first step and next step are always lateral and seldom open her hips to give easy driving lanes. As a shooter, she is a prime example of what a floor spacer is. When she receives an out-of-control closeout, she can continue the advantage by attacking and making the next play, whether that is shooting a pull-up, making the next pass, or finishing at the rim. Another example that helps your team win.     Example's 16u group has a ton of talent, and I truly believe Natalie helps make this group go! She blends pesky defense with smooth ability on the offensive side of the floor. Defensively, her toughness shines, and you can tell she doesn't want her opponent she's guarding to score ever. She walls off drives and attacks the dribble a ton. When off the ball, she is always looking to make things happen with deflections, steals, and just being in the right spot to stop advantages. When the ball is in her hands on offense, there isn't any room to rest, as her functional handle allows her to get to the spots on the floor she wants. Once she is at the rim, she plays through contact well. I'm very interested to see how Natalie continues her great spring and carries it into the summer.     Ayla is one of the more intriguing prospects in the state! Her height, length, and fluidity as a mover while standing five feet ten inches is unique. Defensively, she can guard the opposing team's best offensive player and bother them with her length and quickness. She can also be the low man and protect the rim with her wingspan. She's a Swiss Army knife on the defensive side of the floor. When she's playing on the offensive side, she cuts really well into open spaces and can play off the catch well. Attacking closeouts and finishing at the rim, and shooting the ball, is something you can't forget about when she's your assignment, because she will make you pay. Ayla is trending in the right direction to be a scholarship level player.     I was impressed with Abriella's game and by how much you can tell she loves to play the game. Her activity on the defensive side doesn't stop. She's either pointing teammates to the right direction, calling out screens, communicating on the back side, boxing out, cutting off drives, and boxing out to cap off a great defensive possession. Offensively, she can score in different ways and displayed it all weekend. She shot the three well, made pull-ups when closeouts were out of control, and made connective passes as well. Abriella has what it takes to play at the next level, and I can't wait to keep track of her ongoing development.

The Great Lakes Region Finals brought together some of the top 16U talent in the Midwest, providing players with an opportunity to compete against elite competition on a big stage. While scoring often grabs the headlines, several athletes separated themselves through their impact on both ends of the floor. These two-way standouts consistently influenced winning with their ability to score, defend, rebound, create for teammates, and make game-changing plays when their teams needed them most.