LOUISVILLE, Ky.– For the past 10 years Keith Baisch and the folks at Mercy Academy have provided a final scholastic tournament “stage” before teams move into the heart of their conference and league schedules. The 11th annual Raatz Fence / O’Shea’s Classic raised the bar once again with easily one of the top lineups in the history of the event. It’s not just that there were 18 teams representing seven different states taking the floor. It’s “who” those teams were that had the eyes of recruiters, evaluators and media focused on Louisville and Mercy Friday night and all day Saturday.
When you look down the schedule and see Hamilton Heights and Riverdale out of Tennessee and Miami Country Day from Florida…or you have the chance to check out Montini Catholic and Rock Island from Illinois as well as Missouri’s Incarnate Word…but then there’s also Toledo Rogers from Ohio and St. Joe’s out of West Virginia in the gym not to mention in-state teams like Mercer County, Sacred Heart and host Mercy as well as seven other Bluegrass based teams…you’re bound to see something that will catch your eye.
With four games Friday and a nine-contest slate Saturday it was a basketball buffet for those looking for good games, strong teams, and impressive prospects. Here are just a few of the standouts who made the 11th annual Raatz Fence/ O’Shea’s Classic the best yet. Some are performances that impressed us, some are evolving players who caught our attention and others still are ones we’re looking forward to seeing more of down the road. No, these aren’t all the “top” performers and it isn’t a reflection of just the “best” in the event. There are always more than we can include and often we might lean towards younger prospects over seniors…not always…but many times. They’re in alphabetical order and represent just a few of those who had us taking notes in Louisville.
Brea Beal – 2019 – 6-0 – Wing / Guard – Rock Island – Established top tier threat…Has size, skills and athleticism to exploit…Tools are there to be productive on the perimeter or closer to the rim…Smooth and fluid with the ball on penetration…Deceptive acceleration leaves some defenders standing…Mixing up her speed with the ball more and getting defenders out of their stance…Step back got her some good looks…Handles contact well off the drive…Strong on the ball defensively but could step it up one and two passes away
Grace Berger – 2018 – 5-11 – Guard – Sacred Heart – Indiana signee…Depth of individual skills sets her apart from the crowd…Looking to create more in traffic and get deeper into the paint…Appears to be handling contact and still producing off the drive…Reading the floor as she attacks…Elevate on her own looks…Vertical is deceiving…Moving more without the ball to become an option off teammates penetration…Makes some experienced and impressive plays
Nila Blackford – 2019 – 6-1 – Forward – Dupont Manual – Size and strength to make an impact at the #4…First step is deceiving and creates for her…Can accelerate with the ball…High post drove is effective and productive…Handles body contact…Holds her ground posting…Does a nice job of reading on the catch…Lots of tools and promise in her game
Cameron Browning – 2019 – 6-1 – Forward – Louisville Male – Good size and frame…Active and agile for size…Works hard and is aggressive…Knows what options she’s looking for around the rim…Slight forward motion in her shot at this point…Foul trouble slowed her a bit this time around…Strong presence on the glass…Quick outlet
Shelby Calhoun – 2020 – 5-10 – Guard – Christian Academy – Producing in consistent and diverse ways…Perimeter shot was dropping and opened up options off the drive…does step into the perimeter shot a bit…Playing with more and more confidence…Changes up the speed of her attack and gets opponents leaning…Ability and size are there to finish well among the bigs off penetration…More active and effective on the defensive end of the floor…Looking to make plays…Continues to evolve
Kamilla Cardosa – 2020 – 6-6 – Post – Hamilton Heights – Continues to define herself as the premier interior prospect in the sophomore class…Working hard to make herself an option…Integrating herself much more efficiently with an elite upper class backcourt tandem…Keeps it high on the catch…Mid-range touch advancement is critical moving forward…Knows where she is on the floor and attacks with an advanced awareness for her age…Size, strength and frame are magnified by a strong and deep skill set…Working harder to be more of a primary option as the offense is initiated
Zia Cooke – 2019 – 5-9 – Point Guard – Toledo Rogers – Challenges defenders on virtually every possession…Much more consistent this time out…Mixed up both penetration as well as perimeter attack across two games…Always plays and makes decisions at speed…Elevation is exceptional on the perimeter and creates clean looks even in traffic…When the shot is on she forces defenders to commit to one aspect of her game or another without middle ground…Showed some strong on ball defense but took some chances from the weakside of the floor
Jasmine Elder – 2019 – 5-7 – Guard – Butler – Athletic and quick in the backcourt…Aggressive and attacking mentality…Plenty of speed with the ball in her hand…Crossover get her past defenders with ease…Floater is there…Can stop on a dime for the mid-range pull up…Vertical is there on the shot…Has a slight body twist further out on the perimeter…Assertive on ball defender
Danielle Feldkamp – 2018 – 6-3 – Post – Mercy Academy – Size, frame and strength…Can play physical as needed…Knows her role and what her options are…Reads on the catch…Text book skill set…Finishes around the rim…Protects the ball going up…Gets on the glass at both ends…Not hesitant to put a body on the opposition…One of those who will continue to advance
Courtney Gardner – 2021 – 5-6 – Point Guard – Toledo Rogers – Small but quick and athletic young point…Lefty…Lots of speed with the ball in her hands…Reads the floor on the catch…Plays with confidence beyond her experience…Quick but low release on her perimeter shot…Assertive defender…Keep watching closely
Ciaja Harbinson – 2018 – 5-5 – Point Guard – Louisville Male – St. Louis sign…Small with lots of speed and quickness…Mixes up her attack with hesitation and change of direction…Always looking to push…Easily gets herself into the paint…Navigates helpside rotations to get some good looks at the rim…Gets off the floor well for her size…Good physical strength serves her well both offensively and defensively
Alasia Hayes – 2020 – 5-6 – Guard – Riverdale – Speed and quickness to spare…Applying them consistently and productively…Reading better on the catch…Picking her spots off to both attack the rim of look for perimeter options…Physical strength is there despite size…Tough for opposing guard to contain…Can turn ballhandlers defensively almost at will…Established potential is becoming more and more of a reality
Treasure Hunt – 2020 – 6-0 – Wing / Guard – Hamilton Heights – Evolving more and more as one of the more diverse perimeter players in the class…Has size and strength but also deceptive quickness with her first step…Touch and deep range necessitate closeouts well beyond the arch…Shot fake is creating more and more penetration opportunities for her…Sees the floor off the drive and can deliver the interior pass as needed…Tools are there to be physical on the glass at both ends of the floor…Brings a versatile option to any defensive approach
Ta’Ziah Jenks – 2020 – 6-1 – Wing – Mercy Academy – Ever improving…Played with facemask to protect nose…Has both size and length to challenge defensive match ups…Ballhandling is in place to allow her to create or improve both shots and passes…More smoother and more fluid in her attack…Reads and sees the floor off the drive…length and footspeed are defensive assets as well…Lots of promise is showing
Dena Jerrells – 2019 – 5-5 – Point Guard – St. Joseph Central – UT Chattanooga verbal…Skilled and productive…Reads the floor making good choices with the ball in her hands…Pushes it from make, miss and turnover…Sees the court on the break…Can develop her own looks or improve those of her teammates…Touch and range are there with time
Mikayla Kinnard – 2019 – 5-10 – Wing – Eastern – Athletic and strong #3 – #4…Sound ballhandling…Form is there with a slight forward motion…Ability to recognize and deliver passes…Works well against physical defenders…Handles traffic and can make plays with pressure…Works defensively
Patience Laster – 2022 – 5-10 – Post – Franklin County – Size and build for age…Deceptive footwork for bigger player…Works hard to make herself an option on the block…Showed some decent hands…Decent touch for her age and experience…Moves well defensively…Possibilities are there
Molly Lockhart – 2018 – 6-4 – Post – Butler – Louisville signee…Has the size and frame to hold her own…Text book and fundamental skill set is in place…Methodical approach is efficient and produces results…Aggressive on the catch in looking for her options…Can attack on the block or from the elbows…Plays with a consistency and effort that teammates can rely on…No hesitancy about playing physical on either end of the floor…Will only continue to advance
Koi Love – 2019 – 6-0 – Swing – Miami Country Day – Athletic, strong and versatile…Seems to have embraced a more “attacking” mentality…Challenges defenders off the drive…First step is solid…Handles physicality…Perimeter shot has to find consistency to force opponents to close out tight…Plenty of tools in place to be an impact presence on the glass and defensively…Time to step up even more
Sonya Morris – 2018 – 5-9 – Guard – Incarnate Word – DePaul signee…Playing with more assertiveness…Attacking at opportunity…Crossover and hesitation are serving her well…Getting to the rim but using her pull up as help comes her way…Active without the ball and occupies her defender…Knocked down some jumpers…Consistency critical to keeping defenders honest and closing out…Physical on ball defender herself
Aaliyah Patty – 2018 – 6-3 – Post – Montini Catholic – Ohio state signee…Lots of length and athleticism…Can work down low as well as from the elbows…Shot fake is there to create one and two dribble drives…Soft touch is there around the rim…Ducks her head to a degree on the perimeter shot…Quick and agile for size on defense…Got out and ran the floor with the guards at times in transition…Lots of promising tools to still be developed
Seygan Robins – 2018 – 5-9 – Guard – Mercer County – Louisville signee…Played through a bought with the flu…Stepped up and delivered none the less…Ability is there to create both shots and passes…Lefthander…Sees and understands the floor, defenses and the options in front of her…Looks to improve those options on the catch…Has the touch and range from deep but knocks down the pull up from mid-range with consistency…Elevates on a floater that comes with a soft touch itself…Plays with effort on both ends of the floor
Madison Royal-Davis – 2021 – 5-11 – Wing / Guard – Toledo Rogers – Coming onto her own…Making plays on both ends…Length makes her a tough match up but also makes her a potential impact defender…Quick and agile…Strong individual skills get her to the rim time and again…Good body control and an ability to finish with contact are in place…Going to continue to advance her game…How far is solely up to her
Paige Shy – 2019 – 5-10 – Forward – St. Joseph Central – Undersized #4 who can be productive…Has some ballhandling as well as some range to force defenders to play her straight up…Can work inside and finish by the rim as well…Quick release on her shot…Pull up is in place…Had some good moments
Emmy Souder – 2018 – 6-1 – Forward – Mercer County – Northern Kentucky commitment…Nice size and frame…has versatility in her attack…Can post up and hold her own with some bigs inside…Physically strong lower body helps her hold her ground…Good form is there on the shot allowing her to be a threat stepping out in the halfcourt or trailing in transition…Quick release make slow defenders pay…Active without the ball in her hands…Looks to make herself an option off aggressive cuts…Not afraid to mix things up
Lexi Taylor – 2020 – 5-9 – Swing – Bullitt East – Quiet but efficient #4 (at this point)…Simply puts up number…Can score the ball well in multiple ways…Works hard on the glass as well…Undersized forward right now but productive…some ballhandling is in place…Will play physical as needed…Plenty of effort and focus
Erin Toller – 2020 – 5-5 – Point Guard – Sacred Heart – Continues strong sophomore campaign…Always looking to attack…First step is aggressive and quick…No reservations about taking it into traffic…Pull up has a nice touch and consistency to it…Has some range as well…Stockier build but good footspeed…Aggressive on ball defender…Keep watching
Marisa Warren – 2019 – 5-8 – Guard – Incarnate Word – Quick and athletic…Has the tools to play #1 and #2…Demonstrated plenty of speed with the ball in her hands…Pushed it at opportunity…Good vision both in the halfcourt and in transition…Can make some sharp passes…Had some nice finishes among the bigs off penetration…Key player to depth of a good team
Rickie Woltman – 2019 – 6-3 – Post – Incarnate Word – Purdue verbal…Played some of her stronger basketball…Beginning to find the consistency that will set her apart…Working efficiently in traffic…Handling contact and protecting the ball…Looking for her own options more often and with better decisions…Fluid and active in all that she does…Reacting quick and effectively on the weakside defensively
