Key Prospect Matchups heading into February

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With the High School basketball regular season coming to a close soon, the intensity is sure to be kicked up a gear. Teams and players are sharpening their tools for the ever-so-important last month of the season, and this is where the great players are at their best. There's no better time to see what a player is made of than when everything is on the line. So it's time to look at some key prospect matchups in February.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2/2 PVI vs. Bishop Oconnell</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There are a couple of different matchups I could have chosen from in this game, but [player_tooltip player_id='164693' first='Sophia' last='Carlisle'] vs. [player_tooltip player_id='238889' first='Laura' last='Williams'] is the one that intrigues me the most. Carlisle is a beast in the paint, often using her body to seal out her defender and get easy buckets. She is a terror on the offensive glass and is just super difficult to deal with. [player_tooltip player_id='238889' first='Laura' last='Williams']'s specialty lies in her ability to use her length on the defensive side of the ball. She constantly alters shots in the paint and uses her athleticism to be a fantastic defender overall. This matchup is strength against strength, and it should test the medal of both these girls.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2/5 St John's College High School vs. PVI</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The most impressive guard I've watched all season is St John's guard [player_tooltip player_id='238690' first='Kyndal' last='Walker']. Walker is fast, athletic, skilled, and intelligent. She can shoot the ball from outside, get to the rim whenever she wants, and is a great disruptor. She is an all-around complete basketball player and one of the best players in the nation. On the other side of the coin, [player_tooltip player_id='260613' first='Sadie' last='Shores'] flies under the radar. PVI is a team loaded with talent, and she often needs help. Shores runs the show for PVI, and her ability to get to her spots and find open players is paramount for PVI. Not to mention her defense helps set the tone, and she will be tasked with guarding Walker when they meet. Shores is the 5th ranked player in Virginia for the class of 2024, while Walker is number 1 in Maryland. This should be a fun one.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2/6 Briar Woods vs. Stone Bridge </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Freshman [player_tooltip player_id='474543' first='Carly' last='Sweazie'] is way ahead of her years. She has an uncanny ability for a first-year student to put her head down and get into the paint when she wants to, and she usually converts. Coupling this with Sweazies ability to hit jump shots, you are looking at a player with a complete offensive game. Her talents will be tested when she faces her cross-town rival in [player_tooltip player_id='260955' first='Tia' last='Chen'] and Briar Woods. [player_tooltip player_id='260955' first='Tia' last='Chen'] has good defensive instincts and great hands defensively. She handles the ball and shoots the three-ball well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2/3 Virginia Academy vs. Saint Gertrude </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This matchup features two top 25 players in the class of 2023 in Virginia. Both these girls are uber-skilled on offense, and this matchup should be fireworks. [player_tooltip player_id='300376' first='Erin' last='Woodson'] is one of the leaders in PPG in Virginia at a gaudy 26.7. PPG. Woodson is a gifted shooter and one of the better ones in the state. She's great at attacking the basket and getting to the line at a high rate. She's already put in 54 3s and 108 free throws through 20 games. [player_tooltip player_id='383820' first='Elena' last='Bertrand'] is a tremendous offensive player in her own right, but she does it differently. Bertrand has a fantastic float game, and she is a super crafty finisher. I'm excited about this one; it should be a high-scoring affair. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->