Dabbs Blog

Lot of talented players to see this summer

By JIM DABBELT   /   Saturday, June 2

It’s finally summertime, as the kids are out of school, and ready to hit the pools, the malls, and sleeping in until noon.

Some of them however, are ready to polish their games, become better players, and help their high school teams become better to lead into the upcoming 2012-13 season.  For the month of June, high school coaches have scheduled shootouts and practices, as they use their 10 coaching days with the staff. Many of them use former players and parents to coach in shootouts, allowing the teams to work together without using their designated 10 days.  All in all, teams are trying to just get better and form a stronger team cohesiveness.

As we head into summer, I will take a look at a small handful of elite kids to watch this summer.  Yes, I will still have my Dayton Top 100, Cincinnati Top 30 and top SW Ohio Freshman, but this is just a small taste of the kind of players you will see as you venture out to the area shootouts this month.  I will be listing 5 key kids to watch in each class around the Miami Valley headed into the summer (listed alphabetically)  Special thanks to Tom Jenkins, executive director of the Ohio Girls Basketball Report for giving a statewide spin on the top Dayton athletes.

Class of 2013

One thing that Natalie Billing has done that nobody else listed has done is won a state title with the Anna Rockets.  The 5-foot-11 senior returns as the second best senior post player in the area, and is continuing to improve her game.  Billing has the ability to get to the basket, step out to 12-15 feet, and has learned to put the ball on the floor better.  She knows the floor and is like another coach on the floor, getting to where she needs to be. Jenkins- “She is warrior, and the consummate team player.  Natalie is skilled in all 3 aspects of the game, and if she was 4-inches taller, she would be recruited by everyone in America”

Power forward Jenny DeGraaf from Springboro has exploded onto the scene, and according to Jenkins, DeGraaf has the best mechanics of a midrange jumper of anyone in Ohio.  She is an excellent rebounder, and does a great job making the pass to the interior.  Her stock has gone through the roof the past couple of years, and will make a college coach very happy for four years.  She is the top post player in the Dayton area in her class.

Another key player from the class is Alexis Gassion, who looks to lead Fairborn to another solid season.  She is a tremendously skilled player, with outstanding ball skills.  Not only a great athlete, but her best asset according to OGBR’s Jenkins is her ability to attack the basket off the bounce. She has great elevation off the ground going to the basket. Jenkins- “Alexis is the best big guard in Ohio in the 2013 class”.

The hardest working player in the class, and likely across the entire state, is Bianca Quisenberry from Tecumseh.  Jenkins calls Quisenberry “pound for pound, the best basketball player in the state”, because she is so physicall strong and skilled.  Her ability to rebound is like no other at her position, and she is a versatile guard.  A very instinctful player, and a natural point guard.  Jenkins- “She shoots well enough to play either wing, as well as the guard spot.  Bianca has a high basketball IQ”. 

One of the most hard-nosed kids in the class is Fairmont senior Chelsea Welch, who loves to penetrate to the hoop, one of her strengths.  Solid floor leader, and loves to get out in transition.  According to Jenkins, point guards are measured in wins, and Chelsea’s are endless.  Defensively, it would be hard to find a better guard defender than Welch, using her athleticism to create problems for her opponents.

Class of 2014

One kid who exploded onto the scene last year is Sydney Brackemyre from Clinton Massie.  While this site introduced her to the Miami Valley as a freshman, she has introduced herself to all the major college coaches around the country with some outstanding play.  Explosive and athletic, and according to Jenkins, she has earned her spot among the top 3 juniors in the Dayton area.  He stated there isn’t a thing she can’t do, she is quick and skilled enough to play the perimeter.  While her dedication to the game is huge, her stock has gone through the roof.

Another kid who has drawn the attention of those “in the know” is a young lady who has become one of the top all around guards in Ohio in the 2014 class.  Ashton Lovely from Greeneview is a dynamic scorer, and has very deep range to stretch a defense.  Lovely also does a nice job to create her own shot, and can set up her teammates with solid passing.

Last year, she snuck onto the scene at Oxford Talawanda.  Now, there is no place she can hide on the court, as Ana Richter has developed into quite a talented player.  She has a great basketball frame, is fundamentally sound, and is a team player.  Jenkins stated that she sacrifices her own offensive game for the better of the team to win basketball games.  She is a tough kid who just loves to win.

Makayla Waterman from Fairmont continues to mend, and get back to her dominant level of play.  Remember, it takes 12-15 months for a knee ligament to completely heal, and while she is approaching the 12 month mark, she continues to draw the praise from college coaches everywhere.  There is no more of a passionate player across Ohio than Makayla.  Jenkins- “She is an exceptional passer, has great hands, and the best court awareness of any front court player in Ohio.  She makes tremendous decisions and is tremendously skilled.”

If there was one kid I can start a team with, it is Kathryn Westbeld from Fairmont.  She is likely the best all around player in the area, when you take into account all aspects of the game.  According to Jenkins, Kathryn is the biggest mismatch mightmare in all of Ohio, regardless of class.  She is deceptively quick, has great hands, and honestly, when she wants to score, she will.

Class of 2015

After stepping onto the scene last season, Anna’s Cayla Bensman is no longer a secret in the sophomore class.  Bensman has become more confident this season, and is very strong physically on the court.  Her basketball knowledge is beyond her years, and is one of the most athletic kids in her class.  Last season Bensman was raw and unpolished, but take her naturally gifted talent along with another year of experience, and you have one of the top sophomores in Ohio.

Another solid player in a long line of outstanding kids at Kettering Alter is Emma Bockrath, the third of a trio of sisters who have been very solid players and kids at Alter.  Emma uses her defensive to control the opponents best offensive guard, gets to the basket well and has the ability to knock down the perimeter shot.  Look for a big sophomore year for the Knights.

While the Fairmont Firebirds return the a strong group of players from consecutive state runner-up seasons, it is Shea Morgan who look to make a solid jump among the area’s top sophs.  Morgan has a knack for the ball on offense and defensive rebounding, and can shoot the midrange jumper.  The future is now for Morgan, who can also step out and shoot the three.

One of the most athletic kids in the class, and a player who some are raving about as a next-level type of kid is Halee Printz of Tippecanoe.  After an up and down freshman year that saw her produce in several games, Printz hopes to make the next stride in her career.  She is a strong, athletic wing that creates a match-up problem for defenders with her ability to get to the basket and to the line.

The most offensivly-gifted player among the group is a player who averaged nearly 17 ppg as a freshman last season at Eaton High School.  Autumn Whirley is a gifted guard who has earned the respect of opponents and teammates because when she gets an open look, everyone believes the ball is going in.  She shoots the ball well from the line, and plays hard on every possession.