Cierra Hooks
Ayanna Townsend started her big spring at the PSB Tip-Off Classic and capped it off at the Midwest Showdown. *Photo by Ty Freeman.
MASON, Ohio, - The Midwest Showdown hosted annually by the All Ohio Basketball Club showcases many of the top teams inside and outside of the Midwestern region. This year over 100 teams travelled from as far away as Texas to compete at the Court4Sports facility over Memorial Day Weekend. Although outside of the NCAA viewing period window, players were still able to gain recognition from national media members from around the country. Here is a look back at a few of the notable performers on this weekend.
Church is an impressive physical presence on the perimeter. She has a strong build and uses her frame well to punish any defender who tries to get in her way en route to the rim. She showed versatility with the range to hit 3-point shot and score on rebound put-backs. Given Church’s athleticism, skill and versatility expect her name to emerge as an ELITE prospect when the new rankings release this month.
Hooks is turning into one of the more steady guard performers on the travel circuit. Standing at 5 feet 9, Hooks has the ability to create plays from the lead guard position or spot up on the wing as a two-guard. She did most of her work with the ball in her hands this weekend. The Ohio native worked efficiently hitting jumpers off the dribble and finishing lay-ins in transition. She has cemented herself as one of the top players from the Buckeye State.
Ranked No. 23 in the ELITE 100 in her class heading into the spring, Penn showed all the attributes that make her one of the nation’s elite at her position. The Dayton commit has the size and skill, giving her the versatility to play multiple positions on the perimeter. She showed range to the 3-point arc while also being physical off the drive. Perhaps a skill that goes unnoticed about Penn is her ability to pass. She showed touch and feel to lead her teammates to the right spot.
Traylor gave her verbal commitment to the Purdue Boilermakers last year. We got to see why Sharon Versyp’s staff were so quick to offer and secure the 5-8 point guard from central Indiana. Traylor is a left-handed point guard who uses a smooth hesitate-and-go move that leaves defenders stuck in their shoes. Her size, shot making and play creating abilities put Traylor on the ELITE watch-list in her class.
Ayanna Townsend (Pittsburgh, Penn.), WPA Bruins – 2018
The measurables on Townsend are enough to get her on the radar. The forward stands at 6-1 with a wingspan that allows her to snag rebounds in the lane with ease. Add to that she can run the floor faster than most at her position and she projects a must-track prospect in the upcoming calendar year. She built upon her performance at PSB Tip-Off Classic where she showed a knack at finishing around the rim. Here she proved that she is more than just a half-court player, but can impact the game while moving quickly up and down the court.
Madison Washington (Red Oak, Texas), UTLB Elite – 2017
The unofficial stock-riser award from the event went to this 5-8 lead guard from the Lone Star State. The southpaw made plays getting downhill toward the bucket and also proved she could hit the pull-up jumper in the midrange. Her quickness plus her stature immediately give her the potential to be a producer at the next level. Look for Washington and her UTLB teammates to be at the PSB Power 48 in Emerson, Ga., in July.
Jonathan Hemingway is the Assistant Director of Scouting for the JumpOffPlus.com National Scouting Report, is on the Naismith Trophy Board of Selectors and owns CoachHemi.com, the go-to source for coaches for X’s and O’s. He is the floor director of #TeamEBA camps, a site director for #TeamPSB tournaments and can be reached at jonathanhemingway@peachstatebasketball.com.
