CINCINNATI, Ohio—Mother’s Day weekend annually sees folks on the road to visit mom, restaurant reservations at the nicest places, flowers and other gifts being delivered…plus lots of Mothers continuing to give by spending their special day in the gym with their basketball playing daughters. Now that’s unconditional love that deserves so much more than a hug, a kiss and a Hallmark card!
The second annual USJN Queen City challenge saw those moms and daughters join plenty of coaches, fathers and brothers at the Sports Plus Complex for two days of basketball in Cincinnati last weekend. In all, 92 games were played by 48 different teams from four different states and Canada. When all was said and done three championship contests saw Cincinnati’s Finest, the Ohio Stars and the Shining Stars Sports teams claim respective honors in their divisions.
Cincinnati’s Finest Black 55 Dayton Hoopstars Black 35
Ohio Stars 14 34 Indiana Flight 14 Thunder 30 (OT)
Kentucky Shining Star Sports 13 44 Indiana Always 100 13 Smith 34
When you talk about states like Ohio, Illinois, Indiana and Kentucky it’s not too difficult to identify some prospects that already have or will have recruiters knocking on their doors at some point in time. Today we take a look a few of the standouts who made their mother’s proud at the 2014 USJN Queen City Challenge.
John Coffee and the Dayton Lady Hoopstars have probably had more prospects over the years than the veteran coach can remember. While his Premier team stumbled out of the gate with a limited roster Saturday (Prom night!) it didn’t stop 5’11 backcourt standout Maddie Bazelak from reminding folks why she has plenty of interest at the next level. Her standout play from the school year continues now in the club season and there seems to be an even greater amount of confidence in her play. Though methodical at times, the 2015 grad has the ability to create her own looks with some effective ballhandling and has no hesitation about taking it into traffic in the paint. Even without the ball in her hands she’s adept at reading defenders and exploiting them by way of some strong cuts to the ball or rim. Defensively her footwork is sound but her smart play allows her to match up with some that she may give up a step to in terms of lateral speed.
Wright State Head Coach Mike Bradbury has to be pleased with the play of his future point guard Mackenzie Taylor of the Indiana Flight program. A 5-8 point guard, Taylor committed to the Raiders last fall after losing her summer season to an ACL injury. Her play last weekend offered no reminders of the set back and confirmed why most coaches would be glad to put the ball in her hands. The senior to be is constantly looking to push the ball off makes, misses and turnovers and sees the floor efficiently in transition. Her decision making is strong and she makes good reads both in terms of passes as well as her own shot selection. There’s a strong crossover in place that will get her by defenders and allow her to force rotations and decisions from helpside. Taylor can score off penetration or just as effectively from the perimeter.
While the Cincinnati Finest team of Carlton Gray was without the services of standout 2017 forward Lauren Van Kluenen (minor knee issue) for the weekend they still got plenty of interior production from Arianne Whitaker. Athletic and assertive, the 2015 Whitaker demonstrated why she has a variety of schools interested in her future and that her stock is steadily on the rise. The 6-2 Lakota West High School (Ohio) product uses her size, wingspan and vertical to work effectively around the rim. Her footspeed will challenge defenders on the cut and she’s willing to post up and seal once she gets them beside or behind her. Her elevation puts her in a position to finish consistently but the weak hand is going to have to evolve to protect the ball against physical peers. She showed off a jump hook that would be tough to defend even by players sporting several inches more than her in the height department. A force on the glass, her quick outlet passes trigger the break and, even better, she has the speed to be there herself filling the lanes if a teammate gets the board. There are still some rough edges but the future is as bright as the effort she’s willing to put into it.
Sade Olaytoye had a tremendous junior season helping her Dublin Coffman (Ohio) teammates to a final four berth in the 2014 Ohio State Tournament. The 6-0 power forward of the College Bound Elite team is expanding her skill set and appears to be ready to take her game to the next level. Make no mistake; she’s not a wing and not a post-up big. She’s one of those few “true” forwards who embraces her role and does it well. She can finish inside with folks hanging on her and she gets off the ground quickly often leading to clean looks. Her first step on the cut is quicker than most her size and allows her an edge block to block or high to low. The ability to put it on the floor is there from the elbows or trail spot and she even took it a time or two when outlets were denied. We’ve seen her shoot it from 15 feet previously but it wasn’t a key element for her last weekend. The “physical” aspect of the game often is the hardest part of the high school – college transition but that won’t be a problem for Olaytoye as she seems to revel in play when the going gets rough.
Toledo has already secured a commitment from 2015 combo guard Halee Printz of Tippecanoe High School (Ohio). Playing with the Dayton Hoopstars Elite team, Printz shows off a versatile game that has her distributing on the break, creating in the halfcourt or posting up smaller defenders down low. Physically solid in her 5-9 build, there’s more quickness than you might think but there were still occasions that she struggled with ultra-quick opponents on both ends. At the same time she’s a player you want the ball in the hands of. The capacity to read and deliver is exceptional and her use of no look passes often leads to a teammate’s easy opportunity. One of the biggest elements to Printz’s play is the fact that she’s having fun out there. Way too many of her peers “just play” failing to find the enjoyment in the game and there’s a value in that if you’re looking to be the best you’re capable of becoming.
The Cincinnati Swish 14 team had some impressive moments last weekend and one of the reasons why was promising young post Sarah Leyendecker. Every bit of her listed 6-2, the 2017 class member has a lot of physical and basketball tools in place already. Add to that the fact that her frame appears more than ready to add some additional size and you can see a very bright horizon in front of her. It’s obvious she’s had some quality coaching already as she’s well aware of her role either posting up or working from the elbows or short corners. Her post moves are simple and elementary but she’s efficient at reading defenders and creating her looks on the block. The attack will come quicker and more assertively with experience and age but serves her well already. The form and touch are there from 15 feet and the willingness to take those looks comes without reservation. She’s got a good awareness defensively but will need to embrace a more physical style of play to serve her better down the road against opposition that brings the same size to the floor.
Shooters are a commodity in the game today with so many players ignoring the need to refine their form. Finding a promising young prospect that has that “true” stroke and touch like 2018 guard Cassidy Hardin adds a bonus to a weekend spent in the gym. Part of a promising young Indiana Flight Thunder roster, the 5-8 Hardin is loaded and ready on the catch. She’s well aware of her positioning on the floor and does a solid job in the shot selection department. Like all shooters, she’ll need to develop a deep skill set to keep defenders honest and avoid the “one dimensional” label that often comes with those who make a living on the perimeter. Her vision is solid and she appears more than willing to give up the ball to a teammate with a better option. The biggest issue at this very early point is play without the ball. She’ll need to be much more active and stop heading down floor following the release of her shot. Hardin is aggressive on the ball defensively but somewhat less so one or two passes away. Lots of tools and potential are in place and it should be fun to see what she’ll do with them.
Another promising young team was the Indy Magic 16. Only one senior to be is on the roster and several players offered up some promising play. Guard / Wing Madison Wise stands 6-0 and provided some sharp play in their run to a semifinal loss to Cincinnati’s Finest. Her combination of length and skills makes her a challenging match up in the backcourt for most opposing defenses. The 2017 Greenfield Central (Indiana) product reads well on the catch and created both shots and passes on the break and in the halfcourt. Her shot fake is lethal and will get defenders out of their stance time and again. Wise even attacked with a college level step back that created plenty of space for a good look at the rim. Strength is still an issue at this point but she still does a good job of navigating traffic and contact on her way to the rim. Defensively she plays with good awareness but tends to stand up on the weakside of the floor.
QUICKHITTERS
Brittin Boyer (2015 – 6-0 – Forward – Illinois Central Storm 17) – Active with some size…Aggressive with and without the ball…Has some tools…Comfortable from 15 feet…Jury is still out on potential level
Amy Dilk (2018 – 5-7 – Point – Indiana Flight 14 Thunder) – Solid ballhandling and instincts…Wiry build…Creates shots and passes…Willing to slash…Watch!
Holly Hoopingarner (2016 – 5-5 – Point – Indy Magic 16 Blanding) – Skilled and smart…Small but effective…Pushes it every possession…Inch for inch one of the better point guards on hand
Brooke Jenike (2015 – 5-6 – Point – Cincy Swish 16 Weilbacher) – Aggressive and attacking guard…Strong ballhandling and passing…Active with instincts…Physical defender for size
Danielle Karns (2015 – 6-2 – Forward / Post – Dayton Hoopstars Premier) – Nice size and frame…Textbook skill set…Has 15 foot range…Improving
Zaria McBride (2016 – 6-2 – Forward – College Bound Elite) – Athletic with some length…Runs the floor well…Some ballhandling…Needs to be more aggressive
Markayla Sherman (2016 – 5-6 – Point – Cincinnati’s Finest) – Quick and athletic…Attacks…Makes plays at both ends
Alexis Starks (2018 – 6-0 – Forward – Cincinnati’s Finest) – Productive young forward…Active…Strong…Understands the game…Just scratching the surface
Madeleine Stuhlreyer (2017 – 6-4 – Post – Cincy Swish 14) – Young with length…Posts up…Active cutter…Needs strength
Celena Taborn (2017 – 6-2 – Post – Dayton Hoopstars Black) – Size and frame…Deceiving speed…Post moves need refinement…Effective stepping out on the perimeter…Conditioning needs immediate attention
Kayana Traylor (2018 – 5-9 – Guard – Indiana Flight 17 Strike) – Young lefty guard…Lots of speed and quickness…Uses both pull up and floater on drive…Aggressive on ball defender
Emma Wright (2017 – 5-9 – Guard – Cincinnati Heat Premier 15 Abshear) – Nice size on the perimeter…Impressive passing skills and decisions…Aggressive on both ends…May grow
Kelly Wurth (2016 – 5-9 – Guard – Dayton Hoopstars Elite) – Nice ball skills…Creates options…Strong passer…Footspeed is ??
Keaira Youngblood (2017 – 5-8 – Guard – Ohio Stars 14) – Athletic guard…Physically strong…Lots of speed…Gets to the rim…Potential is there
