Walz Skills Camp -- THURSDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

OVER 70 RISING STARS COMPETE IN SECOND WALZ SKILLS CAMP

The heavenly stars may be out over Louisville, KY skies this evening...but the girls' high school basketball version of stars were certainly on display in Cardinal Arena Wednesday afternoon at the Jeff Walz Elite Skills Camp.

A "tired" but raptly involved Coach Walz was on hand to preside over the drills, skill-tests, scrimmages and interaction of over seventy rising high school basketball players...coming in from as far as Honolulu, HI and Shiprock, NM to learn from the Cardinals' staff, players and instructors. 

All the Cards assistant and associate coaches were on hand to monitor and organize the activities...plus players Myisha Hines-Allen, Briahanna Jackson, Arica Carter, Brianna Jones, Cortnee Walton, Jessica Laemmle, Sam Fuehring (as a blonde!), Ciera Johnson, Kylee Shook, Taylor Johnson and Sydney Zambrotta...the latter using a leg scooter because a slight foot fracture.

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TOGETHER AGAIN ON THE COURT.
OH, MY !!!!A-TAYY AND GRANDMA

In addition to the Cards players and staff, UofL greats Asia Taylor and Dez Byrd were also covering the five courts in use...Taylor still with the boundless energy and dominating court-presence that we all came to love and admire during her years here. It's always great catching up with my buddy and Sonja's all-time favorite Cardinal "A-Tayy" and the girls under her instruction were gaining valuable knowledge on the skills and needs for playing in the paint. 

Byrd, still looking like she could put up a double-double in points and assists, is back in the 'Ville while also busily involved in her Byrd's Basketball Evolution organization. I highly recommend that you check out their activities at:



http://byrdsbasketballevolution.webs.com/


I also got a few minutes of "air-time" with Dez that we'll play on our Saturday radio show...THE CARDINAL COUPLE RADIO HOUR. You won't want to miss these four minutes of classic, fun and inspirational "Dez"!  

Ah...yes...the players. I knew we were needing to discuss something else in this article...

Headlined by top ranked 2019 prospect Zoe Evans, top ranked 2020 prospect Sarah Andrews, 2017 powerhouse Lindsey Duvall, rising Chattanooga junior Elizabeth Balogun and many other top-flight players from the 2017-2021 classes...there was plenty of great basketball on display for the spectators. 

Upon arrival, I spent my first moments observing the post players. Steph Norman led them through ball-handling, positioning, one and two handed passing, shooting and driving skills. Over the next four hours, I watched a variety of drills, scrimmages, question and answer sessions and instructions with these eager and hard-working campers. 

A recruiting service or professional evaluator of high school girls basketball talent...I am not. I will share with you, though, my observations on some players who did catch my attention.


-- Zoe Young. 5'10". Urbandale, IA. 2019. It's easy to see why she's one of the top-ranked in her class. She moves effortlessly up and down the court, shooting with accuracy and getting her teammates involved. She's got an incredibly quick first step that was fun to watch and she's not afraid to mix it up inside, either. It's hard to believe she's just a rising sophomore with her skill set. 

-- Sarah Andrews. 5'8" Irving, TX. 2020. Andrews drives well to the basket and finishes very effectively. A ball-hawking defender, she creates her share of steals and can usually finish them off with a layup. She's not afraid to take the rock down the lane and can score with either hand. I didn't see a lot of outside shooting from her..but her mid-range game is very solid for just a freshman.   

-- Lindsey Duvall. 5'8" Mt.Washington, KY. 2017.  Scouts have raved about her ability to bury the mid-range jumper, attack the basket and distribute the ball very effectively and all that was on display on Wednesday. She worked well with the "bigs" she was teamed up with (Diamond Forrest, Grace Berger) and her and Zoe Young working together on the same team was a delight to watch. 

-- Elizabeth Balogun. 6'3" Chattanooga, TN 2018. She showed some very strong and polished inside moves and is a dangerous shot-blocker. Can score easily inside or from mid-range and runs the court very well...finishing effectively on fast breaks. A veteran observer and I agreed she looks like a young Asia Taylor with her multiple skills and court domination. 

-- Tatyana Wyatt. 6'2" Columbus, GA 2017. This smooth-as-silk forward is an all-over-the-court player who can beat the defense inside with deceptive moves or post a foe up from outside and punish them all day. Wyatt understands the flow of the game very well and is very capable of making big defensive stops. Watching her and Jorie Allen ( 6'1" - Bedford, IN 2019) go against each other in one of the scrimmages was an exciting and well matched duel of skilled players pushing each other to play their best. Allen has the court sense and scoring ability to become a great one and is just a sophomore...look for her to be one of the best in the Hoosier state by her senior year. She goes to the boards with aggression and has a soft, inside touch. 

Diminutive Dakota McCaughhan. 5'2" Secane. PA 2020 was a pleasant surprise to watch at point guard. Torching the competition with her three, she also drives the ball down the court at a ferocious pace with accuracy and confidence. A very skilled defender...this "attack Yorkie" won my heart over with her fearless play and more-than-held her own with players easily six or more inches taller than her. 

Others I made notes on...Jordan Brock 5'8" Harlan, KY. 2017 passes the ball well and had great up and down the court quickness. Can knocked the lights out of it from three range if left unguarded. Kayla Kirtley 6'2" Arcadia, IN 2018 has a very nice outside jumper for her height and position...could be a definite wing threat for someone down the road. Ajah Stallings 5'9" Indianapolis 2018 has a nice outside touch and drives to the basket well...give her a step and you're not gonna contain her. Meghan Walz 5'9" Fort Thomas, KY 2018 is Jeff Walz's niece and has a nice overall game...steady on defense and displaying a nice shooting touch. 

My two candidates for Worldwide's ALL-NAME team were Treasure Hunt (5'11" Chattanooga, TN 2020) and Diamond Forrest ( 6'4" Smyrna, TN 2017). 

Obviously, there are merits, accolades and appreciation for any and all who attend a prestigious skills camp like this one has become and I didn't get a chance to watch any set of players or teams too long...since I was trying to get an overall feel for the camp and maneuvering around the five courts. Congratulations to all the girls who put out great effort Wednesday! 

All of you were a pleasure to watch with your skills, hard work, spirit and competitive nature. As I mentioned to Louisville director of women's basketball operations Kate Matthews...it makes me want this 2016-17 basketball season to start...tomorrow! 

paulie
xxxxx

Louisville WBB hosts Elite Camp today -- WEDNESDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

TOP PROSPECTS TAKE THE COURT TODAY

We've discussed here before that June and July are huge camps months on the UofL Belknap Campus. A huge camp among these camps takes place today when Jeff Walz's Elite Camp brings in talented high school girls basketball players to go through the skills and drills in Cardinal Arena.

Expected to attend are:

-- #1 ranked in the class of 2019 Zoe Young. The 5'9" off-guard from Valley High School in Des Moines, IA. She's already received offers from Iowa, Iowa St., Michigan St. and Louisville going into her sophomore year. Comfortable with bombing from trifectaland or leading the fast break...she has coaches raving about her athleticism and skills.  

Basketball took her away from her early love...figure skating on the ice...and the results from frozen water to freezing defenders were catching coaches attention. 

The national recruiting process started early on for her...Indiana showed interest when she was a seventh-grader. 

-- Also expected to participate in #1 in the 2020 class Sarah Andrews. Andrews is a high-energy point guard who excels and breaking down defenses with her passing skills and floor leadership and can score accurately from the perimeter or inside the paint.

Getting ready to enter her freshman year in Irving, TX...the 5'6" play-maker also exhibits her skills for Lady Big Dogs Basketball...and his very comfortable and fits in well with players 3-4 years older than her. 

Should be some intense competition today at Walz's Elite Camp. Paulie will try to swing by and get some sights and sounds on the day.

paulie
xxxxx 

Friday Cardinal Couple -- Walz Elite Camp Report

FRIDAY CARDINAL COUPLE


-Walz skills camp has girls who are ready to play and go all day

Q&A with the coaches and players

The beauty of Skills Camps, like the one at the UofL SAC that was hosted by Jeff Walz and UofL is that you have 80 or so girls that are there to put it all on the line for 5-6 hours. It doesn't matter if they are highly regarded 2014 recruits or class of 2018 ballers...they go 100% of the time and are giving 110% in each scrimmage, drill and session.

That, friends...is fun basketball to view.

Plenty of parents on hand to watch their daughters

Coach Walz's latest camp on Wednesday was all of the above. I was fortunate to observe five hours of intense basketball action and enjoyed every minute of it. I came up with a baker's dozen plus one (14) of girls that caught my eye on the court. The list, by no means, indicates who was the best or brightest at the Skills Camp. It's just an indicator of some athletes who made me glance at my player roster and want to know the who, where and what about their year of graduation, size and high school

Here we go:

- Jordan Hankins (2015) 5'7" Lawrence North (Indy)
Nice outside shooting threat. Goes after the ball. Solid defender.

-Darian Huff (2015) 5'8" Elizabethtown, (Kentucky)
A nice spot-up jumper and is serious about defense. Involves her teammates in the offense. Very quick.

-Madison Raque (2014) 5'8" Louisville Eastern (KY)
Drives quite well to the basket and can finish with either hand. Will be a handful to stop her senior year.

-Jada Rice (2018) 6'3" Creekland MS (Lawrenceville, GA)
Great shot blocking skills for her age and isn't afraid to pound the paint and body up offensive post players.

-Brianna Porter (2015) 6'2" Univ. School of Nashville (TN)
Impressive moves around the basket on offense and goes to the boards for rebounds with aggression and smarts.

-Victoria Harris (2015) 6'3" Parkview ( Snellville, GA)
Runs the court quite well for a "big" and finishes impressively when on the receiving end of a fast break.

-Maya Benham (2015) 5'11" Douglas Co. (GA)
Loved the way she shot, passes, hustled and has a very dominating court presence. Drives in traffic to hoop well.

-Shavia Thompson (2016) 5'5" Louisville Eastern (KY)
Excellent outside shooting touch and can motor down court with the ball skillfully and quite quickly.

-Dominque Oden (2016) 5'8" Marist (Atlanta, GA)
Excellent point guard skills. Handles and distributes ball very well and is a speed merchant. Shoots well if needed.

-Tatum Rasdale (2016) 5'7" Mill Creek (Atlanta, GA)
Very smooth jumper and positions well in a set offense. Defends with tenacity and holds her ground.

-De'Andre Givens (2015) 6'0" Lafayette (Lexington, KY)
A ball handling whiz who is fluid, deceptive and finishes drives to the basket with buckets. A scorer and penetrates.

-Chelsea Nelson ( 2015) 5'11" Brentwood Academy (TN)
Absolutely love her pull up jumper and another that distributes well an isn't afraid to drive to the hoop if open.

-Amy Griffin (2014) 5'11" SW Atlanta Christian (GA)
Scores with ease inside and defends taller paint players with aggressiveness and skill. Goes to the ball and produces.

-Lamina Cooper (2015) 5'8" Lawrence North (IN)
My favorite player of the camp. Takes the initative to score and does it well. Steals on defense. Great passer, too.

Cooper dominated in the minutes she received in the session ending "All Star" game...scoring 12 points in a 35-22 romp by her squad for fifteen minutes. India Hall played well for the winners also. Erykah Davenport, Maya Benham and Amy Griffin paced the "black squad". Whether they played 15 more minutes or not, I can't say...the clouds were getting nasty outside and I left the SAC and headed for the car.

The UofL WBB staff and players were non-stop in their instruction, coaching and organizing. Asia Taylor as a referee is great to see. Her whistle never gets used. She needs to have a long talk with Dee Kanter or Bonita Spence about...wait...check that...never mind. Good job, Asia!  

And, there was a new Schimmel on the court. 8th grader Milan Schimmel was out mixing it up with the older girls and holding her own quite nicely. At 5'8", she shows some very good ball handling skills and is quite good at passing. Personal opinion here...she needs to work on her outside shot. But, I didn't see her miss a free throw all day.

She's an eighth grader. I expect her skills will expand exponentially by the time the class of 2018 rolls around.  

Sorry about so few photos today. I didn't take many. Was having too much fun watching hoops. I do love this game...

-Paulie

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