PGH Sophomore ID Camp: Team 4 evaluations, part 1

At last weekend's Prep Girls Hoops showcase event we got a good look at the best of Minnesota's freshman class. On Sunday it was time for the 10th graders to step into the spotlight at the Sophomore ID Camp. The 2029 class has plenty of talent, and this is where things start to get interesting. Some of these players have already created some buzz with what they've done during the high school and AAU seasons. Others are still looking to get their names out there and show they belong in the conversation.   That's the beauty of an ID Camp. Reputation is nice, but once the ball goes up, you still have to perform. We saw players compete, make plays and take advantage of their opportunity to be seen. We'll kick off our sophomore coverage with Team 4. Here's Part 1 of the players who caught my attention.    Samaniego may be small in stature, but she played much bigger than her size at the Sophomore ID Camp on Sunday. She kept the offense flowing, didn't over-dribble and consistently made quick, decisive plays. When her feet were set, she was an above-average shooter from beyond the arc, repeatedly finding nothing but net on catch-and-shoot opportunities. Samaniego represented both MN Diamond Elite and Roseville Area High School extremely well with her grit, confidence and tough-as-nails approach to the game.     The lefty is as fearless and tough as they come. Schmaltz took a blow to the head early in the Sophomore ID Camp and, for a moment, it appeared her day might be over. However, she was able to return and didn't miss a beat. The 5-foot-3 guard out of Goodhue used her size to her advantage, keeping her dribble low and out of the reach of some of the best defenders in the class. She also used her strong frame to protect the ball, get to her spots and create opportunities for herself and her teammates. The Legacy Elite guard was fun to watch and makes every team she plays for better because she knows exactly who she is and what she brings to the table.     Watkins was active all day long. She followed her own misses and caught the defense flat-footed, turning sheer hustle into easy putbacks. The guard out of Deer River was as aggressive a scorer as anyone at the Sophomore ID Camp. Whether it was in the half court or transition, she found ways to produce. Her mid-range game, strong drives to the basket and patented step-back three were working more often than not. There were a few heat-check moments mixed in, but when you're shooting the ball the way Watkins was, who could blame her? She plays for [program_tooltip program_id='784736' first='High' last='Impact'] during the AAU season, and that's exactly what she did all day – made an impact.     Wolff (pictured above) took some time to get going, using the early portion of the Sophomore ID Camp to feel things out and determine where she could make her biggest impact. Once she figured it out, though, it was all gas, no brakes. The Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton forward attacked the rim off the bounce, knocked down shots from deep and was an absolute beast on the glass. Defensively, Wolff protected the rim at a high level. When matched up on the perimeter, she used her length and recovery ability to erase any advantage smaller, quicker guards thought they had, consistently altering or blocking their shots. The 6-foot-1 prospect possesses tremendous upside and is only beginning to scratch the surface of what she can become. It appears [program_tooltip program_id='712722' first='North' last='Tartan'] has struck gold once again.

At last weekend's Prep Girls Hoops showcase event we got a good look at the best of Minnesota's freshman class. On Sunday it was time for the 10th graders to step into the spotlight at the Sophomore ID Camp. The 2029 class has plenty of talent, and this is where things start to get interesting. Some of these players have already created some buzz with what they've done during the high school and AAU seasons. Others are still looking to get their names out there and show they belong in the conversation.