Skylar-Diggins-150.jpg
Skylar Diggins

2008 Midwest Showdown 09 Tip Sheet

By Brandon Clay
ESPN HoopGurlz
Posted Wed, 05/28/2008 - 08:33 A look at the class of 2009 at the Nike Midwest Showdown hosted by All-Ohio.

STORY BY BRANDON CLAY; PHOTOS BY GLENN NELSON


China Crosby of the NYC Gauchos

CINNCINNATI, Ohio - The Nike Midwest Showdown was the place to be for some of the nation’s top players in the 2009 class. The talent in the Elite Division was solid from top to bottom and quality point guards seemed to be everywhere. It was as loaded as any non-evaluation weekend event in the country and provided some excellent match-ups throughout both pool play and the bracket play that started Sunday night. I watched several big time players show why they are already in our ESPN Hoopgurlz Super 60 but as always there were a couple of players that played like they wanted to move their way onto the list.

China Crosby (The Center School/Manhattan, N.Y.) played big all weekend and took big shot after big shot down the stretch of a first round tournament victory over the Dayton Lady Hoopstars. Even at 5-foot-5, she gets into the lane and creates scoring chances for herself and her teammates. China, who is ranked No. 18 in the latest ESPN Hoopgurlz rankings, also showed the ability to knock to the three as well.

Skylar Diggins (Washington/South Bend, IN) is the No. 4 player in the class and for good reason. She is as smooth as they come with the ball in her hand. The 5-8 left-handed point guard can shoot the 3, attack the rim or distribute to the other players on the floor. She’s a nice athlete who can slide off the ball effectively as well for stretches of time.

Fresh off of a commitment to USC just a couple weeks ago, No. 44 ranked Kendall Hackney (Mount Notre Dame/Mason, OH) shot the basketball well in a couple of games played on the arena’s main floor. One of her biggest assets is her length as a 6-2 wing. If she develops the mentality to attack the basket consistently, she’ll continue to improve even more.


Ieasia Walker is bodied up by a defender.

Emilee Harmon (Pickerington, OH) showed why she is currently No. 28 by ESPN Hoopgurlz in the class. With a barrage of midrange jumpers and back-to-basket finishes underneath, the 6-2 Ohio State commit almost single handedly kept her team in a pool game on Saturday morning.

Dayeesha Hollins (Winton Woods/Cincinnati, OH) appears to be a sleeper at the point guard position along the lines of Keyrra Gillespie (Statesville, NC) as they battled Sunday morning. Hollins is as good of a defender as perhaps any point guard in the class and gets to the rim consistently with the ability to finish time after time.

There was not a better post player in the gym this weekend than No. 6 ranked Monique Oliver (Long Beach Poly/Long Beach, CA). Her motor idled a little during pool play but when it was time for the show, Oliver turned up several notches very quickly. She showed her entire arsenal of post moves scoring with both hands over both shoulders during the quarterfinal match-up with Tennessee Flight Silver.

Eliza Pierre (John Muir/Pasadena, CA) is a summer teammate of Oliver’s for West Coast Elite and is the motor behind the team’s transition game. She sets the table for Oliver and Company while finding ways to get in the lane and score herself. Extending the range and adding to the consistency on her jumper is an area for improvement.

Alexis Rogers (Lakota West/Cincinnati, OH) guest played with Cincinnati’s Finest this weekend and fit right in. The 6-1 combo forward displayed her versatility playing inside and out. Rogers is at her best in the mid post where she had her way with everyone that tried to single cover her.

There aren’t many point forwards in the girls game but 6-3 Mikaela Ruef (Beavercreek, OH) did her best impression on Sunday evening against the New York Gauchos. No. 24 overall in her class, she is a lefty with legit three-point range on her jumper and a good, solid frame too. Her handle and shooting ability will give colleges plenty of ways to use her.

Although her name wasn’t in the information I had, it didn’t take long to pick 5-7 point guard Sharena Taylor (Detroit Country Day/Detroit, MI) out of the players on the floor. Coming from the same high school as NBA stars Shane Battier and Chris Webber, the No. 39 player found ways to really get the offense rolling in a Sunday victory over Team Unique. She can shoot the three, the midrange and finish at the rim.

Ieasia Walker (Copiaque, NY) is a true New York point guard. Walker switches gears with the basketball in her hand like a high-speed luxury automobile. She got to the basket and finished consistently as well as any player in the building. With the game on the line late against Michigan Crossover and the aforementioned Taylor, she dribbled through the defense hitting several clutch baskets.

Brandon Clay

Brandon Clay is a contributor to ESPN HoopGurlz. He is the owner of Peach State Basketball, Inc., a company focused on developing young female basketball players and exposing them to colleges across the United States. Brandon also is the founder of the Jump Off Plus, an online magazine devoted to grassroots recruiting news, and has been involved in the women’s basketball community since 2001 as a coach, evaluator, and trainer. Brandon can be reached at bclay@peachstatehoops.com.


Latest Articles

PlatinumTitleAuthorDatesort icon
Life Above the RimGlenn Nelson06/23/2008 - 21:30
Griner-Mania Has Only BegunClay Kallam06/23/2008 - 21:18
Griner on ESPN HoopGurlz VideoGlenn Nelson06/23/2008 - 20:23
Full Hundred for 2009Chris Hansen06/23/2008 - 04:51
A Rare Talent at No. 1Chris Hansen06/23/2008 - 04:44
Prospect Watch - June 20Chris Hansen & Glenn Nelson06/20/2008 - 07:36
Let the Girls PlayClay Kallam06/19/2008 - 15:12
The Long GoodbyeGlenn Nelson06/18/2008 - 07:16
Tayler MadeClay Kallam06/16/2008 - 21:39
Big Sky's Big FishClay Kallam06/16/2008 - 07:11