Class of 2022--PGs: Stock Risers

<img class="size-medium wp-image-278127 alignright" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/04/Emily-Dreckman.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="200" /> The whole sunbathing, oceanside tanning, star gazing, and beach volleyball activities are daily adventures that kids, teenagers, and young adults find themselves partaking in during the summer months. These excursions result in kodak memories that will last a lifetime. The smiles, laughter, and thrill are all of what makes a young person’s journey and destination an enjoyable one. On the other hand, there are millions of these people that will be spending the majority of their time and energy somewhere else. They will be developing crucial elements of a team sport, the environment of a winning atmosphere, competitive nature of coming out on top, what it takes to be a great teammate, nutrition information, healthy daily habits, etc. So, who exactly am I referring to? I am talking about AAU grassroots basketball players. They will be spending a good amount of their time in a gymnasium through the months of May-August, and will be having the time of their life while doing it. These young ballers will most likely not get that opportunity throughout the course of a summer to be out on a beach or out in a swimming pool with friends very often. Which is definitely okay, and shows how much the game of basketball has evolved and how it has become such an important element of young athlete’s overall lives. This explains each hooper’s passion, drive, vision, and ambition to play the game and advance their career in the sport. These athlete’s are also expanding their lifespan by involving themselves in such a rigorous sport, and are making their bodies less prone to infection; which establishes an efficient active lifestyle. In this article, I will be focusing in on a couple of standout PG’s in the Class of 2022 that will be spending over 70% of their lives this summer in a gym making their presence known on the court. They will not be out in Florida in an ocean, out shopping on Beverly Hills Rodeo Drive, or on the Las Vegas strip. They will be in a basketball gym getting better, playing against other top-notch competition, and improving their overall skill set. These select players are stock risers that have a lot to offer in college programs as years go on; and will be a thrill to watch this 2021 AAU circuit as this is it for them to shine and catch people’s eyes. I can’t speak for each of them, but it wouldn’t surprise me if some of them would rather be in a gym playing the game they love showcasing to coaches what they are capable of, and to them; the two basketball hoops are their: ocean, shops, and LV strip. That is truly the amazing thing about this game. The joy and pleasure that stems from that orange ball and those two hoops is just simply breathtaking and electrifying, and there is no doubt they will have any regrets in the end by playing this sport. Let’s continue on now to see what these players are made of, what they bring to the table, and what talents and skills they possess out on the court on both ends of the floor.   <ol> <li>[player_tooltip player_id="129010" first="Emma" last="Ingersoll-Weng"], 5’4, PG, Iowa City West, 2022</li> </ol> --Emma is a lightning quick, dynamic, fluid floor general with a fantastic upside. This kid’s stock should be rising tremendously over the next couple of weeks and months, and there is no question she should be getting tons of interest from high level college programs. She displays the ability to have a tremendous all around game on the offesnive end. She can create opportunities possession after possession quickly and in a hurry for both herself and her teammates. Her ability to get to the rim and finish in traffic with tons of athletic ability and talent is very evident, and she can finish at the hoop with both hands. She has a good stroke beyond the arc, and can stretch the defense with great range. Emma has a great quick first step, so she can set up her teammates up with great dimes out on the perimeter to a wing or in the lane to a big. Her tenacity on the defensive end is very noticeable, and she can be an effective defender each possession with her athleticism. With the size she lacks at 5’4, she makes up for it with passion, energy, talent, skill, and athletic ability. Expect this kid to do some tremendous things this 2021 AAU season with the All Iowa Attack team, and she will only be getting better. Big things in store for her, and is a definite must see player this summer. Enjoy!   2. [player_tooltip player_id="129041" first="Amanda" last="Treptow"], 5’4, PG, Jesup, 2022 --Amanda is a fierce, competitive floor general with a great mentality. She is a highly-skilled player with outstanding athletic ability. It’s very clear to me she likes to get her teammates involved and likes to make them look good with great passes. She is an absolute terror on the defensive end and creates continous havoc each possession for opposing teams by utlizing her quick hands and feet. She finishes at the rim well with both hands, and is a good ball handler. Amanda has a quick release, and is a great 3-point shooter. Her energized and upbeat competitive nature rubs off on her teammates, and creates a collective environment for everyone to be in. There is no question she will be making some loud noise this 2021 AAU season with the Lady Martin Brothers team. Expect her to come out with a bang at each event, and to leave each court with some bumps and bruises. Come check her out at some big-time events this summer. Enjoy!   3. [player_tooltip player_id="163322" first="Ivey" last="Schmidt"], 5’7, PG, Grinnell, 2022 --Ivey is a smooth floor general that has a lot of natural talent. She brings a sense of calmness to the court, while playing effectively and with ease. Her 3-point stroke is as pure as can be, and she has tremendous form. She can shoot off the bounce from the 3-point line, but also in the lane with a fluid pull-up jumper. She can get to the rim and finish amongst taller defenders, while finishing with both hands. Ivey is a great defender as well, and can get her hands on many passes and deflections. I like her floor awareness and court vision. She makes some spot on passes to teammates down the floor. Without a doubt, she will be turning heads this 2021 AAU season with the Pure Prep Adidas team. Expect a tremendous college player in years to come. Head out and watch her do her thing out at many AAU tournaments across the country while she plays in some prestigious Adidas sponsored events this summer. Enjoy!   4. [player_tooltip player_id="129004" first="Lucy" last="Schaffer"], 5’7, PG, North Polk, 2022 --Lucy is a lanky, talented floor general that is a total nightmare for opposing teams on both ends of the court. Her ability to thrive as both an offensive and defensive player is very entertaining to watch, as she does it with so much passion and ambition. I love her aggressiveness while finishing at the rim. She can drive and finish with both hands, while also finishing some tricky drives in the open floor and in the half court. She can hit the 3-point shot, and is a great shooter. Her energy to make an impact on both offense and defense makes her a fun player to watch. She is 5’7, however, she has some length to her which can make her a lethal guard. Lucy displays the ability to also have a high basketball IQ and good knowledge of the game. Expect her to stand out this 2021 AAU season with the All Iowa Attack team. She will surely be allowing coaches to see her high-caliber ability, as well as love for the game. Enjoy!   5. [player_tooltip player_id="63622" first="Emily" last="Dreckman"], 5’10, PG, MMRCU, 2022 --Emily is a solid, bigger floor general that has made her versatility known this past high school season. She has turned into quite the point guard, and has had a serious impact at that position in recent months. She is coming off of a knee injury, but that is not phasing her one bit as she is fully recovered. The first thing that stood out to me about her game was her 3-point shot. She has a pure shooting stroke, and has a nice step back behind the arc. She can also hit shots off the bounce as well. Her ball handling skills allows her to get to the rim and finish with both hands. She is a tremendous finisher at the rim, and can finish with the extension scoop. She displays the ability to be an efficient defender and can rack up the steals. Emily excels in the open floor as well. I like her court vision and her capability of making her teammates around her look good with great passes. With her length and size, she can get many rebounds. Expect her to become more recognized and well-known this 2021 AAU season with the United Sports Academy team. She will be continuing where she left off in March as she goes through the summer circuit. Coaches need to see many games of this high-level player. Enjoy!