Calhoun remains one of the top players in her class, and she’s still sharpening her skill set. As of now, her aggression, power, and guard skills have made her a focal point in her program and one of the first names opponents need to scout for. She can finish around the rim with or without contact, and she shows the confidence to create and knock down her own shot from beyond the arc. The potential for Sophia is HIGH, and if she continues on this path, she’ll remain one of the more talked about players in the class.

You want to talk about a dominant force on the hardwood? Look no further than Sophia Calhoun of OTE Hoops 16U. Calhoun is a 5’11 CG with a natural feel for the game. She is as talented as they come as a 5’11 Guard. We saw her do it all on both ends at this event. She got to her spots offensively and finished both wide open attempts and contested ones. She hit shots off the catch from all distances. She killed her opponent with ease near the bucket if she had a height advantage and she wasn’t afraid to stay aggressive all weekend long. The only thing that Calhoun can’t do at this point in my mind is defend a true post over 6’3 and even in those situations, this is a TOUGH individual so she would give that type of situation a great attempt. All in all, this is a hooper to keep an eye on. She is ranked Top Five in the state for a reason and we saw that first hand this weekend.

Lightning in a bottle. Level-headed. A next level prospect. These are a few of the terms and phrases use to describe Sophia Calhoun Sophia Calhoun 5'11" | CG Loyola Academy | 2029 State IL of Loyola Academy and OTE Hoops 16U. Calhoun, the #4 rated 2029 in Illinois, is a fire starter when she competes. She is a three level scoring threat as a CG and she is the type to make you jump out of your seat during a possession or two with an electric play. Offensively, she can handle and manipulate the defense in several different ways as she attacks her matchup, leading to buckets in the middle of the defense or to a crispy assist to an open teammate. Defensively, she stays active. She beats her individual matchup to the spot most of the time and she is very good at recovering if she is ever behind. Like I said above, this OTE 16U group is loaded from the looks of it and I can’t wait to see how they perform throughout.

Moves well and is extremely agile for her size, especially impressive as she is a year younger than most of her competition. A strong one-on-one player with a quick first step, powerful build, and the ability to handle low in tough situations, she can operate like a guard despite playing up as a post. A strong outlet passer, she uses spin moves to create space and get to her patented left-hand jump hook. With solid shooting mechanics and defensive awareness, she can stay in front of quicker guards or taller posts while making an impact on both ends of the floor. She will need to manage her physicality to avoid foul trouble while continuing to assert herself inside.

In the games Calhoun played, you were able to see her impact in most possessions she was involved in. In the games where she had a larger role, it really showed the potential Calhoun has over the next couple of years. The scoring component is there, and it’s strong, and on the defensive end, she can deal with bigger guards or wings because of her frame. A player to definitely keep up with when AAU kicks off.

So smooth, so patient, yet aggressive. Calhoun has had quite the year so far, and in most games, the consistent piece has been her awareness of how to be effective without doing too much. She can be ball dominant for five straight possessions, then play off the ball for three to four, and the energy level doesn’t decline. The skill set is still sharpening as she continues to play high level competition, but her trajectory is high. A player to truly keep your eye on in this state.

Most tournaments in the state host the JV level games in the same building, with most eyes on the varsity… some players suit up for JV that bring attention to their games… and Sophia did just that. Calhoun is a varsity level player at her age, but when you’re playing for a program that is constantly winning, you have to work your way into that rotation. In the games Sophia played for JV, she was outright dominant. The athleticism, the free flow of her game… and the confidence is scary for her to have at this age. Major upside.

Calhoun has tremendous upside, and her ability to play the old school game while still being aggressive is key to why I believe she’ll be a name to remember as the years go on. This incoming Loyola class is deep, and she’s one of the main players who can help the program remain competitive.

Calhoun’s skillset is way above her age, and the patience she shows lets me know she has complete trust in the work that she puts in. She can score from around the midrange, she can finish at the rim, and can also extend out to the arc. Strong on the defensive side too.

Good size, can defend inside or out. Able to play and battle in a physical game, can also drop off her player and defend. Defends in your face making it tough for her opponent to be effective. Good finisher!