I’ve reposted some information from Jim Dabbelt’s website called The Dabbelt Report. He does a nice job covering girls basketball in our area.
This week he posted his top 5 AAU teams leading into the spring/summer season. Here’s what he posted:
AAU team rankings heading into huge weekend
By JIM DABBELT / Mon. April 16
With the spring eval period almost here, I will be taking a look at the Dabbs Top 5 AAU teams here early in the season. Now, notice I didn’t mention clubs…these are teams, which could come from a club, or could stand alone. A lot of people misinterpret the difference. When it comes down to the best club in Ohio from youngest to oldest, it is the Dayton Lady Hoopstars. Now call it biased or whatever, but those are the facts.
When it comes to the top 5 teams, they can come from any club, organization, or single team. Now to be fair, I have yet to see everyone play, but with that all being said, here is the list of the top 5 AAU teams in Ohio right now:
5. Ohio Lady Attack Black- another solid season so far for the Attack, as this year there are two teams. The Black team is young, in fact there are only 3 juniors on this “Premier” team, and the rest are underclassmen. Ashton Lovely (5-10 Greeneview, 2014) is a D1 prospect, and is their top all around player. This group won the season opening AAU Tip-Off event, only to lost last weekend in the Dayton Lady Hoopstars SRT. A couple of other players to watch during the evaluation weekend are Autumn Whirley (5-6 Eaton, 2015), Halee Printz (5-10 Tippecanoe 2015), Elizabeth Haley (6-1 Oakwood, 2013), and Kara and Emma Bockrath (Alter, Kara 2014, Emma 2015). This team has a strong nucleus to have another nice summer, as they won the AAU National title last summer. This weekend: Deep South.
4. Dayton Metro Premier- Standing at 10-4 on the season, the Metro “right now” may be the best team in Dayton. Three of their losses were close games to outstanding teams (All-Ohio Black 64-59), Team Supreme (83-81 3ot), and DLH Premier (59-57). But they have put together some good wins along the way. They beat both DLH Elite and Lady Attack Black twice, also cruised past W Va. Thunder 61-44 to win the DLH Super Regional on Sunday. Guards are their strength, as they are led by next-level type players Chelsea Welch (5-10 Fairmont, 2013), Trischa Lacy (5-10 Urbana, 2013), Konner Harris (5-9 Sidney, 2013), and one of the hardest working players around, Sarah Ammons (5-10 Mason, 2013). Victoria Wabler (Wayne), Sidney Cera (Brookville) and Ciara Poppa (Carroll) add to their guard depth, while Samantha Phillips (Beavercreek), Chelsea Winner (Marion Local) and Megan Galloway (Greenville) control the inside. This weekend: Deep South.
3. Cincinnati Angels- I saw them last weekend in a huge leave-it-all-on-the-floor scrimmage against Sports City, and let me tell you….don’t pass up seeing this team. They run the floor very well, put good pressure on you, and likely have at least 7 D1 solid prospects on the roster. Sydney Brackemyre (6-0 Clinton Massie, 2014), Jenna Gunn (5-11 Mason, 2014) and Kayla McDowell (6-2 Mason, 2013) all were very impressive. All three are major D1 prospects. Ana Ritcher (6-0 Talawanda, 2014) will break onto the national scene this summer well, and Alex Henning (5-10 Centerville, 2013) is a very underrated player who fits in nicely with this team. I am impressed with Leah Schafer from Highlands, KY, and throw in a solid group of guards, and you are looking at a team who can compete at all of their events. They also have a younger team who won their first tournament of the season last weekend. I figured this team would be the “real deal”, now everyone else is about to find out. This weekend: Windy City Classic.
2. All-Ohio- This team is loaded, and every college coach in America will want to see this team. It all starts with the best player in Ohio, Kelsey Mitchell (5-10 Princeton, 2014), who will attract everyone. Add in Vanessa Smith, and Taylor Agler, and you have quite a group to work with this season in Columbus. They also have the likes of Marley Hill and Alexa Hart, meaning they have one of the strongest complete lineups in the nation. They can run you out of the gym, and have the solid posts to pound it inside and dominate. Honestly, you take the top 4 on their team,and it would hard to say who is their 5th best. Seven kids on any given night can step into the fifth spot, and they wouldn’t lose a thing. This weekend: Boo Williams.
1. Sports City U- They are back on top again to start another season, and when you look at this team, it is hard to find a weakness. They have size, with six kids over 6-foot-1, they have speed, experience and youth all blended together to try to eclipse their national ranking they get every season. You can start off with the top 3 junior guards in Ohio in Alexis Peterson (5-6 Northland), Ashley Morriessette (5-9 Twinsburg) and Bianca Quisenberry (5-8 Tecumseh), meaning you better be ready to run. Trying to score inside? You will be staring at Paige Cashin (6-5 Newark, 2013), and Alyssa Rice (6-3 Reynoldsburg, 2014). If you take Rice, along with SCU teammates Makayla Waterman (6-1 Fairmont) and Kathryn Westbeld (6-2 Fairmont), you have the top 3 sophomore posts in Ohio. Add in the multi-dimensional Alexis Gassion (5-10 Fairborn, 2013) who can handle the ball, play the 2, or post you up, along with Jenny DeGraaf (6-1 Springboro, 2013) who can play inside or step out, and the potential is unlimited. Martha Thompson (5-9 Solon, 2013) is a quiet gem who can contribute, and add in the two young ones, but good ones. Tierra Floyd (6-1 Toledo Notre Dame, 2015) is the state’s top player in the class, and Celina King (5-5 Landmark Christian, 2016) is considered Ohio’s top PG in the incoming freshman class next year, and you are looking at a machine ready to roll. This weekend: Windy City Classic.
ESPN is (obviously) a great place to go for information on all sports. SportsCenter is one of my favorite shows and their website is loaded with all kinds of stats, scores and sports stories.
The Clinton-Massie Lady Falcons continue to win in the SCOL. On Saturday (01/28) they had a good game against London and remain undefeated in league play. The Wilmington News-Journal ran a nice article that featured some good quotes about Sunday . . . and cool picture, too.
Thoughts from a Hoosier Fan in the Buckeye Land 