TOLEDO, Ohio—As the July recruiting period came to an end, players and families headed home for some much needed rest while the college coaches proceeded right into the next phase of recruiting: scholarship offers and unofficial visits to campus. For anyone on hand last Friday at the 8th Annual Border Battle – MGBR vs. OGBR, there was no doubt that the recruiters were drooling over the top players from the Midwest and solidifying just who they were going to roll out the scholarship offers to over the next couple of classes.
The Border Battle is invitation only and operated by the Midwest Girls Basketball Report (MGBR) and the Ohio Girls Basketball Report (OGBR). Owens Community College played host and the gym was packed throughout the day. For selectivity it’s limited to only 100 players per graduating class (50 selected by MGBR and 50 selected by OGBR). In all, 400 college hopefuls took the court with an impressive 3:1 player-to-college coach ratio.
The morning session featured 10 teams from the 2017 class and 10 teams from the 2020-2021 classes combined. The afternoon session featured 20 teams from both the 2018 and 2019 classes. Players were placed on balanced teams based on their graduation year and position. MGBR vs. OGBR was the format and the players took to the court in a competitive fashion. Players were able to showcase their skills in a very up-close and intimate environment with all five courts under the same roof. Unlike some other events where coaches need GPS and gym directions, the coaches stayed glued to their chairs all day and were even enjoyed a catered lunch so they didn’t have to miss one minute of the action.
With so many talented players to view in one day, our focus was on the uncommitted players that haven’t been highlighted much this summer in the 2017 and 2018 classes as well as the ones that caught our eye in the 2019-2021 classes. The quick hitters are broken down by graduating class and in alphabetical order.
Class of 2017
Alexis Hill – 2017 – 5-9 – Guard – MI Forest Hills High School – Athletic guard who likes to put the ball on the floor…Gets to the rim often…Crashes the boards
Audrey Tingle – 2017 – 5-6 – Point Guard – OH Ridgewood High School – Lefty PG who is has high basketball IQ…Hustles and makes things happen on both ends of the floor…Attacks the rim and dishes…Also has a pull up jumper
Cydney Williams – 2017 – 6-0 – Guard – MI Blissfield High School – Athletic player who can score…Three-point shooter and drives to the hoop…Looks to score first when she gets the ball
Jordyn Wilson – 2017 – 6-0 – Forward – OH Worthington Kilbourne High School – Strong and sturdy forward that finishes strong…Rebounds, outlets and runs the floor…Can put the ball on the floor…Smart post player who will continue to improve
Class of 2018
Marissa Brady – 2018 – 6-3 – Forward – MI Waterford Kettering High School – Long and lean forward who moves well without the ball…Runs the floor…Goes after the boards…Uses her long arms to score around her defender in the paint
Addie Brown – 2018 – 5-7 – Point Guard – OH Talawanda High School – Skilled PG with handles…High basketball IQ…Sees the floor well…Hustles on both ends of the floor…Winner who had a good showing today and college coaches took notice
Jackie Carman – 2018 – 5-8 – Combo – OH Hathaway Brown High School – Lefty combo guard with solid body build…Plays strong and gets to the rim…Three-point shooter with a nice pull up jumper…Gets a lot of layups in transition
Lilly Edwards – 2018 – 5-11 – Guard / Forward – OH Dublin Coffman High School – Aggressive player who loves contact…High basketball IQ…Rebounder who crashes hard every time…Comfortable in a variety of positions from facing up on the wing and back to basket in the low post…Likes to dribble drive and get to the rim…Shoots the jumper…Still working on shooting range and her perimeter skills
Kayla Luchenbach – 2018 – 6-1 – Center – MI Clarkston High School – Undersized post player who gets it done…Runs the floor…Rebounds…Active without the ball…Finishes by the basket…Works hard on every play
Shaiquel McGruder – 2018 – 6-2 – Forward – OH Wayne High School – Strong and athletic post who is a force by the basket…Big time rebounder who you have to have a body on at all times…Offensive put backs and layups in transition are how she gets most of her points…Has improved her dribble drive from the high post
Katelyn Sherwood – 2018 – 5-8 – Point Guard – MI Belleville High School – Lanky point guard who is aggressive on both ends of the floor…Gets to the rim in transition and half court…Always active and anticipates well on defense…Shows outside shooting range
Shamari Tyson – 2018 – 5-2 – Point Guard – MI Wayne High School – Assertive point guard…Savvy with the ball and can drive to the hoop…Short in stature but makes up for it with effort
Class of 2019
Julia Ayrault – 2019 – 6-1 – Combo – MI Grosse Pointe High School – Fantastic court vision in transition and on the drive…Sweet dishes…Three-point shooter that also can shoot the jumper…Smooth with the ball and makes it all look so easy
Alona Blackwell – 2019 – 5-10 – Combo – MI East Kentwood High School – Long and lanky guard who can get to the rim…Athletic and has some shake and bake to her handles…Finds the open player on the drive and still working on shooting range
Sommer Pitzer – 2019 – 5-5 – Point Guard – OH Westerville South High School – Legit PG with handles, confidence and skills…Explosive first step…Can turn the corner and get by most defenders…Knows when to pullup on the drive for jumper…Always looking to create and set up her teammates…Small but makes up for it in so many ways
Kennedy Pratt – 2019 – 6-2 – Forward – OH Arcadia High School – Long and lanky and plays tough…Three-point shooting range…High IQ and can execute on a quick play call by coach…Has the option to roll or pop after setting the on-ball screen…Plays in the high post, short corner and on the block at times
Courtney Prenger – 2019 – 6-0 – Forward – OH Minster High School – Athletic with a very solid body frame…Finishes strong by the basket…Moves without the ball…Drives to the rim and can shoot consistently from 15 feet…She creates some matchup problems with her strength and skill set
Class of 2020
Gabby Hutcherson – 2020 – 6-1 – Guard / Forward – OH Westerville North 1High School – Long and lean versatile player who will be sure to go to a major BCS program…Will push coast to coast…Extreme body control and finishes up by the rim in the air…Seals well in the low post…Can step out and shoot the three…Ultra athletic shot blocker with long arms and creates havoc on a trap…Great teammate, always talking and supports everyone on the court
Anyssa Jones – 2020 – 5-10 – Combo – OH Westerville South High School – Strong, lefty combo guard who is smooth with the ball…Scores every way possible from the three-point line to finishing strong at the rim with contact…Able to change speed and direction on a dime and leave defenders in the dust…High IQ, skill set and go to player
Jaliyah McCain – 2020 – 5-10 – Guard – MI Simeon High School – Ultra athletic guard…Gets to the rim with ease…Rebounds…Will get lots of interest with her quickness and hops
Aryana Naylor – 2020 – 6-1 – Forward – MI Flint Hamady High School – Athletic post with skills down low…Crashes the boards…Can go coast to coast and finish from a strong rebound…Displayed 15 foot shooting range
Paige Woodford – 2020 – 5-6 – Point Guard – OH Bishop Watterson High School – Up-tempo, feisty point guard that leads her team…Directs traffic and is a true floor general…High IQ…Three-point shooter…Very skilled with both her right and left hand…Strong will to win
Class of 2021
Kaiden Glenn – 2021 – 5-10 – Guard – MI Ann Arbor Huron High School – Slasher who gets to the rim with ease…Athletic and handles the ball…Crashes the boards
Mickayla Perdue – 2021 – 5-6 – Point Guard – OH Springfield High School – Young lanky PG who plays with swagger…Quick first step and agile around the rim…Three-point shooter…Added strength should come with age
