SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.– The 9th annual Girls Gym Rat Challenge was held this past weekend as 228 teams gathered for this competition coming from states as far south as Maryland and even a few north of the border in Montreal, Canada. Travel was quick and made easy for participants as all game venues were within a 10-mile radius located at Skidmore College’s Williamson Athletics Center, Gavin Park Recreation Center and at Maple Ave. Middle School.
With more than 70 college coaches and scouts in attendance the event was both productive as well as entertaining. When pool play ended at 12:30 on Sunday the top 8 teams who earned byes were: Elmira Lady Express, New Jersey Sparks –Red, Philly Freedom Elite, City Rocks, New Jersey Sparks-Pink, CBC, Long Island Lightning-Slater and Rivals White. The featured final game showcased the City Rocks battling the Rivals White squad for the first place trophy. Although the game had its ebbs and flows, City Rocks eventually pulled away to post the win with decisive 61-42 margin.
The much deserved MVG (Most Valuable GymRat) in the 16U Age Division was awarded to the City Rocks 6-1 Emily Durr. Durr, a 2014 forward / guard who plays for Notre Dame High School, scored a championship game high 20 points and posted a 12 of 24 effort from three point range over the course of the tournament. Additionally, she was a force to contend with on the defensive end demonstrating that the Iowa State commit has the total package.
2014 Standouts
An outstanding point guard who makes great decisions is Mariah Ruff (City Rocks). The 5-8 Oneonta High School product plays under control and handles pressure. She takes it to the rim strong when the opportunity is there. There’s a pass-first mentality but she’ll take the open shot when it’s there as well. Ruff can hit pressure free throws when games are on the line. She has verbally committed to St. Bonaventure.
Cierra Dillard (City Rocks) will find an opening and take it to the hoop strong. If stopped on the way to the rim, the Gates Chili guard uses the step thru move to get by her defender. An aggressive defender herself, the 5-9 Dillard is not afraid to step in and sacrifice her body by taking a charge.
If you like point guards with a terrific shooting touch out beyond the three-point stripe, take a look Aliya Butts (Philly Freedom Stars Elite) of Holy Cross High School. Standing just 5-5, Butts is an extremely quick player. She likes to use dribble penetration to get past defenders and into the lane and create havoc.
A rebounder who has a real nose for the ball would be Frier Charter’s Chelsea Woods (Philly Freedom Stars Elite). A determined 5-10 swing player who takes it to the rim, she’s not pulling up until she finishes. A definite scorer.
Trenton Catholic Academy’s Erin Garner (Philly Freedom Stars Elite) has a strong build and plays with an aggressive attitude. Playing both interior positions, she slashes to the hoop and uses her 6-3 size to her advantage. Garner protects the ball with her body by effectively using a hook shot.
Possessing tremendous athletic ability, Davida Dale (Rivals White) has a handle that can get her to the rim. The 5-11 guard creates her own shots and is not only good offensively but also a tenacious defender. Dale, of LaSalle Academy, could be a game changer for many programs.
Emerging 2015’s
Lauren “Boogie”Brozoski (L.I. Lightning-Slater) is a well-established point guard with a great handle. She has a nice pull-up jumper and the ability to slash to the rim. Out of Long Island Lutheran, the 5-5 Brozoski is a very skilled point guard that creates and passes well while being a legitimate scorer herself.
A forward with great hands who can catch anything thrown her way is a commodity. Taylor Byrne (L.I. Lightning-Slater) does just that and for good measure finishes on the catch. Agile and dominate on the boards at both ends, Byrne runs hard and finishes in transition. The 6-2 Long Island Lutheran junior to be is also very aggressive defensively.
Beekmantown Central center Shannon Ryan (Lake Champlain Lakers) knows how to get position and finish consistently in the paint. At 6-4 she’s still developing and plays with a tremendous upside. Ryan runs the floor well and uses her size to both alter and block shots.
Very athletic, 5-9 Elemey Colome (VBC Cast Gold) has good size at guard. She creates off the dribble and uses a quick first step to get to hoop. The pull up is there if needed plus her range extends beyond the three point stripe. The Proctor Academy standout is also a very active defender.
Archbishop Williams High School is home for 6-2 Jaylen Williams (Rivals-White). While she may play the post, the ability is there to step out on the perimeter and shoot the three. She’s good to put it on the floor to a limited degree and get to the rim from the perimeter. A Penn State verbal commit, she can change shots defensively and racks up her share of blocks.
Promising 2016’s
Sierra DeCosta (Mid-Atlantic Heat) has a game and potential far beyond her years. The 5-8 Bishop McDevitt point guard has an awesome handle and is explosive at both ends of the court. She already knows how to make her teammates better, and does so by penetrating the gap and distributing to those with better scoring opportunities.
Multi-talented and extremely athletic, Jordan Agustus (NYC Heat-White) can handle it in transition at 6-0 and leads the break on occasion. At the same time she has solid post moves plus a nice touch around the basket and out to mid-range distance. The St. Mary’s forward is also a strong rebounder who controls the boards.
A presence on both ends of the floor, Naomi Van Nes (Connecticut Hornets) is mobile and fundamentally sound. At 6-4 she rebounds well and keeps the ball high on the catch. At the other end she keeps opponents on their toes by challenging and blocking shots. Van Nes attends Hamden Hall Country Day School.
A very aggressive power forward, Desiree Elmore (Connecticut Basketball Club) is a smooth finisher who can call on a nice finger roll. At 5-11 she can penetrate and has the ability to step by defenders when seemingly stopped. She makes good decisions with the ball and is willing to give it up. From Capital Prep, Elmore rebounds well and is always around the ball.
With an amazingly quick and deceptive quick first step, Araion Bradshaw (Boston Showstoppers) takes it to the hoop hard and finishes in traffic. The 5-7 guard is truly explosive with the ball in her hands. That same foot speed serves the Tabor Academy product well on the defensive end of the floor.
