17U Black Sanford Sports Academy Team Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Roster</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Alex Flattery - Sioux City East (IA) - Class of 2024 - 5'9" G</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='181914' first='Claire' last='Sheppard'] - Flandreau - Class of 2024 - 6'1" F</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='182476' first='Macy' last='Koupal'] - Wagner - Class of 2024 - 5'8" F</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='182129' first='Mahli' last='Abdouch'] - Bishop O'Gorman - Class of 2024 - 5'8" G</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='181885' first='Emilee' last='Fox'] - Mount Vernon-Plankinton - Class of 2024 - 5'8" G</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Brooklyn Stanley - Bishop Heelan (IA) - Class of 2024 - 5'9" G</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='218149' first='Katie' last='Vasecka']- Tea - Class of 2024 - 6'1" F</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='391823' first='Dani' last='Highum'] - Lennox - Class of 2024 - 5'10" F</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Coach - Jamie Granum</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Roster Breakdown</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Alex Flattery is a fantastic player out of Sioux City East. She is a tough-nosed defender who gets after perimeter players and makes her opponent earn everything they get. A team player, she moves well without the ball and makes intelligent decisions when she gets it. She attacks the basket and finishes well through contact, and her outside game continues to improve with consistency from deep. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='181914' first='Claire' last='Sheppard'] is a Jackrabbit commit for South Dakota State University, and for good reason. She is a fantastic rebounder on both ends and uses her length well to be disruptive on defense. She can score on all levels from the paint out past the three-point line and knows how to get to her spots to score. A true competitor Claire plays the game at a high level with a high IQ to go along with her pure athleticism.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='182476' first='Macy' last='Koupal'] is an underrated asset on this roster with a really complete game. She makes great decisions on the floor and does the little things a team needs to succeed but often flies under the radar. Macy is a consistent shooter from beyond the arc and finds spaces in the defense to score very effectively. Great instincts on the boards and an ability to defend multiple positions round out a really advanced skillset.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='182129' first='Mahli' last='Abdouch'] has one of the most impressive point guard skill sets you will find in the Midwest. She's a superb competitor who gets after it and isn't afraid to take control of the game at any moment. She attacks the rim well, has excellent control over her body, and can knock it down from anywhere. Mahli will be an excellent player at the next level as she heads to become a Jackrabbit in Brookings.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='181885' first='Emilee' last='Fox'] is a basketball player with one of the highest IQs in the state of South Dakota. She will take her talents to South Dakota State following next season along with 4 others on this roster. She has a rare mid-range game in her ability to pull up off the dribble and knock down shots over the defender. Her 3-point range is impressive and she can create shots for herself from out there as well. Excellent vision rounds out one of the best, arguably the best, point guard skillsets in South Dakota.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Brooklyn Stanley is one of the quickest perimeter players on this roster and across the Midwest. She can knock down the three and is a very effective perimeter defender as well. She is a hard worker who gets after it defensively and makes opposing guards work for every ounce of space they get. Brooklyn gets it done on both ends and is a player that remains unsigned that looks ready to play at the next level!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='218149' first='Katie' last='Vasecka'] is one of the top prospects in the state and is committed to pursuing her basketball dreams at South Dakota State following next season. She has great explosiveness in attacking the basket and can get to the rim in a hurry with her athleticism and length. Her height, athleticism, shooting ability, and IQ make her nearly impossible to guard. She is a matchup nightmare and extremely effective at getting her own opportunities to score and create for others off the drive help or double-team inside.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='391823' first='Dani' last='Highum'] is a talented forward who can play inside out. She fits today's game extremely well in her ability to knock down the outside shot and attack the basket. She's a force off the drive and does a great job of finding an opening in traffic and finishing with contact. Dani is a high-level athlete that will round out this immensely talented team.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Schedule</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:table --> <figure class="wp-block-table"><table><tbody><tr><td>4/21-23</td><td>Spring Showcase</td><td>Ames, IA</td></tr><tr><td>5/19-21</td><td>May Madness</td><td>Ames, IA</td></tr><tr><td>6/3-4</td><td>Hardwood Challenge</td><td>Sioux Falls, SD</td></tr><tr><td>6/16-18</td><td>North Tartan Summer Jam</td><td>Minneapolis, MN</td></tr><tr><td>6/23-25</td><td>Dakota Challenge</td><td>Sioux Falls, SD</td></tr><tr><td>7/7-10</td><td>Nike TOC</td><td>Chicago, IL</td></tr><tr><td>7/20-22</td><td>North Tartan Meltdown</td><td>Minneapolis, MN</td></tr><tr><td>7/23-25</td><td>Summer Finale</td><td>Des Moines, IA</td></tr></tbody></table></figure> <!-- /wp:table --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Thoughts from Coach Granum</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Coach Jamie Granum is excited about this star-studded roster and feels they can compete with any team in the country. They will practice twice a week starting in April and wrapping up in July. He feels the greatest strengths of this team are the balance of drivers and shooters and the experience of a ton of summer basketball together. On offense look for this group to put up a lot of points with great guard talent and a five-out offense that features a lot of drives, kick-out threes, and stellar ball movement. Defensively they will look to get out and guard people on the perimeter and utilize some switching concepts. Coach is excited about this team being challenged and taking the step to get past just winning and move towards the idea that growth against talented teams is what they are really after. Keep an eye on this group, they are a fun one!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->