USJN’s 7th Annual Battle of the Programs Elite Oktoberfest – MIDWEST

WAUKEGAN, Ill. – While the debate continues to rage over the current recruiting calendar and the proposed cutbacks to non scholastic opportunities, the annual fall evaluation weekend last week provided evidence that athletes and recruiters alike are more than willing to get in the gym given the opportunity.  The NCAA certified 82 events for the three day period and the Chicagoland area offered up some of the best opportunities for college coaches and players alike.

For the seventh year USJN and Blue Star provided a comprehensive setting to take in both team and individual competition.  The Waukegan Fieldhouse as well as the Rec Plex just north in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin provided 14 courts for all the action.  Programs and players from 13 different states were on hand as well as 198 recruiters looking to make the most of their last chance to see prospects outside the framework of scholastic basketball.  The Elite Oktoberfest hosted 53 teams while the Battle of the Programs simultaneously featured another 24 and 60 individuals took part in the Midwest Fall College Showcase.

High profile athletes like Connecticut bound senior Morgan Tuck and USA basketball participant and multi talented junior standout Taya Reimer were on hand as well many other prospects who offered up some eye catching performances.  Here are a few who appear to be primed for a great season and beyond.

ON THE PERIMETER

Several point guards demonstrated the skills and command of the floor that coaches like to see but not many did it the way Alexa Middleton did for the Tennessee Flight.  The 5-9 native of Murfreessboro, Tenn. and Riverdale High School sophomore standout continued the steady advancement of her game that we’ve seen in high school play, the USA Basketball trials, club play as well as some individual events this past summer.  Middleton is playing with both the confidence and maturity that you most often find in athletes with more experience under their belts.  The obvious and extraordinarily fierce competitive streak she brings to the floor allows her to take control of the game and draw the focused attention of opposing defenses.  While most point guards aren’t embracing physical play or contact, Middleton seems to relish and exploit it at every opportunity.  With the ball in her hands she can break defensive pressure off the dribble or with the pass and in the halfcourt she’s creating opportunities for both herself and her teammates consistently.  She scored effectively herself in a variety of ways but the reliability of her mid range game is something that’s going to be a highlight in game preparation by opponents.

Another point guard we’ve seen in the past who’s seemingly taken some big strides recently in her play is 5-6 Asia Doss of the Michigan Crossover.  A sophomore as well from Detroit Country Day, Doss is playing with a bold and almost brash approach to her attack.  Her one on one skills allow her to get almost any defender out of their stance and penetrate at will.  She can take it all the way to the rim and finish in traffic but she can also deliver on a pull up that shows off some impressive elevation.  That ability to get off the floor serves her well deeper on the perimeter with a true jumper that provided some positive returns at times.  Her speed and quickness set her apart at both ends of the floor and give her a physical edge offsetting her smaller size.  On the ball defensively she’s active with both her hands and feet and has the ability to occupy her match up’s attention and take away a lot of potential options.

One of the younger point guards that had quite a few of the recruiters talking was 2015 Jordan Hankins of Indianapolis, Indiana and The Family.  The 5-7 freshman from Lawrence North High School has a wiry build that indicates some more size may be coming her way but she’s doing just fine with the frame she currently resides in.  Her individual skills are sharp and effective but what makes them stand out is her ability to utilize them at full speed.  In transition she can crossover or go to her hesitation move on a dime without allowing slower defenders the opportunity to recover or react.  Her mentality is to attack first, attack second and then, for good measure, attack again.  Traffic isn’t an issue for her and the pull up is already an effective weapon.  She’ll need to learn to pick her spots and mix up her game to keep opponents on their toes but that diversity will come with experience.  Her lateral speed defensively gives her the tools to be a strong on ball defender but she does take a lot of risks at times leaving her out of position.  Again, the maturation process will take care of that and lead to her being an impact player at both ends of the floor. 

Another 2015 point guard that was hard not to be impressed by was Shakeela Fowler of Brown Deer Wisconsin and Rufus King High School.  Playing for the Playground Elite, Fowler provides a lot of game from a very petite body.  Standing nowhere near her listed 5-2 height, the production she offers exceeds any preconceived notion you might have about floor leaders of limited size.  Constantly pushing the ball up the floor both off the pass and dribble she forces defenders to get back and often creates numbers situations where there were none to begin with.  She’s got both the speed and quickness to combine with her ball skills to command the attention of the best opposing perimeter defender.  Her form is sound on the spot up from the deeper perimeter as well as on the pull up as defenders rotate her way on the drive.  Mother Nature is going to have to offer her a size assist as time goes by but there’s still plenty of time for that.

One of the combo guards that had everyone in the gym talking was 5-9 sophomore Kanesha Bell of North Tartan and Kennedy High School in Bloomington, Minnesota.  Already committed to the University of Minnesota, Bell is leaving little doubt that the limb the Gophers have gone out on for her so early is a pretty sturdy one.  Football coaches love the word acceleration when they’re talking about their skill players and the pigskin folks would love Bell’s ability to get from A to B in the blink of an eye.  Add to that some advanced and eye catching ball control and you’ve got some serious offensive firepower.  She finished well at the rim and off her pull up but also demonstrated the ability to draw the contact and get to the line time and again.  The follow through on her pull up and from the perimeter showed some inconsistency that shouldn’t be an issue with repetitions but will need to be addressed to keep defenders closing out tight.  One of the really attractive aspects to Bell’s game is her willingness to dig in and defend ballhandlers.  She’s aggressive, active and seems to take pride in forcing her match up to want nothing to do with the ball.

One young guard with the size and build recruiters like to see in the backcourt is Kindell Fincher of Fort Wayne, Indiana and Lady Legit.  At 5-10 the sophomore from Canterbury High School adds strength, quickness and speed to become a defenders nightmare challenge.  She’s cognizant of her physical skills and has the willingness to put them to good use both on the break and in the halfcourt.  Once she has a half step on an opponent she’s adept at using her strength and keeping them sealed beside or behind her calling for help.  Off penetration Fincher reads effectively and is willing and able to make the smart pass as defenders rotate and options open up.  The left hand at this point is not where it needs to be to keep defenders honest. However, even though it’s not a strength, she will use it to a degree and needs to become more comfortable in doing so.  With all her physical tools she’ll need to be a consistent perimeter threat to take full advantage of her penetration and ability to attack.  On the defensive end the lateral footspeed is there to match up with and contain smaller opponents and exploit trapping situations.

While there were a lot of offensive fireworks on display both days, nobody lit up the scoreboard like Kennedy Kirkpatrick did for the MoKan Eclipse on their run to the title.  The 5-9 lefty junior guard from Lawrence, Kansas and Free State High School repeatedly knocked down the three and for good measure stepped back and continued to zero in from what most would call four point range.  The form and stroke are textbook and her release is relatively quick.  What will stand out to coaches beyond her ability to put the ball in the hole are her instincts and movements offensively as her teammates penetrate and attack.  Some shooters simply spot up and wait for their teammates to find them but Kirkpatrick reads defensive shifts and moves to improve passing angles and increase the odds of the ball coming her way.  Whether it’s a conscious effort or just second nature, it makes her a constant threat that can’t be ignored.  As defenders responded to her long range attack she demonstrated some ability to penetrate and even created a few step back jumpers off the dribble.  That versatility will be critical down the road to keep opponents honest and allow her to make the most of her soft touch.

INSIDE OUT    

One of the most versatile players on hand was Antania Hayes, a 6-1 forward with the Michigan Crossover.  From Detroit, Michigan and Martin Luther King High School, Hayes may be as “college ready” as any player in the 2013 class.  That doesn’t mean that there’s no refinement to be done or depth to be added to her game, there’s still lots of work to do.  However, there are elements of her play that would translate well right now to the colligate level.  Her physical strength, explosive first step and vertical all combine with legitimate size and some sound perimeter skills to make her a match up mystery for defenders.  Go big and she’s going to blow by you with a quick and lengthy first step.  Go small and she’s going to take you to the block and elevate to the middle or baseline with ease and finish at the rim.  The aforementioned vertical goes hand in hand with some body and ball control that a lot of players only dream of ever having.  She’s got a nice touch and good instincts from 10 feet and in but will need to find consistency from deeper on the perimeter to make her the “complete” threat that she’s capable of becoming.  Defensively and on the boards those same physical attributes serve her well and allow her to make impact plays.  She’s active as a helpside defender and got her hand on more than her share of passes and shots. 

Also providing some effective play from the small forward spot was Destinee Young of Hoffman Estates, Illinois and Hoffman Estates High School.  Listed at 6-0 the junior appears to come in an inch or two under that standard but none the less holds her own with an aggressive power game.  The combination of strength and quickness makes a perimeter defender out of the question but also challenges a bigger match up to move with her on the attack.  Her first step is equal to any guard and makes her a strong threat from the high post or in a four out set.  Her midrange game gives her the inside out balance to be the ideal teammate to pair with a true post up big.  One element that Young brought to the table that her own peers could take lessons on was the willingness to battle and get on the glass.  She pushed, shoved, tipped, re-tipped and generally laid it all on the line to come up with the rebound on virtually every attempt.  On the defensive end her quick outlet passes were the trigger for many transition opportunities.  She’ll need some additional perimeter skills to be successful at the next level but there’s already a fundamental foundation in place.

Another forward offering up a multifaceted game was Jacqui Grant of the Midwest Elite.  In the past the 6-3 junior forward from Park Ridge, Illinois and Maine South High School has given glimpses of the ideal game that coaches are looking for in a true forward.  The glimpses are now becoming more consistent and providing both production and results.  Constantly active on the offensive end, Grant is going to catch her defender standing or simply pull her out of helpside rotations.  Either way her effort and mobility are helping her contribute.  Few players of her size cut as efficiently and with as good an understanding of defenses and the seams that might be there in both man and zone.  Around the rim she can use both hands effectively but still had a few roll out on her at times.  She took and got a couple of 15 footers to go down but still seems hesitant to think shot first from the high post.  On the other hand her vision and passing skills are sharp and her decisions with the ball are ones guard would be proud of.  Defensively she’s active, aware and effective but will need the addition of some strength and bulk before she moves on to the next level.

DOWN LOW  

The jury may still be out on just how much you might want to play sophomore Chatrice White away from the rim but the potential is certainly there for her to be effective at the elbows or on the block.  The 6-3 native of Shelby, Nebraska and Shelby High School has both the size and build to be effective down low but also the agility you like to see in a forward up high or on the perimeter.  She’s got a good repertoire of well schooled post moves and reads her defender with both her eyes and contact.  Her skills allow her to finish effectively at the rim but she does struggle when the whistle’s not blowing and things get physical.  Part of that is strength which time and the weight room will address but there’s also a tendency to avoid the contact rather than taking it head on.  Ironically at the defensive end there’s no hesitation to put a body on a defender or to mix it up as everyone crashes the boards.  Just like her CSS Bison club teammates, White is going to leave it all on the floor and if effort is going to be a deciding factor, she’ll be leaving the floor with a smile. 

Another 2014 forward who’s more interior oriented at this point but showing some possibilities for the four spot is 6-2 Haley Blodgett from Golden, Colorado.  Out of Golden High School and playing with the Mile Hi Rockies, Blodgett has the size and frame recruiters are looking for as well as the appearance of the potential to grow some more.  Her play appears somewhat methodical on occasion but at the same time is effective in getting the job done and providing results.  On both ends of the floor she’s willing to work and actually plays a very physical game with more strength than her appearance gives clue to.  Offensively she’s active both in posting up and flashing as the ball is reversed or entered into the high post.  She needs to step to the ball on post entry passes more efficiently to keep defenders from getting touches as well as to create more room for her offensive attack.  On the defensive end there’s plenty of effort and no hesitation about clearing some space when the ball goes to the rim.  Blodgett was one of the players on hand who seemed to improve throughout each game as well as from contest to contest.

Despite being just a freshman, 6-2 Jenna Allen offered up an effective true low post game for a very young and talented Indiana Elite Explosion team.  Out of Bedford, Indiana and North Lawrence High School Allen wasn’t flashy but got the job done with some fundamental play down on the block.  It’s obvious there’s been some quality coaching somewhere along the way and no doubt some hard work on her part.  There was no hesitation to use her solid build in getting position and angles on defenders.  She demonstrated a good understanding of what she was looking for and when to look for it within the offense or on the break.  On reversal passes she was quick to flash across her defender or spin underneath if the overplayed.  Her patience in holding her seal is something usually reserved for posts with more experience and understanding and it paid off for her on several occasions.  She finishes the simple stuff around the rim and has a “rolling” hook that can be challenging to defend.  The ability to catch and create isn’t quite as effective for her as her post up game but you can see her reading defenders making decisions that will evolve and become reactions down the road.