CINCINNATI -- The sixth annual Midwest Showdown was loaded with talent from all over the country last weekend. The first of two tip sheets from the event, hosted by the All-Ohio club program, focuses on some top performers.
- EnlargeChris Hansen/ESPN HoopGurlz
Anna Munn did a good job protecting the ball.
Indiana State University has already secured the services of Anna Munn. The Indiana Flight guard did a little bit of everything, but what is most impressive is her shooting stroke. She has to be considered with the other top sharpshooters in the country. She elevates quickly and has a nice high release. When she lets it go you expect it to go in. Munn also handles the ball well and showed some leadership qualities. Playing against faster and stronger competition this weekend really challenged her to keep the ball low and protect the ball.
The Fairfax Stars made it to the semifinals and a big part of its success was the play of 6-foot-4 forward Sherrone Vails. She is incredibly long and very nimble. She is at her best sprinting out in transition, but can also snatch a rebound off the rim, make the outlet or beat her post defender down the court regularly. Defensively, her length leads to a ton of blocked and altered shots. If she can learn to deal with the more physical post players, she will have to guard even if she's on the floor as a wing she will be a handful on the next level. If she does plan on playing the wing, she will need to expand her range as well. But even without those traits there are a lot of schools that would take her shot-blocking and speed, regardless.
Michaella Riche' was part of Team Ontario's Canadian Invasion of Southern Ohio. She definitely puts the power in power forward. She is a legit 6-1 and has a strong frame with strength in both her upper and lower body. She rebounds with passion and authority, knows how to get position in the post and finishes when the ball gets to her. She even stepped out and showed range out to 16 feet. She has good agility, but isn't a speedster. This summer will be the first time she hits the U.S. college exposure circuit and her mailbox should be extremely busy thereafter.
- EnlargeChris Hansen/ESPN HoopGurlz
Natalie Achonwa is already a very complete player.
One of the most complete players in the tournament was Natalie Achonwa of Guelph, Ontario. The 6-3 wing has a body that is ready for college and perhaps the professional ranks at the age of 16. There isn't anything she doesn't do well. If you are looking for something to knit-pick you could mention her speed. She isn't going to win any track meets, but even going heads up with players faster and quicker than she is it never impacted her. Her basketball IQ keeps her in good position and she doesn't waste any motion on the court. She can handle the ball, shoot it from deep, body people up in the post, pass in traffic and create shots for herself. For those reasons, she is not only being heavily recruited but is also trying out for the Canadian Senior National Team.
DFW's Kelsi Baker is incredibly active on the interior. She is rarely the tallest front court player, but it doesn't matter because she still scores against the biggest and baddest. She has wide shoulders and uses them perfectly to protect the ball around the basket. What is great about her game offensively is that she can create offense from the blocks or face-up from the mid-post and she's fearless. She is an aggressive player, which is the only way she can play the forward position at such a high level at 6-0. There are more well-known names on this T-Jack team, but she is a big part of the team's success.
Mark Lewis/ESPN HoopGurlz
Courtney Thomas has improved her 3-point shooting.
Marquette-commit Courtney Thomas, a 6-0 wing from Glenview, Ill., first caught our eye last summer with her athleticism and scoring ability as a slasher. She showed she has been working on her perimeter shooting since then as she caught fire Sunday in pool play. It's one thing to knock down open shots, but she squared up the defender on one possession, hit her with two right jab steps, read the defense and raised up to can the 3-pointer from the top of the key. She may never be considered a 3-point shooter, but adding that facet to her game will make her a major asset for the Golden Eagles. She is also a terrific on-ball defender who at times does a good job off the ball of jumping passing lanes.
Xandra Yantzi is all of 6-5, but she's not a post player. The Team Ontario forward has good footwork in the post and has great touch on her turn-around jumper, but is better suited to play the 4 in college. She is mobile and very long. She could be more physical, but she also steps out and hits shots from behind the 3-point arc. If she improves her ballhandling and gets stronger, she could be in the mold of Catherine Kraayeveld.
- EnlargeMark Lewis/ESPN HoopGurlz
Crystal Bradford isn't afraid to initiate contact in the lane.
Detroit has a special player in Crystal Bradford. At times this weekend the 6-0 guard looked as good as anyone in the gym. She has plenty of quickness, leaping ability and handle. She is a capable 3-point shooter and has a nice mid-range pull-up. Physically, she is strong and initiates contact in the lane while still keeping enough balance to finish. With all her ability she needs to become more consistent. She has the tools to impact every possession when she's on the floor, either by being a scoring threat or making her teammates better. When she figures that out she'll be a major impact player.
Chicago's Chanise Jenkins is a clutch player. She has every shot imaginable in her arsenal and her confidence has grown so much through the high school season that she will take any of those shots, if her team needs it. She has blinding speed with the ball and somehow is able to change directions at full speed. She can get past almost any defender in a one-on-one situation and is usually quicker than the first level of help as well. However, she could improve her ability to get quality shots up over the second level of help, which is usually a post she's giving up nearly a foot in height to. She can really heat up from long range and even if she's not shooting the ball well early in the game she always seems to come through in clutch situations, as she did for Whitney Young this past winter.
Some players stand out because they have one exceptional part of their game. Others you have to watch a couple of times to appreciate everything they do and the Illinois Lady Broncos' Whitney Adams does a lot of things on the court. The 6-1 forward is a glue player. She makes plays when they are there and plays her role on the floor. That's not to say she's passive because she is one of the more active players on the floor. She does a little bit of everything and does most of it very well. She is most effective offensively at the high post because she can face up, attack off the dribble, hit the shot or place a perfect pass on the post duck-in. She's a hardworking kid who gets the most out of her athletic ability.
- EnlargeMark Lewis/ESPN HoopGurlz
Whitney Holloway is very quick, but her shot keeps the defense honest.
Whitney Holloway of Montini Catholic High School has that extra gear that few point guards possess. She is fast with the ball and can hit the afterburner switch to get easy buckets in transition. She has good control with the ball as well and changes speeds very effectively. She also knocks down open jumpers to keep the defense honest. However, she could improve her ability to finish in traffic. It is an art to try and finish with all the help collapsing on you and she's shown she's capable of making those tough shots, but she could finish those shots more consistently.
Asia Boyd of Team Detroit is a 6-1 combo guard with a ton of tools. The lefty plays a lot of point guard, but can flat out score the basketball. She is strong for her age and uses her body well, when attacking the defender. She sees the floor and makes a lot of nice dishes in the lane, many of which catch her teammates off guard. Those plays won't be turnovers at the next level. Her range extends beyond the 3-point arc as well. She needs to get a little stronger with her right hand, but she this kid isn't lacking confidence. She will put her team on her back at times, while not dominating the ball for an entire half.
DFW Elite point guard Moriah Jefferson is one of the most exciting young players to watch. She is a spectacular ballhandler who can change directions multiple times, freeze the defense, smile and then go by them. She does play with the ball a little too much, wasting dribbles when she has the ability to just beat the opposition on her initial move or counter. She has a lot of fun on the court and her teammates feed off of her energy. At 5-6 and lean, she's not the biggest guard on the court, but she still does a good job of getting into her defender's body and using that contact to neutralize the defender to get her shots in the lane up on the glass. She draws a lot of fouls and shoots the ball well. She was playing injured this weekend yet was still one of the most explosive players in the tournament.
One of Jefferson's teammates on the DFW 2012 team, Courtney Walker, was impressive as well. The 5-8 guard from Edmond, Okla., is great in transition. She is a very good athlete and plays an attacking style that maximizes her physical gifts. She has a lot of shake in her game and she hit some tough pull-up jumpers in addition to getting to the rim. If she continues to develop, she could be a big-time prospect in this class.
