Riptide Showcase AM Standouts Pt. II

Layia King; St Mary’s Academy 2026

David Yapkowitz

January 31, 2024 @ 02:00 PM

This past weekend, Palisades HS and St Monica HS played host to the Riptide Showcase featuring some of the top teams and talent in the Southern California area. I was able to attend the event in the morning at the St. Monica location at here's a look at a few additional standouts I saw. 1. [player_tooltip player_id='891522' first='Layia' last='King'] - St Mary's Academy 2026 King stood out as a developing wing scoring option. Comfortable with the ball in her hands and being able to get good scoring opportunities. She can attack the basket off the dribble, she has a good midrange shot and she has a good touch around the basket. Good length and size on the glass. Defensively she is active on ball and can be a shot blocker in the paint. 2. [player_tooltip player_id='887057' first='Melina' last='Werhle'] - St Monica 2025 Werhle was one of the best defensive players at the event. Good timing on her blocks, positioning herself well in the paint and challenging drives. She communicates defensively and she has the foot speed to be able to keep with the ball-handler as well. Good rebounder. Offensively she moves off ball and can finish at the basket off strong cuts. 3. [player_tooltip player_id='876147' first='Calista' last='Romero'] - St Pius X-St Matthias 2024 Romero is a bit of a combo guard. She can be a playmaker and she can be a scorer as well. Good passer in the halfcourt. Draws the defense and can kick the ball out. Gets into the paint off the dribble. Uses shot fakes to get the defense off balance. Good ball-handler who dribbles under control and can push the tempo on the break. 4. [player_tooltip player_id='876149' first='Kaya' last='Ghobrial'] - St. Monica 2024 Ghobrial stood out as a solid point guard and floor leader. Steady, doesn't try to do too much and stays within her game. Good ball-handler who can dribble under pressure and stay composed. Keeps her head up on the break. Looks for the open teammate but can score the ball as well.

This past weekend, Palisades HS and St Monica HS played host to the Riptide Showcase featuring some of the top teams and talent in the Southern California area. I was able to attend the event in the morning at the St. Monica location at here's a look at a few additional standouts I saw.

1. Layia King Layia King 5'9" | SF St Marys Academy | 2026 State CA - St Mary's Academy 2026

King stood out as a developing wing scoring option. Comfortable with the ball in her hands and being able to get good scoring opportunities. She can attack the basket off the dribble, she has a good midrange shot and she has a good touch around the basket. Good length and size on the glass. Defensively she is active on ball and can be a shot blocker in the paint.

2. Melina Werhle Melina Werhle 5'11" | PF St. Monica | 2025 State CA - St Monica 2025

Werhle was one of the best defensive players at the event. Good timing on her blocks, positioning herself well in the paint and challenging drives. She communicates defensively and she has the foot speed to be able to keep with the ball-handler as well. Good rebounder. Offensively she moves off ball and can finish at the basket off strong cuts.

3. Calista Romero Calista Romero 5'8" | CG St. Matthias St. Pius | 2024 State CA - St Pius X-St Matthias 2024

Romero is a bit of a combo guard. She can be a playmaker and she can be a scorer as well. Good passer in the halfcourt. Draws the defense and can kick the ball out. Gets into the paint off the dribble. Uses shot fakes to get the defense off balance. Good ball-handler who dribbles under control and can push the tempo on the break.

4. Kaya Ghobrial Kaya Ghobrial 5'7" | SF St. Monica | 2024 State CA - St. Monica 2024

Ghobrial stood out as a solid point guard and floor leader. Steady, doesn't try to do too much and stays within her game. Good ball-handler who can dribble under pressure and stay composed. Keeps her head up on the break. Looks for the open teammate but can score the ball as well.