Club Team Preview: Circle City 16-1 and Academy 16-1
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There will be a ton of talent on display at the Shootout at Capitol Sports Center in Plainfield, Indiana on Sunday. Here’s my preview of Circle’s 16 Purple and Academy’s 16 Yeti. CIRCLE CITY 16 PURPLE The 1s team at…
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Continue ReadingThere will be a ton of talent on display at the Shootout at Capitol Sports Center in Plainfield, Indiana on Sunday. Here’s my preview of Circle’s 16 Purple and Academy’s 16 Yeti.
CIRCLE CITY 16 PURPLE
The 1s team at Circle for the class of ’24 is impressive, led by setter Emery Moore Emery Moore 5'10" | S North Central | 2024 State IN (’24, 5-10 S, North Central). She’ll be running a 5-1 and, barring anything unforeseen, should have a ton of weapons at her disposal. For me, the primary attacker on this squad is Ava Utterback Ava Utterback 5'10" | OH Plainfield | 2024 State #24 Nation IN (’24, 6-0 OH, Plainfield), who is very close to attacking at ten feet, if not there already. There will be plenty of options for the other left pin attacker, starting with Sophia Mayo Sophia Mayo 6'2" | OH Perry Meridian | 2024 State IN (’24, 6-2 OH, Perry Meridian), who hits a heavy ball and terminates at will. To the right pin we go, where Alexis Maesch Alexis Maesch 5'10" | RS Avon | 2024 State IN (’24, 5-11 S/RS, Avon) can alternate between hammering balls and setting them. My early season guess for the middles are Scarlett Kimbrell Scarlett Kimbrell 6'0" | OH Franklin Community | 2024 State IN (’24, 6-0 MB, Franklin Community) and Caroline Frost Caroline Frost 5'11" | MB Columbus East | 2024 State IN (’24, 6-1 MB, Columbus East). Scarlett is a multi sport stud whose basketball team is currently in the top five in the state. She’s exceptional off of two feet and can go behind the setter if needed. Personally, I’ll take her blocking any day of the week. Caroline can also play right side, as she did for an entire fall for the 4A top ten Olympians.
ACADEMY 16 YETI
Academy again? For sure, and there are just as many weapons. Hyper athletic Leah Richmond Leah Richmond 5'8" | S Lawrence North | 2024 State IN (’24, 5-8 S, Lawrence North) can get to every ball, and her no-nonsense attitude and relentless pursuit get her to every pass, in-system or not. She’s also great at setting any ball to any location at any time, as her strength definitely got her this far. A bunch of hybrid (read: multi positional) players dot this roster on offense, starting with Marlina Anderson Marlina Anderson 6'0" | MB North Central | 2024 State IN (’24, 6-0 MB/OH, North Central). Her transition in the middle is quick, but can easily hammer away from either pin and is smart with her shots. If she were to play middle, I would expect to see her in the M2 position, as her strength is off of two feet. Zyon Francis Zyon Francis 5'10" | MB Franklin Central | 2024 State IN (’24, 6-0 MB, Franklin Central) is another solid M2 option, and her high energy and heavy ball will keep defenses honest. I’d like to see what Daya Vestal Daya Vestal 6'1" | MB North Central | 2024 State IN (’24, 6-1 MB, North Central) can do in the middle, as this is another kid athletic and smart enough to be on the right as well. Alaleh Tolliver Alaleh Tolliver 5'11" | OH North Central | 2024 State IN (’24, 6-0 OH, North Central) is probably the highest leaper on this roster, and can nullify any block thrown at her by going over them. Sophie Ledbetter Sophie Ledbetter 5'9" | DS/L Hamilton Southeastern | 2024 State IN (’24, 5-8 OH, Hamilton Southeastern) is the spitfire, primary-passing outside that every coach covets at this age group, and is explosive in her approach to every part of the game.