Ottumwa put together a nice season the last six months, beating most of their opponents that they matched up against. A big reason for their success was their group of Freshman that came into the program at the Varsity level. One of those players, who really helped anchor them in the middles Blake Goldsmith. Goldsmith started most of their games and she lead the team in total rebounds throughout the Winter. She also showed her worth near the basket on offense with her ability to score in open space and with smaller individuals on her near the blocks. If this, “Big 3”, of their 2029 Class can stay together for the next three seasons, they should end their high school careers with a lot of accomplishes and an insane overall record as a whole.

Blake Goldsmith Blake Goldsmith 6'0" | C/PF Ottumwa | 2029 IA might not be the player you see in all the headlines for Ottumwa High School but she makes an impact whenever she is on the hardwood. Goldsmith is a solid player at 5’11. She does really well moving into open space so other teammates can hit her with an assist under the bucket or she can also step out to the 12FT mark to screen towards the hoop. She does a good job with her back to the basket with adequate spacing and she isn’t bad on the defensive end either. She sticks with her matchups and understands when to move into help-side. Goldsmith is talented but she still has some work to do, just like everyone else at this age in their career. If she stays dedicated, she should be someone we mention several more times before the end of her high school career.

Blake Goldsmith Blake Goldsmith 6'0" | C/PF Ottumwa | 2029 IA moves into this Winter as a 5’11 PF. Within her high school program, along with who is placed around her and it’s easy to see that Goldsmith is going to expand her game at the Forward position over the next couple of seasons. Goldsmith is a physical presence under the basket. She loves to use her size to handle smaller matchups, keeping the ball at her chin whenever she catches offensively near the hoop. She can wall up against bigger matchups on the defensive end if need be but she can also pop out to hard hedge on screening action, if that is what her team’s defensive scheme is. Goldsmith has promise. There is no doubt about that so far. Now we just need to keep watching to see how everything continues to shake out.

Blake Goldsmith Blake Goldsmith 6'0" | C/PF Ottumwa | 2029 IA is going to have a chance to average a double-double over her career with Ottumwa High School. Goldsmith is going to have the privilege of playing off of their 2029 Center – Emma Ryder Emma Ryder 6'1" | C/PF Ottumwa | 2029 State IA in the middle. When you look at Ottumwa’s upcoming roster, you see that they will start 6’0 and 6’2 as their 4 and 5 in the paint. These two are going to be a handful for anyone that might cross them. No matter who it might be. With Goldsmith’s combination of size, physicality, and willingness to mix it up with anyone in her way – she is going to help dominate over the next four years. Their system just has to include these two in every aspect and the rest will be history.

There is going to be a new dynamic duo in the state of Iowa this Winter and that is going to belong to Ottumwa High School. Ottumwa will have Blake Goldsmith Blake Goldsmith 6'0" | C/PF Ottumwa | 2029 IA coming in as a 5’11 PF and Emma Ryder Emma Ryder 6'1" | C/PF Ottumwa | 2029 State IA coming in between 6’1/6’2. When you pair those two together and understand who they are going to play during their regular season schedule, you KNOW they are both going to put up noteworthy numbers over the next 8 months. Goldsmith is a coordinated and strategic hooper. She is still raw in her ability, much like Ryder, but those two with their size should be unstoppable together as long as they are used in the correct ways over the next four years.

Ottumwa High School is going to be a program to watch these next few season with the prospects that they are bringing in with their 2029 Class. They will have Emma Ryder Emma Ryder 6'1" | C/PF Ottumwa | 2029 State IA at the Forward position and they will also have Blake Goldsmith Blake Goldsmith 6'0" | C/PF Ottumwa | 2029 IA . Goldsmith is a 5’10 C/PF that will easily be able to play off of Ryder across from her. Teams will have to pick their poison when it comes to who they want to contain. Either Ryder or Goldsmith is going to eat on the boards on both ends and they will most likely show up in the scoring department as well. Goldsmith is a coordinated athlete that can beat her individual matchup with her smarts, skill, or athletic ability. She still needs to grow in some certain categories but for an individual in the 2029 Class, she is fine. The pair of Ryder and Goldsmith will both have a chance to average a double-double in points-rebounds as a freshman. Something that won’t be easy for either but it’s definitely do-able for both.