Bigs at the Kentucky Top 250 Expo

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There were several talented and developing Bigs that came to this year's Prep Girls Hoops Top 250 Expo this past Saturday. I'm going to tell you about several of them below and try to follow up with more tomorrow before moving on to the Forwards. Guards will follow sometime next week. <br>Those of you that read this article immediately got a peak behind the curtain to see that sometimes when I start these artiles I don't write anything good in the opening paragraphs. I forgot and posted the article with a sentence I finished by writing blah, blah blah before fixing it by calling myself out. I guess I am too honest to try pretending that didn't happen or maybe I just want to deliver something real. I don't understand my motivation. <br>Read on.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p id="block-c6c5bf0a-2ed7-470a-9f64-7eceacc45911"></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_632c987973fae","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["429736"],"_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_0_evaluation":"Sometimes when you look at our Rankings you might find a few players you think should be Ranked higher or lower than some of the other players. It isn't a science. We put them together with limited information and if you find Sparks on our current Rankings we woud probably look terrible to you right now. She definitely belongs closer to #1 than #100 but I won't speculate where right now. u003cbru003eu003cbru003eI think before the 250 I was the only Scout that has seen her play (but I don't know that). I wannted to make sure she got on the list so that she would be on our radar for later and she made it. One thing is for certain is that she will be mentioned in our article about who has moved up the most since our last Rankings update. It would almost be impossible for anyone to jump more spaces than she will. u003cbru003eu003cbru003eSparks was nearly unstoppable last Saturday in the mid-post and low post. She has an excellent turn-around jumper, an elbow jumper and made an excellent reverse pivot to score on the block. She plays on both sides of the lane and just outside of it and appears very comfortable with the ball in her hands. She did a good job facilitating the Offense as a passer, getting an assits with a kick back pass to a three-point shooter and passing Big to Big. u003cbru003eu003cbru003eShe was a force on the offensive glass able to seal off her zone and to go get the ball out of her zone. She has the fundamentals to keep the ball high and the intelligence to know what to do with it once she has it. I also liked that she was unselfish with the ball after she had shown her skill acumen and helped to build a big lead she focused more on getting her teammates involved. ","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"edit","anchor":"acf-block-66101a99914ea"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_632c972f73fad","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["310828"],"_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_0_evaluation":"Gibson is an excellent Rim Protector that uses her body and voice to organize the backside of the defense. I don't believe she is trying to intimidate her opponents. But the way she uses her arms to point out and identify potential threats to the basket beyond the player she is defending is a clear warning that nothing in the lane is going to come easy. Her length is fantastic and she has excellent mobility making her ideal at protecting the hoop. u003cbru003eu003cbru003eShe was another play I saw in a shortened game. But having seen her play coming off the bench for her school last season I am really looking forward to seeing her play an increased role. Surrounded by several scoring options last season I would expect to see Gibson play an increased role in the Offense, but even if she were to just focus on being a rim runner and rebounder she could play a very important role in the success of the Pandas this winter. ","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"edit","anchor":"acf-block-66101a9991521"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_632c9f9173faf","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["329425"],"_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_0_evaluation":"Estes was one of the most impressive Bigs at last year's 250 with her strength and versatility and brought it again this year. She was also effective this summer when I saw her out at the fairgrounds, but I have never had the chance to see her play in high school. If you Coach for a smaller College and need a skilled, developed post player that can do just about everything well this is a player you should be looking at. She is just a bit too short for the D1 level but she would be a great addition as a 5 for a D3 or NAIA team and maybe at the 4 for a D2 team. Every player has to be the right fit for your system and I think Estes would be a fit in most systems. u003cbru003eu003cbru003eEstes tends to play in the high post and free throw line extended but has the body to be an enforcer under the hoop also. Her footwork is excellent and she appears to be well-versed in how to play the game with your back to the basket. She doesn't shy away from contact and moves with purpose or holds her position using her excellent balance. She would be an excellent screener in any sort of offensive, with the ability to knock down an open short jumper or make the layup on the roll to the hoop. If you run the Mover-Blocker Offense seeing her play should be a top priority. ","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["502117"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Boyd is a very necessary addition for her school team that, from what I knew, was a team with no frontcourt punch returning on the roster. She bring a strong frame into the mix in the interior especialy on the glass on both ends of the floor. u003cbru003eu003cbru003eI saw her in one of the shortened games so I did not get the best of looks at her and it can be difficult for some post players to integrate their game into this sort of event. But the way she was able to mix it up against some of the other Bigs I am more familiar with was enough to know she will be a factor this season. ","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["404387"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"Hall has a wiry frame, good quickness, great footwork and a quick first step to help her get to the rim on the left-handed drive to the basket. She also displayed a mid-post turnaround jumper, a willingness to mix it up and the toughness to take hard contact. u003cbru003eu003cbru003eI didn't know anything about her before the 250 because she is from Indiana, Evenasville area. But I was shocked just now when I checked and discovered she was a rising Freshman. Her game is very advanced considering her age. I tried looking up any stats she might have from last season but the Indiana site is very different and I couldn't find anything about player stats. But I suspect this will not be the last time I see Hall play or that you will hear about her playing career. u003cbru003eu003cbru003e","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='458928' first='Aubrey' last='Packer']","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"6'0u0022","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"12120","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"Bullitt East","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_3_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_3_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"I didn't recognize Packer when I first saw her. I don't know if that is because I see too many different girls to keep them all straight in my head, if she has dramatically changed her appearance, or if that wasn't her. There were several players on my roster that did not attend the event and a few players that showed up at the door that took their spots and their jerseys. So, I am going to move forward and hope that I am talking about who I think I saw play rn(Aubrey, I will know your face before this season is over. Most likely the problem is my memory.) {UPDATE: Thanks to her Father I can confirm this was Aubrey Paacker and it was a lapse in my memory in not recognizing her. Thanks again.] u003cbru003eu003cbru003ePacker displayed some speed I didn't know she possessed and that is going to be very important for her this winter. With the graduation of a few key players on her school team, Packer is one of the players with the most to gain this year. I suspect a return to a pressing and running style for the Chargers and as a Rim Runner she could score several points per game. Her strong defensive rebounding was also impressive at the 250 making her an asset in starting the break. u003cbru003eu003cbru003e","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":4,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"edit","anchor":"acf-block-66101a99915b9"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p> </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><br>[player_tooltip player_id='502246' first='Bella' last='Deere'] 89 -9 </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='364233' first='Kayleigh' last='Huffines'] 90 -6</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='231483' first='Talynne' last='Shearer'] 91 -6 <br>[player_tooltip player_id='470571' first='Brooklyn' last='White'] 110<br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->