FRANKLIN, Tenn.—The 10th annual Battle in the Boro was the largest event to date presented by National Exposure Basketball and Tom Insell. With competition in three different 16/17 year old divisions, two 15’s as well as both the 14 and 13’s, a total of 370 different teams took the floor over the course of the four day event. A testament to the depth of prospective talent on hand would be the over 800 individual college recruiters who took in all the action.
Our first coverage offered a look at some of the top performers from the Showcase championship game as well as several members of the All Star team. In our second piece we profiled some of the “young” players just beginning to make a splash and now we look at some other prospects who had some impressive “moments” in Franklin.
Links to previous Blue Star Media 2013 Boro coverage
http://www.bluestarmedia.org/index.php/component/k2/item/516-battle-in-the-boro-2013
http://bluestarmedia.co/index.php/component/k2/item/519-a-look-down-the-road-boro-babies
Notre Dame 2015 commit Ali Patberg may have had her court time limited in Franklin but when she was on the floor she reminded those present of just what it is that the Irish like. The talented 5-10 point guard is physically strong, has an advanced understanding of the game around her and plays with a passion that we wish we would see from other prospects in the gym. Even booted up on the bench for the Indiana Elite (stress reaction/fracture) Patberg was engaged and involved throughout. On the floor one of her strongest assets is the ability to read both the situation in front of her as well as what’s evolving as she attacks. She draws defenders and is skilled in delivering the ball in the resulting soft spots offered by defenders. The tools are there and she’s a proven scorer herself both inside and out. Her lateral speed allows her to be assertive on ball defensively and a surprising vertical makes her a strong perimeter rebounder.
The Georgia Metros seem to riding a roller coaster this summer with the highs being extraordinarily high and the lows just the opposite. One of the constants that we’ve seen from the Peach State based crowd is the play of 5-9 guard Amber Campbell. The talented 2014 South Carolina import has offered a steady advancement in her game each time out and appears to be coming into her own down the homestretch of her final summer club season. Off the dribble she’s become increasingly more difficult to contain and has the capacity to convert at the rim, with a floater or on a pull up. Her athleticism is allowing her to handle defensive rotations and contact not only getting to the line but converting for the three point play. While it may seem strange to offer a comparison to another 2014 class peer, Campbell has had some “Mitchell-esque” moments (Kelsey Mitchell for those not making the connection). While not quite on that tier, the occasional flashes are very promising.
Any time you put on the Cy-Fair uniform you automatically play in the shadow of some talented players both past and present. Kennedy Leonard is emerging from those shadows and beginning to cast a few of her own. Playing alongside Brooke McCarty makes Leonard more of a combo but it also allows her to be just as efficient as a scorer as she is a playmaker. The 5-8 Southlake, Texas native plays with a court awareness that allows her to see both scoring and passing options while adeptly reading defenses. Off the dribble she can create her own looks or improve passing lanes for easier delivery of assists. There were a few sequences in Franklin where Leonard simply “made plays” whether they were in the halfcourt or transition scenarios. There’s a competitive streak in the 2015 standout that makes her a feisty defender and someone you want in your uniform rather than that of the opposition.
Believe it or not, Bianca Cuevas is finally in her final summer on the club trail. The 5-6 Bronx point guard is still leading the way for Exodus with one of the most explosive attacks in the 2014 class. With the ball in her hands she has the tools and game to make an opponent just look plain silly. Her ballhandling is sharp, low and quick leaving player after player lunging, leaning and constantly off balance. The floater, which seems to be her preference these days, has good height and a soft touch serving her well in traffic. The pull up has been there in the past but didn’t get much of a workout in Tennessee. For all the well-established positives that come with Cuevas it’s hard to ignore the inconsistency in her approach and effort. At her focused and “all in” best, she’s as good as any in the class. During the times that she chooses to go through the motions and coast she virtually leaves her team in a 5 on 4 situation. She had her moments both ways last week but the reality is that the true top tier athletes know only one way to play. Here’s hoping that she embraces the things that set her apart from the crowd…from tip to final horn each time out.
One of the problems of establishing yourself as a legitimate perimeter scoring threat is that you begin to attract the more focused attention of opposing defenses. Any team not paying specific attention to New Jersey Demons 2014 point guard Katelynn Flaherty hasn’t done their homework and deserves what’s coming to them. The 5-7 Point Pleasant, New Jersey native has proven again and again that she’s deadly when given time and easily has the range to connect out beyond NBA range. The step back is more aggressive and creating more separation which, given her size, will be essential at the next level. Her own attack in traffic is more assertive than in the past and keeping defenders much more honest in their closeouts. Flaherty is deceivingly quick defensively and can be harassing at times on the ball.
Watching a player mature and evolve over time is one of the true joys in following scholastic and club basketball. Ayanna Edwards has been on the radar for years now but is just now tapping into the enormous potential she’s long been cultivating. The physical size, 6-4, has been there for a while but the fitness level and ability to capitalize on the combination are just now starting to offer the consistent return that Cal Sparks Black coach Michelle Massari and recruiters knew was looming on the horizon. One aspect of the rising senior’s attack is the length of her first step. Whether it’s a drop step on the block or a flash across the middle she covers more ground than a player with much more height. The jump hook is coming onto play more and more often but she’ll need to find a way to stem her momentum as she often will find herself near the elbow after making a move across the middle and falling away. This Sacramento product is just scratching the surface.
A senior to be with size, tools, lots of effort and a consistently improving game. Who could ask for more? Apparently that’s a long and distinguished list. At 6-5, Chicago native Khaalia Hillsman knows what to look for, her role and the effort it takes to accomplish it at the highest level. While the Mac Irvin Fire–Godfather post isn’t yet a finished product, the refinement of her skills is obviously progressing much to the disappointment of opposing teams. Her size and frame combine with an active approach on both ends to allow her to be a presence. She’s using her body well to protect her shot attempts around the rim rather than just relying on her size. The jump hook is destined to be a “go to” weapon down the road as consistency evolves. A highlight for any coach loving transition basketball would be the quick outlets she offers up to trigger the break. Lots more to come!
Left handers are a challenge for most defenders. Quick, skilled and talented ones are simply a giant headache opponents would prefer not to face. Taja Cole is quickly becoming one of those match ups that no one on the other bench is interested in taking on. The Boo Williams point guard has the ball handling skills to create her own looks and develop opportunities for others. Those skills combine with impressive quickness to allow the 5-7 Richmond, Virginia product to penetrate almost at will or navigate any defensive pressure hoping to slow her in transition. Like many guards with that kind of skill set, there is a tendency to over dribble at times and fail to capitalize on the talented interior line up that joins her on the BWSL roster. The 2015 Cole will see her own scoring rise proportionately with her total in the assist column as defenders will be kept guessing.
Quickhitters
Jenna Allen – 2015 – 6-3 Forward/Post – Indiana Elite – Solid frame and build…Effective both down low and from midrange…Jump hook is there…Major tools
Ariel Atkins – 2014 – 5-10 Guard – Duncanville Pantherettes – All Star selection…Among the elite in the class…Catalyst on any team she lines up with…Texas verbal commit
Amari Carter – 2015 – 5-8 Guard – Maryland Lady Terps – Lefty combo…Quick…Creates with change of speed and direction…Top tier prospect
Mikayla Cowling – 2014 – 6-1 Wing/Forward – East Bay Xplosion – Elite athleticism…Long, lean and fluid…Runs the floor…Cuts effectively…Destined for Cal
Sophie Cunningham – 2015 – 6-1 Swing – Missouri Valley Eclipse – All-Star selection…Size and skills…Still advancing her game…Inside – out threat…Verbaled with Missouri
Desire Finnie – 2014 – 5-9 Guard – Cal Ballaz – Wiry build…Has and uses speed…Slashes with good quickness…Shot selection?
Victoria Harris – 2015 – 6-3 Post – Georgia Hoopstars – Had moments…Moves well…Big body…Watch
Keyanna Harris – 2014 – 5-11 Wing – Miami Suns Team Fowles – Athletic with speed…Anticipates…Assertive
Renata Harrison – 2014 – 6-3 Post – Team Takeover – Body and frame…Strong…Lefty…Lots of effort…Posts hard…Tools…Perimeter shot?
Myisha Hines-Allen – 2014 – 6-1 Wing – New Jersey Sparks – All Star selection…Playing her best basketball…Using her size and strength more…Much stronger approach…All the tools
Jameria Johnson – 2015 – 6-3 Forward/Center – Adidas Team Maryland – Athletic…First step…Fluid and smooth…Tools
Nora Kiesler – 2015 – 6-6 Post – Kentucky Premier – Size, frame and body…Strong…Will use her body…Runs the floor…somewhat mechanical on defense
Ashton Lovely – 2014 – 5-8 Guard – Cincinnati Angels – Deceptive guard…Makes plays with the ball in her hands…Committed to Cincinnati
Lauren Moses – 2014 – 6-1 Forward – Philly Triple Threat – Build is there…Elbow drive and jumper…Reads…Runs the floor
Elizabeth Nye – 2014 – 5-5 Point Guard – Mack Irvin Fire Black – Smart…Skills…Individual skills…Range
Amber Richardson – 2015 – 5-10 Guard – Carolina All-Stars – Athletic and strong…Good individual skills…Plenty of lateral speed on defense…Elevates
A Reminder From Blue Star Media
Please keep in mind that the very limited time frame of this summer’s NCAA evaluation period and the sheer number of teams in many certified events limits our opportunity to see many deserving players. Additionally, please understand that the players we include in our coverage are not always the “best” players on hand or even the best that we saw in action. Obviously many accomplished and high profile athletes are on hand at events we attend that are not mentioned in our coverage. Often we choose players who represent potential and promise at the next level or just happened to catch our eye when we were in the gym. We look forward to seeing all of them in action again somewhere down the road.
