LOUISVILLE, KY,– If Louisville and Churchill Downs is the setting the horse racing world looks to for one of their flagship events showcasing some of their “best”, then why shouldn’t we look at a Kentucky based event for a few “thoroughbreds” on the girls scholastic basketball landscape as well. No, we’re not equating young women with horses. However, both can be considered elite athletes and when they perform well on a big stage…it’s worth taking a good look.
Keith Baisch and Mercy Academy set that big stage once again this year with the annual Raatz Fence / O’Shea’s Basketball Classic. For the 12th year the Mercy campus has welcomed teams for what is often considered the unofficial end of “tournament” season. The holidays and MLK weekend are behind us and with February and the home stretch of league schedules looming, Raatz has evolved as that one last opportunity to get a great “bang for your buck” weekend of talented basketball. This time around 21 teams representing 6 different states made up the bracket scheduled for 5 games on Friday and a marathon 10 more on Saturday. Plenty of high profile players made up the rosters including 3 just named to the McDonald’s All-American team this past Thursday.
As always, Blue Star Media was on hand start to finish. Today we take a look at some of the younger players who had good weekends as well as some of the highly regarded prospects and how they performed in the spotlight. They’re in alphabetical order and are simply the opinion of an old coach and writer.
Brianna Byars – 2023 – 5-10 – Forward – George Rogers Clark – Athletic and strong…Possesses some instinctual individual skills…Looking to get to the rim…Goes up aggressively and initiates contact…Vertical allows her to elevate with anyone…Attacks the glass on both ends…Top tier possibilities at a young age
Shelby Calhoun – 2020 – 5-10 – Guard – Christian Academy of Louisville – Virginia Tech signee…Looking to create with the ball in her hands…Hesitation and change of speed working well for her…Going hard off the move to leave defenders scrambling…Can go to the rim but using the pull up quite a bit as well…Floater is in the mix also…Perimeter touch is sound but comes off a narrow base…Sharing the ball well and seeing options for teammates in the halfcourt
Kamilla Cardoso – 2020 – 6-7 – Post – Hamilton Heights – Named McDonald’s All American last week…Still the most dominant presence in the post on the high school level…Has an impact in every phase of the game…Consistency is still an issue at times in terms of finishing due to rushing…Rebounding the ball well on both the offensive and defensive glass…Defensively changes both shots and passes…Effort continues to be impressive…Runs the floor with the guards
Taylor Charles – 2022 – 6-2 – Forward – Montini Catholic – Long and lean…Can move with the guards…Willing to step out…Has skilled perimeter shot with some range…First step is quick, long and challenging…Strength is coming but definitely needed…Agility and wingspan make her an impact defender in the right scheme
Kristen Clemons – 2020 – 6-0 – Forward/Post – Sacred Heart – (Volleyball commit to Belmont) Agile size…Works on both ends of the floor…Looking to be an option off the cut or the pick and roll…Strong lower body allows her to hold her ground posting or boxing out…Good vision and passing skills in the high post…Strong presence on the boards
Brooke Coffey – 2023 – 6-0 – Wing/Forward – Incarnate Word – Nice size and strength on the wing…Moves well…Showed some solid ballhandling skills to create and improve options…Crossover is sharp…Sound passing off the drive…Rebounded well…Has tools
Olivia Cooper – 2023 – 6-0 – Forward – Pickerington Central – Young forward…Nice size and build…Had some solid moments…Not intimidated…Experience and refinement will come with time…Watch closely
Tiarra East – 2021 – 5-10 – Guard – Butler – Athletic guard with a little length…Slashes into the paint…Crossover works well for her…Handles it low and quick when attacking…Slithers out of traps and double teams…Needs additional depth to offensive arsenal
Emma Egan – 2022 – 5-8 – Guard – Bullitt East – Young, active guard…Constant motion…Cuts assertively and with intent…Sound ballskills allows her to take it into traffic without a problem…Goes up among the bigs…Can finish or draw the foul…Sees the floor on the catch…Can get it where it needs to go
Quinn Eubank – 2024 – 5-9 – Guard – Ryle – Very young and very promising in the backcourt…Nice length already for age…Ballskills allow her to develop and improve options for herself and teammates…Advanced instincts for this point in her career…Watch
Tyra Flowers – 2022 – 5-10 – Forward – George Rogers Clark – Strong and attacking small forward…Plays with intensity…Will put it on the floor and go…Has the frame and strength to challenge some defensive match ups…Showed some speed with the ball…Has some wild tendencies but you have to love her approach…Watch
Dionna Gray – 2022 – 5-3 – Point Guard – St. Joseph – Small but productive point guard…Makes plays and creates options for both herself and her teammates…Recognizes rotations and exploits defensive mistakes…Delivers the ball where it can be used…Can and will take it into traffic herself…Spots up with range and consistency
Madison Greene – 2023 – 5-5 – Point Guard – Pickerington Central – Promising young point guard…Already well established…Limited size is not remotely an issue…Dynamic athlete…Deceptive vertical…Eye catching speed and quickness with the ball in her hands…Assertive on ball defender with impressive lateral quickness…Can set the tone offensively and defensively with experience
Grace Hutson – 2021 – 5-9 – Guard – St. Joseph – Lean with some length at the guard spot…Active and aware on the offensive end…Knows how to make herself available to teammates in transition or out of sets…Range and touch are exceptional…A hard to find true “shooter” who plays with consistency…Shot fake is in place…Pull up from mid-range is productive as well
Treasure Hunt – 2020 – 6-1 – Wing – Hamilton Heights – Named McDonald’s All American last week…Continues to play with a quiet confidence this year…Knows what she’s capable of in addition to how and when to apply it…Can go on scoring runs of her own to create a lead or take the wind out an opponent’s sails…Defending more aggressively than ever…Can dominate in her own way
Jordaynia Ivie – 2021 – 5-8 – Guard – Lakeway Christian – Athletic and attacking guard…Solid ballskills help her create looks and improve passing options…Sees the floor as she penetrates…Does overdribble at times…Pull up serves her well…Plenty of speed with the ball in her hands…Consistency will be big asset
Ta’Ziah Jenks – 2020 – 6-1 – Wing – Mercy Academy – Some added strength but could use more…Mixing up her attack…Creating more off the drive…Crossover is effective…Even took it in transition herself…Form and range keep defenders honest and closing out…Handing more contact on the interior…Still advancing her game
Rebeka Kinkevicius – 2021 – 5-9 – Guard – Lakeway Christian – Aggressive guard…Looking to attack on the catch…First step is there…Goes to the rim with authority…Looking to make plays…Form and stroke are text book…Gets off the floor on the pull up…Produced some boards from the perimeter
Grace LaBarge – 2021 – 6-3 – Forward – Fremed – Agile and active forward…Moves exceptionally well for size…Lefthander…Looks to be an option off cuts or out of teammates penetration…Can get out and run the floor in transition…Length and wingspan make her an asset on both the boards and defensively…Bigger contributor than just stats
Patience Laster – 2022 – 5-10 – Forward – Franklin County – Solid, small forward…Good hands…Makes herself available in transition of just off simple penetration…Always an option…Can finish…Handles contact…Will body up defensively…Footspeed needs some attention on defense
Brooklynn Miles – 2021 – 5-5 – Point Guard – Franklin County – Speed, speed and more speed…All with the ball in her hands…Pushed from make, miss and turnover…Individual skills allow her to navigate traffic in transition including traps off the dribble…Acceleration on the catch is an Olympic sprint…Still sees the floor and delivers the ball as defenders rotate to contain
Anastacia Morgan – 2022 – 6-0 – Forward – Rogers – Solid build…Active power forward…Coming off knee injury…Can finish down low or take it to the rim off the high post drive…Left handed…Decent stroke if given time to spot up…Has potential and a willingness to work
Natalie Potts – 2023 – 6-2 – Forward – Incarnate Word – Agile young forward…Nice size and frame for age…Has depth to game…Works to be a factor with and without the ball…Good awareness on both ends…Cuts hard…Good hands…Baby hook…Got on the glass…Defends
Triniti Ralston – 2023 – 5-6 – Point Guard – Sacred Heart – Dynamic young point…Lightning quick with and without the ball…Wiry build at this point…Accelerates on the catch…Sharp interior passer off the drive…Can spot up with range on the perimeter…All the tools
Maddie Scherr – 2020 – 5-11 – Guard – Ryle – Named McDonald’s All American last week…Coming off a bum ankle…May well have wished she would have given it more time…Tough day from the floor…Both passing and shooting were well off her normal accuracy and effectiveness…Frustration showed…Better and normal days ahead
Nicole Stephens – 2020 – 5-7 – Guard – Pickerington Central – Experienced guard playing some of her best basketball…Confidence is showing…Productive from the perimeter or off penetration…No reservations about taking it among the bigs…Touch is there from deep or off the pull up jumper…Feisty and competitive on both ends of the floor
Hope Savori – 2020 – 5-5 – Point Guard – Mercy Academy – Senior point guard who has some moments…Consistency in that production will be an asset…Sound ballskills are there as well as a solid basketball IQ…Can get deep into the paint and deliver the pass…Sees the floor in transition…Assertive on ball defender
Charmen Taylor – 2021 – 5-8 – Guard – Arlington – Exceptional athletic guard…Plays the game at a faster pace…Speed and quickness are both there with the ball in her hands…Vision is sharp on the attack…Impressive passing instincts…Gets the ball there…Can spot up on the perimeter or knock down the pull up off the drive as well…Makes plays
Ellie Taylor – 2020 – 5-10 – Guard – Elizabethtown – Size and build at the wing spot…Nice ballhandling and passing…Can handle it on the break or in the halfcourt…Hesitation move…Crossover….Creates and improves options
Jakayla Thompson – 2023 – 5-8 – Guard – DuPont Manual – Nice size…Could add more…Strong ballskills…Not shy despite age…Will attack on the catch…Decent stroke is there…Vertical is an asset…Had some strong moments
Taris Thornton – 2021 – 5-11 – Forward – Montini Catholic – Strong and agile at the forward spot…Looking to attack on the catch…Worked well at the rim or off the drive from 15 feet away…Quick and aggressive first step…Uses strength and frame well for age…Plays with lots of energy
Sydne Tolbert – 2023 – 4-11 – Point Guard – DuPont Manual – Quick, freshman point…Always pushing…Sees the floor while playing full tilt…Runs the show…Uses quickness and speed on both offensive and defensive ends of the floor…Just scratching the surface
Erin Toller – 2020 – 5-6 – Point Guard – Sacred Heart – Senior guard playing with and using experience…Small, compact and strong…Jumper has low release point but is off quickly and accurately…Change of speed frees her up for both scoring and passing options…Will throw herself into traffic…Looking to control the tempo of the game from the point…Assertive on the ball defensively
Saniah Tyler – 2022 – 5-5 – Point Guard – Incarnate Word – Dynamic and quick young guard…Impressive strength for size…Effective in traffic on the break and in the halfcourt…Solid individual skills…Accelerates on the catch…Pull up is there from midrange and deeper…Anticipates defensively
Maggie Vick – 2021 – 6-4 – Post – Lakeway Christian – Size and frame down low…Textbook posting…Holds her ground…Aware of what she’s looking for on the catch…Can attack both ways…Works…Can be physical at times…Decent form is there on perimeter shot…Lots of possibilities and attention
Dynastee White – 2021 – 5-8 – Guard – Butler – Athletic and aggressive at the guard spot…Plays with effort…Looking to attack off the drive…Quick first step…Makes a move and accelerates…Lots of hustle plays on the defensive end
