PGH River City Run: 17U’s Saturday Standouts

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There was a ton of talent in the gym at PGH's River City Run today. I have the pleasure of covering the 17U division this weekend and I walked away very impressed after day one of the tournament. From individuals to teams as a whole, there was a lot that caught my eye throughout the day. Before the tournament even started, I decided I would select one player from each team to be the standout for each day which ended up being a much tougher task than I had originally anticipated. However, I did my best to narrow it down to just one per team for now, so here are my standouts from day one of River City Run. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["245352"],"_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":"United Family 3SSB 17U was definitely the hardest team to choose a standout from because quite literally every single player on their roster is a high level talent. They really set the tone in the 17U division winning both games by 35+ points (even with the rule that ends the game 2 minutes early when a team is up by a certain number of points). Every player did something that stood out at one point or another. However, there's a reason [player_tooltip player_id='245352' first='Imari' last='Berry'] is the 12th ranked player in the country (per ESPNw). Berry is a really special talent. Everything about her game is so smooth. She can knock down shots, get to the rim, make plays for her teammates, and the list goes on. She's tough and your best bet is just trying to contain her because she's going to get her buckets.u003cbru003eu003cbru003e[embed]https://x.com/alyxwhite_/status/1657436202352476166[/embed]","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["398033"],"_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":"Darrington is extremely long and she uses her length so well. She can elevate over defenders to get her shot off and she finishes high at the rim. She also is a solid shot blocker and when she doesn't get the block, she was altering shots at the rim. Even when the opposing teams were doing a good job of limiting her on the boards, she was still coming up with rebounds consistently.u003cbru003eu003cbru003e[embed]https://x.com/alyxwhite_/status/1657443086543331329[/embed]","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"Jenna Sparks","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"6'3u0022","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"12120","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"Mingo Central","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"Arctic Rush Basketball Club 2024","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_2_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"Arctic Rush was another one of the hardest teams for me to pick a standout from because they just play so well together and because of that, they all stand out individually. However, Sparks defense is what ultimately made me choose her for this article. She is so long and that length makes it so hard for opposing teams to get anything easy around the basket. Her timing and willingness to stay straight up make her an excellent shot blocker. Offensively, she has the ability to stretch the defense as she can knock down jumpers or finish high around the rim.u003cbru003eu003cbru003e[embed]https://x.com/alyxwhite_/status/1657500094059429890[/embed]","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["331801"],"_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":"Burks is a really solid floor general. Great handles, quick, and a playmaker. Made strong drives to the hoop, but recognized when help stepped over and did a great job of making the extra pass. Controls the pace and tempo so well. Also, Burks was absolutely fearless even when undersized in their second matchup of the day. She was finishing some tough shots.u003cbru003eu003cbru003e[embed]https://x.com/alyxwhite_/status/1657426066040840193[/embed]","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["502107"],"_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":"Harris was really doing a little bit of everything for Richmond Heat. It felt like she was getting every single rebound got stretches of each game. Really crashes the boards with a purpose. Harris was knocking down shots from everywhere on the floor, making strong drives to the rim, and finishing at the free throw line.u003cbru003eu003cbru003e[embed]https://x.com/alyxwhite_/status/1657506018895486977[/embed]","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_player":["502117"],"_player_evaluations_5_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"Boyd is strong and was really the spark plug for Kentucky ICE early on. If you look at the video below, you can see how well she was getting it done on both ends of the court. A true fighter who was giving 110% effort every second she was on the floor.u003cbru003eu003cbru003e[embed]https://x.com/alyxwhite_/status/1657408035105525764[/embed]","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_6_player":["425377"],"_player_evaluations_6_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"Fox was as solid as she always is when I watch her play. Wasn't forcing shots and was consistently making the right play. She can knock down jumpers or attack gaps on her drives. Fox has deep range on her shot and can pull up off of the dribble. Has good ball handling skills and made strong passes.u003cbru003eu003cbru003e[embed]https://x.com/alyxwhite_/status/1657459794201001984[/embed]","_player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_7_player":["470570"],"_player_evaluations_7_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_7_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_7_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_7_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_7_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_7_evaluation":"Triplett has really made big improvements to her game since the last time I watched her play. Showed an ability to score inside or out and on both ends of the floor. Consistently plays hard, moves to the gaps in the floor, strong cuts, and came up with some good steals by reading the passing lanes. Excellent shooter, but impacts the game in a lot more ways than just knocking down shots.rnrn[embed]https://x.com/alyxwhite_/status/1657444941331570689[/embed]","_player_evaluations_7_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_8_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_8_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_8_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_8_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_8_player_details_player_name":"DJ Pannell","_player_evaluations_8_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_8_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_8_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_8_player_details_height":"5'5u0022","_player_evaluations_8_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_8_player_details_position":"12125","_player_evaluations_8_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_8_player_details_school":"North Central","_player_evaluations_8_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_8_player_details_club_team":"Indiana Showcase 2024 Red BSTL","_player_evaluations_8_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_8_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_8_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_8_evaluation":"Pannell has solid handles and is very poised with the ball in her hands. Wasn't afraid of pressure and consistently came to the ball when her teammates grabbed the rebound. She was thinking a pass ahead and made solid passes all throughout the day. Good shooter, but can also drive to the hoop.u003cbru003eu003cbru003e[embed]https://x.com/alyxwhite_/status/1657411776428888064[/embed]","_player_evaluations_8_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":9,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-646029615b392"} /-->