Windy City Qualifier – Texas Outsides to Watch
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The qualifying season continues at full pace as teams from all around the country attempt to secure their spots in the 2023 USA Girls Junior National Championship. Texas club teams are no exceptions, as they are flying all across the…
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Continue ReadingThe qualifying season continues at full pace as teams from all around the country attempt to secure their spots in the 2023 USA Girls Junior National Championship. Texas club teams are no exceptions, as they are flying all across the nation to play in those events and book their tickets to Chicago from June 28-July6.
This coming weekend will present several opportunities with National Qualifiers taking place in different locations and among them is the traditional Adidas Windy City National Qualifier, which will be held at McCormick Place, in Chicago, from Friday to Sunday.
Several teams from the Lone Star State will make the trip up North and we’ll preview the tournament by featuring some of the players who will have key roles with their teams. These outside hitters will have a huge influence on their teams’ performances in Chicago:
Wilburn’s sky-high offensive potential makes of her a key piece for her Austin Skyline 15 Royal team that will compete in the 15 Open division. She has excellent length, tremendous power and makes excellent calls with her shot selection, being a very efficient and productive attacking player. Not many prospects her age are able to hit from the middle back as well as she does and that’s because Wilburn angles her swing extremely well, sending the ball out of the reach of defenders. Another thing that stands out in her game is the ability to adjust to different sets, always using her reach to her favor, and remain consistent.
Highlights
Guevara is a very productive player with her Skyline 16 Black team that will be in action in the 16 USA division in Chicago. She’s very athletic, despite not being exceptionally tall, but what makes her offense really worth watching is her excellent contact with the ball. Guevara uses her shoulders and her wrist really well in her offensive motion, which allows her to send the ball wherever she wants and to do it while putting a lot of power on it – because of that, she can score at a high rate in transition plays or even in situations in which she isn’t able to make a full approach. Guevara is also very skilled on the backcourt, contributing a lot on defense and passing.
Highlights
Although her TAV Houston 16 Adidas team that will compete in the 16 USA division has a strong group of pin hitters, it’s probably fair to say that Gittens is the most complete of them. She combines physical and technical skills very well and also has a high volleyball IQ, which makes of her a very productive player. Gittens is extremely resourceful at the net, always finding ways to score in difficult situations, and is getting better and better with her passing and defense. She’s also a very good server, who can make an impact from the service line.
Our most recent Prep Dig Player of the Week, Uitenham will lead her Austin Skyline 17 Royal team in the 17 USA division. She swings with extreme power and efficiency from the left and the right and will most likely be the focal point of her team’s offense. Uitenham jumps really well, has an incredible hangtime and a very fast right arm, which she uses to beat blockers and defenders – she’s great at finding gaps in the block, but can also tool it at ease. Uitenham is also very comfortable in serve-receive and makes big plays on defense.
Highlights
One of the top pin hitters in her age group in the state of Texas, Young will be one of the cornerstones of her Excel 17 National Red team that will be in action in the 17 Open division. A Villanova commit, she’s a fantastic offensive player, who can swing from anywhere on the court and hit quicker or higher sets with the same efficiency. Two keys to Young’s extraordinary offensive versatility are the quick approach she makes and her fast right arm. She also does very well playing defensive in the middle back position.