MBA Train and Play: 2029s Standing Out

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sunday afternoon, I headed out to Grand Rapids for the MBA Train and Play. Drills and 3v3 gave me plenty of opportunities to see the players with the ball in hand. Many familiar faces stood out during the session, and several new prospects emerged as well. Here are five 2029 prospects who stood out during my time in the gym on Sunday:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1249691"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6ace3ca2dc003"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Madison was one of the standard setters during the outlet passing drill. She called outlet consistently, took one dribble, and fired passes from half-court accurately through the air to teammates up the court. Madison has fantastic touch and loft on her passes. She puts the ball exactly where it needs to go. Madison caught passes with strong hands and finished efficiently off two feet, jumping up to score efficiently with her right and left. Madison has the physical strength and toughness needed to convert tough shots in traffic. She's a dual-threat scorer who can slash to the basket or hit the outside shot. Madison works hard to apply pressure on the defensive end and she had a solid showing at the MBA Train and Play. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1281169"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6ace3ca2dc068"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Elaina started the day well at the MBA Train and Play. She separated herself immediately during the transition passing drill. Elaina yelled "outlet" consistently, took one dribble, and fired strong, lead passes up the court on a rope to teammates, hitting them in stride. She is slippery with her crafty change-of-pace, shifty handles, and ability to get the angle, then beat defenders to the rim. Elaina drove hard for a layup, split the gap to score with a reach-around finish, spun to hit a floater, scored a layup through contact, made smart extra passes, and landed under control, then pivoted to create the angle to convert contested floaters in the paint. Her quickness, scrappy pressure, vision, and uptempo style create an advantage in the backcourt. Elaina looks ready for a stellar sophomore season at Petoskey.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1814091"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6ace3ca2dc0a6"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Christie threw strong passes up the court in transition, made a good catch and transfer to her left for a layup, and took a strong power dribble, squared her shoulders, then finished off two. Her power and strength in the paint became a separator throughout the day. Christie used a good, strong seal to establish position against a forward in the post, then created space with an effective drop-step pivot to finish off two feet. I made a note of her strength, and Christie muscled her way through contact to win inside position. She created space with a counter pivot to score in the lane and showed fundamentally sound footwork. Christie separated herself at the MBA Train and Play; she's going to give Traverse City Central an advantage in the front court. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1191103"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6ace3ca2dc0ea"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Taylor is one of the deadliest shooters in her class, and it showed at the MBA Train and Play. I noted her efficiency, and she was on fire throughout the session. Two catch-and-shoot threes from the slot, a facial three up top, a step-back corner three off the bounce, and many more. My favorite from the day happened when Taylor casually retreated with her dribble to the deep wing as the seconds ticked down, then launched a buzzer-beating moonshot that found the bottom of the net. Taylor also demonstrated her toughness as a downhill driver. She beat her defender with a burst to score with her left and made multiple tough, contested layups, finishing comfortably with either hand. Taylor is a major addition to the MBA program, and she's going to be an exciting playmaker to watch at Central Montcalm this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1249777"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6ace3ca2dc114"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Katie delivered a complete performance at the MBA Train and Play that caught my attention. She encouraged others by high-fiving teammates in the drills, came to the ball and shouted outlet, then fired strong lead passes up the court. Katie caught passes with good hands, took one dribble, then powered up off two to finish high. She moved well and closed out hard to block a shot attempt on the perimeter. Katie faced up and attacked downhill on a hard drive from the perimeter, then finished the athletic layup under control at the rim. She made a smart basket cut, caught the pass, pivoted to create a scoring angle, shielded the ball with her body, then went up strong for the bucket off two feet. Katie showed her range by sinking a three from the top of the key. She's a physical and versatile forward who consistently competes at maximum effort on the court to make an impact in every statistical category. Katie gives Saranac a clear advantage in their front court. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->