PGH Top 250: First Team All-Expo

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Yesterday was the PGH Iowa - Top 250 Expo in Grimes, Iowa. An event that had around 50 players come out to compete over 4 hours, to show off their skill and what they could do with some other really talented players around them. Over this week, we will be publishing team evaluations for all squads, as well as some other evaluations and breakdowns for players that displayed their talents at an extremely high level. In the article below I am going to highlight 5 players who will make up our "First Team" of this event. Every individual listed is one that showed impressive skill throughout each contest on Sunday and that they are ready to compete once this high school season pops up in the next few months. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Thanks for tuning in and enjoy!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["558218"],"_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":"The Top 250 Expo brought together some of the best high school talent from across the state of Iowa to compete at 515 Field House in Grimes. One of the most dominate players of the day was [player_tooltip player_id='558218' first='Cora' last='Widel']. In all honesty, Widel was also my number one player of the day at this event. She displayed her length and skill while attacking the hoop off of the dribble, she stayed patient and didn't force any action on the floor in any specific moments, and she dominated her matchups most of the day. All in all, Widel has a much higher ceiling than she first displayed to me at the start of high school. Her progression over the past year has been steady and if it were to continue at this rate, she would end up having the opportunity to play Division 1 basketball before everything is said and done. Her mixture of athleticism and guard like skill-set is at that level. I'm interested to see how she does this high school season at Maquoketa but from what I saw on Sunday, she is set to have a standout winter for the Cardinals. A team that is going to make some waves this winter.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["502104"],"_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='502240' first='Samantha' last='Becker'] was a point guard that could always control the game and it's pace whenever she was on the floor but on Sunday, Becker displayed that ability while also being about 2-4 inches taller then when I had seen her last. That might not seem like much but in this game, that size is the difference between being able to create enough space in the right moments for a bucket or having the opponent get a hand on the ball. Becker displayed a great feel for the game in each contest she played in at this Expo. She was being her controlling self at the point position but also creating for herself and others off the dribble at an eye-opening rate. This is another player this I'm very interested in seeing compete this winter. If she keeps it simple like she did on Sunday, she is going to be a point guard we speak more and more about as this year goes on. ","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["609457"],"_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":"[player_tooltip player_id='609457' first='Sacha' last='Alesch'] is a bucket. There isn't any other way to put it. It doesn't matter if she is pulling up from 5 feet behind the 3 point line or if she is taking it all the way to the rack, she is going to get wherever she wants to go and in a hurry. When you hear about a player like this the imagination starters to take you places but I think the best way to describe Alesch's game is as crafty and effective. She makes good choices a majority of the time with the ball in her hands and can really cause some havoc on the defensive side of things with her active hands and knowledge of the game. At Bishop Garrigan high school this winter Alesch will be a big part of this programs rebuild. She is the type of player that can be counted on each game to produce but to what extent? We will have to wait and find out.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["432963"],"_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='432963' first='Grace' last='Linder'] is a solid basketball player that is skilled in the game and also possesses some good size to pair along with that. On Sunday, Linder showed off to everyone in the gym that she is ready for this high school season and ready to compete at a high level while doing so. On most occasions Linder was killing her personal matchups in whichever way she liked. She was using her size advantage near the rim, sprinting the floor and beating her opponents to their spots almost each time down the court, defending both smaller and bigger players depending on the situation, and was a positive influence to the teammates around her. The thing that stands out about Linder's game the most, that is underrated, is her motor. She does not stop. It's not something you can teach and it's not something that all players have. Her energy is always off of the charts and it shows to the college coaches watching out there, trust me. ","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='766304' first='Paige' last='Andernacht']","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"2028","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"5'11u0022","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"12120","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"Johnston","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"[program_tooltip program_id='714272' first='Iowa' last='Battlers']","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_4_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='766304' first='Paige' last='Andernacht'] is a forward/center to keep an eye on over the next few years. Andernacht is a 5'10/5'11 monster in the paint. A player that is young but understands spacing, footwork, and game situations really well when she catches it with her back to the basket. When it comes to rebounding she is one of those players that just doesn't quit until the whistle is blown and that is something college coaches love to see. A physically skilled player, with knowledge of the game and a high motor with no quit. Her growth over the next few years is going to be important as she is only in 8th grade. If she can expand her skill's, while also continuing to grow a little bit more as she gets into high school at Johnston, then she is going to be another college player coming out of the Dragons pipeline over the next few years. Until then, she just has to keep working on her own game and things are going to be just fine. She has a very bright future on the court from what I saw on Sunday first hand.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":5,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6508d40680358"} /-->