CINCINNATI, Ohio—While the address may have changed from time to time over the years, the annual Braggin’ Rights Classic has become a staple of the post-Christmas holiday tournament circuit. The 2012 edition, the ninth for those of you counting, offered up a solid a lineup of teams and a spectrum of individual talent both established and emerging. Walnut Hills High School in Cincinnati hosted this year’s competition in their new, 1200 seat facility welcoming teams from Tennessee, Florida, Ohio and the great white north of Canada. Played in a classic format, full schedules of games were played the 27th, 28th and 29th of December wrapping up the calendar year with some quality basketball in the Queen City.
While there were plenty of talented seniors on hand, we’ll focus on some underclassman that stood out last week and provided a glimpse of what we may see from them in the New Year and beyond.
The class of the field was without a doubt the Firebirds of Fairmont High School from just up the road in Kettering, Ohio. After two straight trips to the state finals Fairmont may be poised to make their strongest run at a crown yet with a talented, veteran roster. Leading the way is the high profile dynamic duo of forwards, Makayla Waterman and Kathryn Westbeld. Anyone following girl’s high school and club ball should be well aware of these top tier 2014 prospects that could just about have their choice of schools nationwide. They aren’t the only firepower coach Tim Cogan can call on as point guard Chelsea Welch, who signed with Duquesne in November, dictates the pace and tempo of the game while sharp shooter Alona Skipper makes defenders pay dearly for collapsing defenses or slow close outs. The bench has plenty of depth and versatility on the perimeter and junior post Emma Havener is gradually getting back into the swing of things off last year’s knee injury.
Westbeld continues to demonstrate a versatility that most coaches only dream about. Her perimeter game has always been there but now exhibits a more fluid and mature attack which is certainly bad news for defenders. On penetration her body control and decision making continues to evolve and allows her to not only create her own looks but improve those of her teammates. Another challenge for opponents is the fact that she’s getting out in transition with the guards and becoming more of a factor in numbers situations which is really an asset when playing with the high speed Welch at the point. The 6-2 junior looks to be physically stronger than just a few months ago on the summer circuit and seems to have no hesitation about mixing things up in traffic.
To say Waterman is a force would be an understatement. It’s scary to think where her game might be at this point without the brief ACL detour she endured last year but right now she’s among the best “true” #4’s you’re going to find on the scholastic level. Always a physical presence, she now brings not only the willingness to push and shove but the size and strength to win most of those battles. Add to that her more active and mobile approach to both halfcourt and transition play and she becomes the match up that nobody on the other bench is asking for. Waterman has always been an effective rebounder but her outlet is coming quicker and triggering some advantage situations that exploit backcourt loitering opponents. On the catch it’s obvious that she’s reading her defender rather than having her mind made up and getting cleaner looks as a result. On the defensive end the earlier mentioned physical approach is serving her well and will continue to do so down the road and at the next level.
Mt. Notre Dame (Cincinnati, Ohio) has had more than their share of division I talent over the years and it looks as though sophomore Naomi Davenport will be the next in that long line of talented Cougars. At 5-9, she has a lean, athletic build that allows her to cover the floor efficiently both on the break and while being active in halfcourt sets. On the catch she can create her own with a quick first step that can get her into the paint but also demonstrates a high, elevating pull up that should serve her well as she refines her game. The ball skills and passing are solid allowing her to handle it in transition if needed or to take it to the rim when the opportunity presents. She’ll need more depth to her own attack as she faces older and more experienced defenders but all the tools are there to take her game where she wants with the right focus.
As long as we’re talking Catholic schools we might as well feature a neighbor from just north in Ontario, Canada. St. Mary’s (Hamilton, Ontario) junior wing/forward Christain Buttenham offered up some diverse and impressive play that tells you she’ll still have plenty of basketball in front of her after her high school days. Standing 5-11, she’s got the ability to make plays on the perimeter or to take it inside and create something around the rim. Her ability to navigate traffic with her eyes up makes her a threat not only as a scorer but also as a distributor as defenders rotate her way. There’s good athleticism in place but very deceiving acceleration that often leaves opponents struggling to recover. The pull up is there but so is the range to force close outs beyond the arch. Setting Buttenham apart from the crowd is sheer effort. On both ends of the floor you can count on her being in the middle of the mix. This really pays dividends defensively and on the boards.
Recruiting in the city of Memphis is often a little like mining for gold. It’s a lot of tedious, hard work but when you find what you’re looking for…its well worth the time. If you’re watching Wooddale High (Memphis, Tenn.) you don’t have to look too hard to see something bright and shiny. Junior swing player Shay Trent is an explosive athlete that does what coaches love, she makes plays. The 5-9 Trent seems to get the most out of every inch of the floor. She’s aggressive and physical defensively, crashes the boards and then gets out and fills the lanes like a sprinter headed for the wire. Just for good measure, she can and will take it herself at times weaving through traffic and going coast to coast. When she attacks, she accelerates with impressive quickness but also makes use of a crossover that will get most opponents leaning and out of their stance. Right now you might describe her in baseball terms as a “utility” player who makes contributions all over the floor but her future lies at the guard spot and that future could be a special one.
If you caught our coverage back in November from this year’s Turkey Jamm in Murfreesboro, Tenn. (http://www.bluestarmedia.org/index.php/component/k2/item/332-fourth-annual-tennessee-turkey-jamm) you read about Winton Woods (Cincinnati, Ohio) standout junior forward Imani Partlow. Well Partlow has a classmate providing some quality help from the perimeter in the form of Tyra James. Though listed at 5-8 James may be one of the few you see that leaves you thinking she just might be a little taller. Long, lean and athletic, she is strong in her attack and uses her body both in protecting the ball as well as creating her shot. She can get to the rim with a long and very explosive first step that leads to a layup or a floater that she was able to connect on several times. There weren’t a lot of perimeter opportunities with which to evaluate her range or stroke, but the form appears to be there on the looks we did see. Biggest concern at this point might be her inactivity when she doesn’t have the ball in her hands. If she can keep her defender honest throughout possessions she could join with Partlow in being a real double barrel that opponents won’t want to be seeing.
Having an experienced, high profile point guard on your roster like Taylor Agler (Indiana) generally keeps a smile on any coach’s face. Olentangy Orange (Powell, Ohio) coach Mary Ann Grimes has a little broader grin on her face with the addition of junior forward Sarah Sagerer for Agler’s senior campaign. An exchange student from Austria, she joins with undersized but effective power forward senior Mya Walker in giving Grimes a versatile line up to work with. With European roots Sagerer plays more of a face up game that most players her size here in the states are only beginning to grasp. The ability is there to put it on the floor and she’s comfortable working at the elbows or on the wing. The 6-2 passport player has sharp individual skills and eye catching body and ball control. The physical nature of our game seems to still be a lesson in the learning but the size and build are there to handle it. As with most exchange students the future isn’t set in stone in regard to her senior year but her name is one some recruiters should be hanging on to.
Withrow (Cincinnati, Ohio) is one of those schools that has a rich history from years ago and is now on track to recapture some of that past. Coach Kim Corbitt has a standout guard in Adriana Williams to help her with the Tiger’s reclamation project. This 5-7 sophomore has a good solid build and some speed that challenges opposing match ups. Though she is upright at times in her attack, her individual skills allow her create both shots and passes off the drive. Her change of speed and change of direction serve her well and get defenders out of their stances time and again. On the defensive end she’s got an attacking mentality as well while being quick and assertive on the ball. There are still some “rough edges” to her game but there are lots of possibilities in place. It will be interesting to see what she chooses to do with them.
There were several younger standouts on hand in Cincinnati as well. Here are just a few to keep a close eye on now and in the very near future.
East Tech (Cleveland, Ohio) has the services of freshman Shontell Bostick. The 5-7 point guard has lots of speed and confidence with the ball in her hands. She can pass effectively on the interior as well as get her own shot off among the bigs. Needs to be much more of a factor without the ball in her hands.
Taylor Darks keeps showing more and more each time each time we see her. The Walnut Hills (Cincinnati, Ohio) sophomore guard has sharp individual skills and slashes with a change of speed or direction to get into the paint. The pull up is there but consistency from long range will have to keep defenders playing straight up as well.
Alessia Conley doesn’t give the impression of being a freshman in appearance or play. The 5-7 Craigmont (Memphis, Tenn.) point guard has a solid build and an ever growing assertive presence on the floor. The ball skills are there to create and the vision is in place to see the floor. Her change of speed is her go to weapon on the break. As with others in this report, she needs to do more without the ball to make her game more complete.
Celina King is not a new name or new face for any halfway knowledgeable recruiter or evaluator. Though just a freshman she’s had plenty of exposure including a tour last summer with Tom Jenkins’ dominant and last Sport City U squad. The 5-7 guard has a depth of court intelligence and experience well beyond her years. She’s got the stroke and range to be effective deep but the passing skills and decision making to improve her teammates looks just the same. Teammate junior Marissa Koob combines with King to give Cincinnati Hills Christian (Cincinnati, Ohio) a strong backcourt.
