Victory Region Kick Off: 17U – Weekend Warriors

<!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["414748"],"_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":"[player_tooltip player_id='414748' first='London' last='Walker-George'] stood out on the court this weekend for a number of reasons for her Chicago Express Hoops 2024 team on their way to an overall 4-0 record, with an average margin of victory of around 15 points per game. Walker-Geroge is promising. She holds a lot of skill and ability for her age while keeping a good composure throughout a hard fought contest. When I got to watch her this weekend she was flying all over the court on the defensive end in their press while making some really sound decisions on the offensive end of things, leading to a lot of points of herself and her teammates. Not to mention that her physicality does not go un-noticed. With the size and skill that London possesses it's not crazy to say that in a year or two, she could be a top ranking player in the state of Illinois in the 2025 moving forward, she just needs to keep grinding.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["500609"],"_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":"[player_tooltip player_id='500609' first='Elle' last='Bruschuk'] did her thing this weekend at the Prep Hoops Victory Region Kick Off in Romeoville, Illinois. Bruschuck was the complete player. She did a little bit of everything for her [program_tooltip program_id='712553' first='IL' last='Lady Lightning'] 2024 team. This includes scoring as a consistent rate, rebounding efficiently on both sides of the floor, finding open teammates and making the extra pass for a better offensive look if possible, and defending any position wether it be the point guard or the center. In all of these aspects she either held her own or excelled over whatever competition she was facing in that moment. This Illinois Lady Lightning team is legit. They play composed and together as if they have been playing together for a while, something that shouldn't be over-looked.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["501991"],"_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":"One of the first athletes that I sat down to watch this weekend was [player_tooltip player_id='501991' first='Makayla' last='Kelly'] and her [program_tooltip program_id='715556' first='Illinois' last='Dream'] 2024 team, a game that did not disappoint due to the intense guard play between both programs in the contest. One of those main guards for the Dream being [player_tooltip player_id='501991' first='Makayla' last='Kelly']. Kelly, a 5'9 point guard/shooting guard, acts as a Swiss-army knife for this team in the meaning that she does multiple things on the floor, from multiple positions, to help her team become successful. Wether it be leading the offense as the point guard and getting everyone in position or creating her own into a scoring opportunity for herself. Her game is diverse when it comes to the guard positions on the floor. Being on a team with several skilled position players can sometimes cause trouble for some athletes to overcome and stand out but not in Kelly's case. She does a fantastic job of letting her presence be known in one way or another when she takes the court, no matter what team she is competing with.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["265991"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='265991' first='Emma' last='Payton'] did a nice job of attacking the basket and moving without the ball when I saw her compete this weekend. Payton is a nicely sized combo guard who uses it to her advantage any chance she gets throughout the duration of a game. In the moments where she got the ball in her hands on offense she did well on showing off her ability. She can put it on the floor, pull up from deep, or take it the rack and finish through contact for an AND1. Something that she did a number of times this weekend. In AAU it's obviously more of a challenge, in all aspects, when competing because of the heightened competition level but Payton does a good job of coming in, accepting her roll and doing her job for her squad. Something that isn't always easy to adapt to when you are used to the ball in your hands every possession of the high school level. Moving forward I like Payton's ceiling and she will be a player I keep an eye on. She has all the ability and physical gifts to continue to thrive at the high school-varsity level, with the chance of it carrying her into a nice college career somewhere, when it's all said and done. ","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["624976"],"_player_evaluations_4_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"Over the weekend I watched a lot of fast point guards do their things. One of the fastest with an unbelievable first step is [player_tooltip player_id='624976' first='A'Meah' last='Lester']. Lester is a quick and shifty point guard with good fundamentals and basketball IQ. She plays with sound pace and speed while controlling the game on the offensive side. She never seems to be too rushed or sped up in any situations, which is a good sign for a young point guard. When I watched her this weekend I want to say her best ability was getting to the basket. Finishing is another story and something that will come in due time but her ability to dribble and get past her defender was/is impressive. She always did a really good job knowing what to do once she does beat that first defender, wether it be to go up with it in the form of a shot or to find an open teammate in the post or opposite side of the floor. Going forward I'd tell Lester to just have a little more self-confidence. She plays hard but just seems to be little unsure of her own abilities. You can tell her teammates and coaches trust her, she just needs to trust herself now and big things will be soon to come!","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":5,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-642b09e4caebb"} /-->