STORY & PHOTOS BY GLENN NELSON
QUEENS, N.Y. - This is the first of our two Tip Sheets from the Metro Classic. This offering focuses on some of the game's top performers from Long Island and Hudson Valley. Clicking on a player's hyperlinked name will take you to her HoopGurlz Player Profile Page.
Samantha Prahalis [0], the 5-foot-7, Ohio State commit continues to pound home the point that she may be underranked, at least as far as HoopGurlz.com is concerned. This is the second time in three weeks that I've seen her on somewhat home turf (the first being the Rose Classic) and she impressed both times with her self-control, as opposed to her usual, eye-popping dispy-doo. Unable to generate showmanship for the crowd in Queens, Prahalis instead focused on producing a win, playing a more conventional style at the point, and being effective enough to be named the all-star game's MVP. In this mode, Prahalis still can penetrate enough to deliver to the other scorers on the floor, get to the foul line and use her improving pull-up shot. That shot will be one of her growing edges for the next level, as she tends to jack knife on release, producing some balance and alignment issues. She also can get stronger with her left hand, mostly on the dribble, and certainly will have to learn post entries, which are rarely taught at the high-school and club-team levels, to play at Ohio State. As is, Prahalis makes a compelling case for the McDonald's All-American team.
Christine Huber
Christine Huber [0] is a 6-4 forward out of St. John the Baptist in West Islip, N.Y., who most certainly will be among the HoopGurlz Hundred for the class of 2009. I realize she has presented a bit of a conundrum for the locals because, at her size, she does not have a commanding presence on the boxes. Along the lines of Vicki Baugh, Kayla Pederson, Elena Delle Donne and Glory Johnson, Huber advances the trend of big forwards who can handle the ball and shoot it from the perimeter. She is this class' version. Huber is long, mobile and can create her own shot. Her lack of much inside punch tends to work against her more on defense, which she certainly will be forced to guard bigger players, than be a disappointment on offense. However, for the next level, she'll have to develop at least a little compentancy scoring with her back to the basket.
Ieasia Walker [0], the 5-7 point guard ranked 32nd overall in the HoopGurlz Super Sixty for 2009, is best taken in multiple doses. I guarantee, she'll grow on you. There is somewhat of a tendency to overlook Walker because she doesn't do much of anything with a modicum of flash. She does do a lot of things very well, however, and the sum of her parts is an essential ingredient to a winning team. Fast and quick-footed, she is an effective defender, very polished off the dribble, with good court vision and strength to finish inside in traffic. She is very adept at attacking the rim and getting to the free-throw line.
Stefanie Dolson
Kristen Doherty [0], the 5-10 guard from Farmingville, N.Y., has specialness written all over her. The lefty can get into automatic mode from the three-point line and can create a pull-up jumper off the dribble. She also can take the dribble all the way into the paint and finish with either hand. Doherty also is crafty in the transition game, with the pass or the finish. The best thing you like to see out of a player so talented is how hard she works.
Stefanie Dolson [0] has a great chance to be one of the best post players in the class. She not only is 6-5, but is solidly built, can move up and down the court, and has such a beautiful touch from point-blank range. The latter cannot be emphasized enough, as many young inside players tend to rush their finishes. Dolson's patience extends to receiving entries on either boxes, where she will not force the issue and is an inspired passer out of the post. She of course still has time to learn to stay lower and wider, to create space for herself inside, as well as develop quicker feet, which will help her become an even bigger force on defense and smooth out her offensive moves.
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Glenn Nelson is the founder and publisher of HoopGurlz.com. He is a member of the McDonald's All-American Selection Committee and SportsShooter.com (Click for Porfolio [1]), Asian American Journalists Association, National Association of Photoshop Professionals, National Press Photographers Association and Online News Association. Glenn also founded and coached the Dragons and Northwest HoopGurlz select girl's basketball teams and previously was the editor-in-chief at Scout.com and a longtime, national-award-winning basketball columnist and writer for The Seattle Times. His work has appeared in several books and national magazines. He is co-author of "Rising Stars: The Ten Best Players in the NBA" (Rosen Publishing, 2002). For more on Glenn's World, click here [1]. Glenn can be reached at glenn@hoopgurlz.com [2].
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