Best of Nike Midwest

[glenn]

Our picks for an all-tournament team, led by MVP LaSondra Barrett:

http://www.hoopgurlz.com/story/our-picks-all-tourney

[BrooklynSaints]

I'm glad Alexa Roche made it. Hoping she makes your top 100 list.

It looks like Exodus did well loosing 2 games each by 2 points. Sounds like a break here or there and Exodus would have done better.

What did you think of "Grandma"?

Were there any other Exodus players that caught your eye?

[bball2332]

Cierra Bravard from Ohio...i hear she was great this past weekend...where is leaning towards for school and who is all looking at her...i think her stock will jump this summer

[scoutnwhoops]

Check the prospect watch on Friday. We'll have her upcoming visits listed. We also talk about her in the upcoming podcast.

[first2no]

21 kids picked for the all-tournament team and 3 of the top five ranked kids in the class of 08 who were there didn't make the team. This shows that you have to come ready every tournament ladies! The days of resting on your rankings are gone. It was good to hear some names that I havn't heard before. I think rankings should be adjusted if possible after every major tournament. I can't wait to see the updated 08 rankings. If you are ranked in the top 5 unless you didn't play you should always make the all tournament team at minimum regardless of who picks the teams. Top 5 and 5 star means your dominate and superior over others. In a tournament where there is atleast 5 games you may have one off game but through the duration of the tournament your talent and skills should definately surface as a top 5 player.

[scoutnwhoops]

We didn't see every single game so this shouldn't be an inditement of the ranked players not making the team. Several of those players played well but these players had something that caught our attention. Those players still played well and dominated at times I assume given the success of most of their teams, we just didn't see those moments.

[glenn]

Actually, F2N, you're on to something! I did feel like some of the big wigs were resting on their laurels. And they are some very, very hungry players out there. The days of static, stay-the-same-all-summer rankings are over for us. If your ranking is important to you, you are going to have to bring it every time out.

[ifyousayso]

21 kids picked for the all-tournament team and 3 of the top five ranked kids in the class of 08 who were there didn't make the team. This shows that you have to come ready every tournament ladies! The days of resting on your rankings are gone. It was good to hear some names that I havn't heard before. I think rankings should be adjusted if possible after every major tournament. I can't wait to see the updated 08 rankings. If you are ranked in the top 5 unless you didn't play you should always make the all tournament team at minimum regardless of who picks the teams. Top 5 and 5 star means your dominate and superior over others. In a tournament where there is atleast 5 games you may have one off game but through the duration of the tournament your talent and skills should definately surface as a top 5 player.


I agree with that as well First2no. I believe now that we finally have an organization dedicated to extending themselves across the nation to see the best tournaments(beyond Boo Williams and Adidas Top Ten) it is a whole new "ball game" so to speak.

Adidas, Nike in the past have relied on word of mouth in addition to reviewing girls during their biggest events and of course focusing most heavily on their own brand player, this has created alot of misses for so many other players that are out there worthy of ranking, as well as only gets a look at a handful of games to evaluate a player. Im diggin' the chance for players across the country to turn it up and get a shot at the rewards that come along with being one of the best.

The fact that Hoopgulz is getting out there, makes those that are ranked elite from the Spring Kick off tourneys til the final viewing period of summer have to bring it every tournament. Now that we have a national site that players, parents, coaches, etc are reading, more are finding that being ranked and noticed can bring alot to their table - scholarship offers to choose from, All American Opportunities, Olympics.

This is a great thing. The competition is on and it will only elevate the game to new heights!

[letsski]

I have to disagree a little about re-ranking after every tournament.

If I understand the rankings correctly, they are used to gauge college potential. If I am correct in my understanding, then one or even two less than stellar performances may or may not affect a player's college potential. SIZE!, athleticism, skill and then performance seems to be the biggest factors in judging college potential.

If you take a look at the new top 60, there are only 5 true point guards listed, and only 5 in the 5'6"-5'8" height range. The majority are 6'-6'3".

I believe to reward a player for tournament performance is really the function of the All Tournament teams - it rewards players for their particular performance at a given tournament. Conversely, All Tournament selections really should have little bearing on a players college potential.

[first2no]

I think when you are doing these rankings you should definately factor in College potential but the main factor should be who is the best player in each class according to on court performances. You may have a girl that is 6"8 but she is not fully coordinated right now so she doesn't show very well in games. Should we rank her #1 because she might turn out to be great in college? I think we have to have a combination of both (College potential and present skill). If a kid is considered a to 60 kid in the country they have to produce against other elite players and the summer circuit gives them that chance. Track, Tennis, and Swim and Dive participants get ranked on results more so than potential, I think basketball should follow those guidlines. Coaches want kids who are proven, they don't mind taking a kid with potential but with jobs on the line they want to know that if EDD is the #1 ranked kid in the class of 08 and she chooses their school she is ready to go when she steps on campus. I don't think they are hoping they get a top 60 kid and they pan out at somepoint before there Sr. year. Diamonds in the rough is where you find kids with potential. They may not be ranked at all but if you dig deep they are out there and with a little coaching once they are on campus they will be big time (Sophia Young)

[CRAZY8]

Are you guys going to do any ranking and stories on the diaper dandies at the Nike Midwest

[glenn]

letsski, who says we are re-ranking after every tournament? Who even says we are ranking on the basis of any single tournament? How about asking some questions instead of assuming?

In the case of the Nike Midwest Showdown, the event gave us a lot of additional context. If you look carefully, there are players in the rankings who didn't even play in that tournament.

Crazy8, as I think we've stated before, we did see some 2009 and 2010 players and in fact wrote about several. However, we really need to stay focused on the 2008 class, which needs to be ranked even more thoroughly than it is now. The younger kids will get their turn soon enough.

[letsski]

From a previous poster:

" I think rankings should be adjusted if possible after every major tournament"

This is the statement I was disagreeing with. I am not assuming anything nor am I accusing you or the rankings of anything.

Additionally, my posting was intended to elicit some debate about the purpose of rankings; i.e. should they be based on college potential (which I believe they are) or should they be based on high school and summer tournament performance?

I understood the purpose of this message board was to debate, discuss and present information on girl's basketball in a positive manner.

I thought that was what I was doing.

[glenn]

letsski and others, let's please be more clear on whom we are addressing. Just because you hit reply to a post doesn't mean there are any clue left as to which post you are replying. Some people quote the post to which they are replying. Some, like myself, usually put the username in my reply.

That is how you generate debate.