Players That Stood Out to Me at Run 4 Roses

Brady Peterson July 18, 2024 @ 08:31 AM

I've spent the last week in Louisville for various events, including the Run 4 Roses Classic and Championship, EYBL, NE2K, and others. Today, I'd like to talk about some of the players who stood out before I head to Chicago.   [player_tooltip player_id='751252' first='Carrington' last='Balthasar']   Anywhere but Whitefish Bay, Balthasar would be a rotational kid last year and starts at most schools. She can play high-level basketball on the offensive end of the floor and knock down shots from anywhere. There is also a touch of flair in what she does. I thought she was productive in EYCL and didn't look too concerned about the players on the other bench. She always plays her game and doesn't try to do anything outside her skill set, which is rarer than you'd think. She'll be a kid that will be helpful at the high school level next season.   [player_tooltip player_id='842218' first='Julieyn' last='Martin']   The two-way ability that Martin has will get her on the floor anywhere. She's a lengthy 5'10 kid who can guard scholarship-level talent on the perimeter. Martin has some switchability on that end of the floor, which will only help her once she gets deeper into the recruiting process. The scoring is also something that helps her out. She can get hot from the perimeter and shoot the opposing teams out of games, and that gravity allows everyone else on her team to operate in space. She'll be a player that multiple scholarship programs will follow over the next year.   [player_tooltip player_id='533074' first='Kardyn' last='Peppler']   The guards at the top of the 2027 class are high-IQ kids, and Peppler's basketball IQ tracks with the family she comes from. She looks like the kid everyone on her team looks to when they need some direction, and Peppler lets them know where they need to be, which doesn't happen because they are fantastic as a group. Peppler is one of the best off-hand finishers I've seen and loves to attack with her left hand. There's a level of quiet confidence Peppler has that makes me believe she will continue to excel at the highest level in AAU, high school, and eventually college.   NiKera Martin   I was impressed with Martin's ability to score in the paint and use her athleticism to create extra possessions around the basket. She's not the tallest forward, but she can make effort plays that can change games, like rebounding on the offensive end, blocking shots, and staying strong to keep post players further away from the basket. I'd never sat down and watched her in particular, but the passion she plays with jumped out. She wants to win each possession, and that edge will help teams win games in the long run. She played well in Louisville.

I've spent the last week in Louisville for various events, including the Run 4 Roses Classic and Championship, EYBL, NE2K, and others. Today, I'd like to talk about some of the players who stood out before I head to Chicago.