Three big recruiting targets to know this AAU weekend
By Matt Ward
Colleges coaches will hit the recruiting trail this weekend
With high school seasons completed and the Women’s Final Four in the rearview mirror, AAU season is set to take center stage. While most teams have been formed for some time now, this weekend marks the first big weekend for AAU players and college recruiters, with various tournaments across the country set to begin tomorrow. Whether kids that are competing are doing so in hopes of obtaining a college scholarship or not, the weekend marks the beginning of an extremely active, engaging, and hopefully fun few months.
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- Your Day in Women’s Basketball, July 2: Maya Moore helps overturn wrongful conviction
- Citron, Wolfenbarger choose their college destinations
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A number of players are set to make a name for themselves on the AAU circuit this weekend, but there are three names that you should definitely get familiar with. If you haven’t heard these names already, you certainly will soon.
Kateri Poole, Class of 2020
Of the three kids that I’m going to talk about, Poole is the one that I’ve been able to see live. The word elite gets thrown out rather loosely in the world of sports right now, especially in connection with team names. I’ll say this: Poole is elite. The 5’8 combo-guard from The Bronx, NY, who is bing recruited by the top schools and coaches in the country, including Louisville’s Jeff Walz, is an explosive offensive talent. She scored 35 points, including her 1000th point, and a game-winning lay-up, in the game I saw her play this past winter. Poole has Steph Curry like range from behind the arc, and her combination of speed, agility, and strength, make her extremely difficult to defend. She is terrific both in transition and getting to the rim in the half court; she is crafty with the ball in her hands and creative in her finishes.
Kateri Poole with some lady JELLY 🍇 @kateripoole5 @SMARTBALLNYC pic.twitter.com/mjAqRHZgVd
— Overtime (@overtime) August 22, 2018
The one thing that impressed me most was her confidence and ability to raise the play of her teammates. Poole’s confidence and demeanor doesn’t waver. She is just as good of a passer as she is a scorer, and made play after play on the defensive end. Poole is the No. 10 ranked player in her class according to ESPN. She and her New Heights team will be participating in the UAA Spooky Nook tournament this weekend in Manheim, PA.
Other 2020s to keep an eye on: Kylee Watson (Philly Belles)
More from High School
- Your Day in Women’s Basketball, November 2: Shakeup in the ACC with Bollin commit, UNC retool
- Your Day in Women’s Basketball, August 3: Sabrina Ionescu to miss one month
- Your Day in Women’s Basketball, July 2: Maya Moore helps overturn wrongful conviction
- Citron, Wolfenbarger choose their college destinations
- Caroline Ducharme commits to UConn
Olivia Miles- Class of 2021
An opposing coach, Putnam Science Head Coach Derek Marchione, told High Post Hoops Thursday, “She’s the best player I’ve seen in person since I started coaching.”
Miles is the No. 3 ranked player in her class right now, and the 5-8 point guard from Blair Academy, is an all-around terrific player. In a game that can be so incredibly dominated around the rim and behind the three-point line, what might be most impressive about Miles, is her creativity in the mid-range area. Miles can hit the mid-range jumper, while also being able to connect on a floater, or an extremely quick hesitation dribble in traffic. Miles has the ball on a string when she’s handling it, which includes when she’s in transition and in traffic in the lane.
Her ability to develop a more consistent outside shot has only increased her effectiveness on the offensive end. As a passer, there may not be a better one in her class — Miles sees passes before they even present themselves. On the defensive end, she’s both a quick and effective on-ball defender, and engaged off-ball defender. As Marchione put it, “I love Olivia’s game. If she’s not the top-ranked player in her class by the time she graduates, I’d be shocked.”
Other 2021s to keep an eye on: Victoria Morales (MCW Starz) and Caroline Ducharme (Exodus NYC)
Ashlyn Watkins- Class of 2022
The 6’3 freshman from Columbia, South Carolina, plays her AAU ball with the SC 76ers, who will also be participating at Spooky Nook in Manheim, PA, this weekend. If you have heard of Watkins, it may be because she’s dunked in a game on multiple occasions, but her game is much more than that. Watkins is a very good post player, with the potential to become a dominant post.
She has really good footwork, is strong, and plays with a tremendous amount of toughness. Watkins is one of the best rebounders in the class as well. Watkins is very good in transition, and a tough low-post defender as well.
Other 2022s to keep an eye on: Caroline Lau (Exodus NYC) and Shay Bollin (Bay State Jaguars).
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