Syd is a “Stat Stuffer”

Blue Star Media covered the Ohio Girls Basketball Report (OGBR) Top 64 Event held Sept. 29-30 in Reynoldsburg. OGBR was a great opportunity for the girls in the Buckeye state to play in front of college coaches.

On their website, Blue Star highlighted some of the players from the class on 2014, 2015 & 2016. Mark Lewis wrote the article and you can read the entire article on the website. Below is what he wrote about Syd’s class, the class of 2014. Love the way he described Syd as a “stat stuffer.”

2014 class

Alexa Hart – This 6-2 forward from Lake Ridge Academy can do it all. She runs, blocks shots, rebounds, scores inside and just flat out plays with energy that excites other players on the floor. She is fun to watch due to the number of plays that she makes.

Amanda Cahill – This 6-2 forward from Clyde brings a lot to the court when she plays. She is a coaches kid that really understands how to play the game. Shoots and handles the ball like a two guard, gets to the rim like a small forward and rebounds like a power forward. Competes and plays hard at all times.

Kathryn Westbeld – This 6-2 small forward from Fairmont is always impressive. There is no secret why Kettering Fairmont is in the hunt for another run at the state title. Kathryn plays at a high level at all times. The ability is there to score inside and out plus she can rebound and defend with the best of them. She competes and can put the ball on the floor like a guard.

Makayla Waterman – This athletic 6-2 forward is an established inside force. Waterman is Westbeld’s running mate at Fairmont and can more than hold her own. She can post up and score using a variety of moves. Additionally, she can shoot from the perimeter efficiently while rebounding with a vengeance.

Alyssa Rice – This athletic post is exciting from the time she steps on the floor until the moment she steps off. Standing 6-3 with an array of post moves, she can score almost at will inside. Rice can shoot the ball on the perimeter as well as drive it effectively from the high post. A great rebounder, she can get it off the glass on both ends of the floor. Reynoldsburg is in great hands with Alyssa in the line up.

Sydney Brackemyre – This 6-1 forward from Clinton Massie continues to show everyone why she is a player. As with this past summer, she just keeps getting better and better. Brackemyre is what’s known at a stat stuffer. When you look at her stats you will see that she has made an impact in virtually every area of the game. She can shoot the 3 and can score on the perimeter in many ways. There’s a physical presence and some effective rebounding from her position.

USJN Toledo Blue Star Media Recap

The Cincinnati Angels finished 3-1 over Memorial Day weekend at the USJN Toledo Tournament.  Mark Lewis of Blue Star Media was there providing a few twitter updates which helped those of us who couldn’t get up north for the games.  He had a nice recap of the weekend and featured a couple of Angels players, including my favorite one on the team.  Here’s what he wrote about them specifically.  You can read all of this thoughts on the Blue Star Media site.

The Cincy Angels may have not had a full roster nor did they play their best basketball but its hard not to still take notice of the talent on hand.  Swing player Sydney Brackemyre (Harveysburg, Ohio – 2014) already has major offers on the table but there could be plenty more knocking once July rolls around.  Combining good size at 6-1 with strength and skills makes her a tough assignment defensively.  The ballhandling is there to get to the rim but the form and range will force tight closeouts as well.  There’s a patience to her game on the catch that allows her to read and break down defenders.  The tools are there to defend both the forward and wing spot and she has the agility to be a factor in pressing situations.  Brackemyre is already well suited for the college game and what she does the next two years will determine just how far she can take her game and at what level.

Brackemyre wasn’t the only standout for the Cincy Angels.  Point guard and recent St. Bonaventure commit Imani Outlaw (Cincinnati, Ohio – 2013) demonstrated the game that has Jim Crowley’s staff excited up in Olean.  The 5-8 Outlaw was on constant attack and made things happen both off the drive and from the perimeter.  Using her explosive first step she got by on ball defenders time and again converting at the rim and from a consistent pull up.  She also added several deep jumpers that forced opponents to commit to containing one element of her attack or the other.  Defensively her physical strength offsets any lack of size and allows her to contain and steer opposing ballhandlers.