Grassroots Team Spotlight on Phee Elite 16U (Wilkenson)

Earl Austin May 24, 2023 @ 05:34 PM

(Photo Courtesy of Napheesa Collier Elite Twitter)   During the month of May, Prep Girls Hoops Missouri has been putting the spotlight on grassroots clubs from around the state that feature talented players that are operating under the radar. Today, we take a look at the Napheesa Collier Elite 16U (Wilkenson) squad that went 4-0 at The Classic in Louisville last weekend.   [player_tooltip player_id='1020869' first='Taylor' last='Miller'] (Clayton): A 5'5" guard who is an excellent defensive player with her quickness and ball hawking ability. She also played the passing lanes very well. She displayed good end to end speed in transition and she also grabbed her share of rebounds. She also moved well without the ball and got buckets on her off-ball cutting ability.   Cece Harris (MICDS): A 5'4" point guard with excellent playmaking skills who plays with a pass-first mentality. She is a deft passer who can thread the needle in the lane. She could get down hill on the pick and roll and finish with a shot high off the glass. She also does little things such as set screens and box out for rebounds and she competes hard as an on-ball defender.   Skye Johson (Lutheran North): A 5'3" guard who excels on the defensive end with her quickness and tenacity. She moves her feet and she could pick pockets and start the transition game for easy layups for her team. The lefty is a nice slasher in the lane and she could pull up and hit the pull up jumper from the elbow. She also had some impressive flash cuts in the middle of the defense, which led to easy buckets.   [player_tooltip player_id='457472' first='Sophia' last='Otten'] (Incarnate Word Academy): A 6'1" center who plays a solid back-to-the basket game in the low post. She holds her position well and she can finish with a nice drop step. She rebounds the ball well and she keeps the ball high from smaller players. She works hard inside and doesn't mind the physical play.   Grace Favela (O'Fallon, IL): A 6'0" forward who has excellent length and plays with good activity. She is a finesse player who is very mobile in the lane and can finish well with either hand. She was also running the court very well. She was very good on the defensive end as she blocked shots with good timing. She also defended well in the post as she got deflections on post entries and even denied passes into the high post.   [player_tooltip player_id='344798' first='Daijah' last='Jones'] (Cardinal Ritter): A 5'3" point guard who plays the position in an old-school manner in how she organizes things and distributes the basketball. She has a quick first step that gets her into the lane for either shot short jumper or floater or the drop off to an open teammate for a bucket. She is also very solid on the defensive end with her quick hands and ability to move her feet and keep ball handlers in front of her.   Celia Ruhl (Francis Howell Central): A 5'9" wing player with impressive athleticism and mobility. She was always moving and getting into the right position at both ends of the court. She could score on a nice runner in the lane or a short baseline jumper. She was also very good in the transition game. She was also active on defense with her instincts and good anticipation.   [player_tooltip player_id='740363' first='Maddie' last='Hannis'] (St. Joseph's Academy): A 5'9" guard who has a versatile skill set and a nice feel for the game. She can facilitate offense when needed with her passing and good decision making with the ball in her hands. She drives the ball well and she can also knock down the open 3-pointer. She can also operate from the high post as a passer and scorer.   Jozie Gruzinger (Parkway West): A 5'9" forward who is a versatile player who plays with a high motor at both ends. She has the size and tenacity to guard in the post and the athleticism to defend on the perimeter. She can also step out and knock down the open 3-pointer.

(Photo Courtesy of Napheesa Collier Elite Twitter)