2024 Michigan Freshman Showcase Player Evaluations (Part 5)

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 2024 Michigan Freshman Showcase brought out a lot of promising talent to Pontiac this weekend.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Each had their own strengths that they brought to the court.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here's the final handful of player evaluations from the event, done in numerical order by what they were assigned at the showcase.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='587020' first='Sofia' last='Klug'], MH Trenton/Atomic VC</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:image {"id":585366,"width":"166px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none","align":"right"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/08/30-Sofia-Klug.jpg?w=1007" alt="" class="wp-image-585366" style="width:166px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='587020' first='Sofia' last='Klug']</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Klug had some struggles with her footwork in the early stages of the drills. She didn't look sure of herself while alongside some strong players, but she as she took on more reps and had some success, her confidence and play picked up. By the time she got into more of a scrimmage setting, you saw the potential she has. Klub can unwind on the ball and she is persistent in her defensive play. Her ability to push through and get better is a great sign for her growth as a player.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='584652' first='Hansa' last='Gondi'], OH Novi/Legacy</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Gondi is a good athlete that was doing a lot of positive things on the court during the showcase. Though she's not as tall as some of the hitters in the class, she could really fly off the floor and meet her peers at their level. She had a nice mixture of shots and worked hard on reading the blockers she was up against. She also was a very supportive teammate and always had a smile on her face. Where I'd like to see Gondi go next is look to take her intensity up to a next gear. The talent is there for her to bring some real heat on her swings.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='587016' first='Lilly' last='Bowman'], OH Plymouth Christian/Michigan Elite</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bowman is a 6-foot outside that stood out in a lot of different areas of the game. Her serve was very strong and among the best of the showcase. She also brought that same power to the net with a lot of thunderous attacks. Her intensity came through often, as she looked like she had a chip on her shoulder during scrimmage play. Bowman also displayed leadership qualities by being vocal on the court and calling for the ball.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='581597' first='Rylan' last='Morris'], OH Frankenmuth/Five:1</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:image {"id":585369,"width":"151px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none","align":"right"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/08/33-Rylan-Morris.jpg?w=833" alt="" class="wp-image-585369" style="width:151px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='581597' first='Rylan' last='Morris']</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I was curious about Morris during the early going, as she seemed a little shy and cautious, which can be understandable at a showcase. However, she quickly showed her drive and what kind of player she can be. Morris was well-balanced, making some really tough digs by diving and being willing to get some bumps and bruises. At the net, Morris wasn't afraid to take an aggressive line on her swings, but she also was crafty enough to lob the ball over when blockers were overcommitting.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='587023' first='Ryann' last='Lola Deidrick'], OH Wellington/Boss CLE</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>An Ohio product, Deidrick wanted to push the tempo and play fast. While sometimes she would be a little out of control at the net, I appreciate her aggressive mindset. She will be able to find that fine line of control and aggression as she gets more reps. The nice part for Deidrick is, her aggressive definitely led her to some highlight-reel attacks. She's got impressive arm speed.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Skylar Hopson, MH Cass Tech/Michigan Elite</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hopson was another prospect that was among the better players in every area even though she wasn't the best at any particular skill. She was really well-rounded and making plays in all phases of the game. Her quickness and explosiveness allowed her to cover a lot of space on defense, but also in her approach to the net. Her hang time gave her the ability to adjust her shot on the fly and score consistently. She also had a really steady serve that challenged passers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->