Below you will find some of the players that caught my eye at the Kentucky Expo Center during The Classic on May 16-18. Please keep in mind that these are just the players I was able to catch at the event and in no means is this an exhaustive list of players who had standout performances throughout the tournament. In most cases, I also only got to see each team play in a single game setting.
Allie Gillies
2026 ETA E40 Campos
Excellent floor general who does a great job handing pressure & not letting defense speed things up. Delivered great passes and created well for teammates while also being a 3-level scoring threat herself. Felt like she was always in the right spots and that high basketball IQ was on full display.
Kylie Downey
2026 Lady Aces 17U NE2K
Love what Kylie brings to the court and how she makes opponents instantly respect her scoring ability. Handled the ball really well including using a variety of moves to keep defense guessing. Can light it up from 3 with DEEP range but can score really well at all 3 levels including in some creative ways.
Maura Petrovic
2026 Dayton Metro Williams E40
Really high-impact player who can make a whole lot happen including doing all of the little things. Used so many different moves to create space from defenders & scored in a variety of ways. Exceptional job creating for teammates and delivering great passes.
Cami Bickett
2026 Lady Aces 17U NE2K
One of my favorite 2027 players to watch because it feels like she always delivers even when playing up. Excellent shooter with deep range but also a true 3 level scoring threat who recognizes where teammates are at & how to deliver passes that help them get open.
Kennedy Lane
2026 STARS Gold
Can score a lot of points quickly and in a variety of ways. Quick release on shot, crafty scoring on drives, has a knack for getting a step on defenders and can draw fouls. Effective playing both on and off the ball.
Sophia Prins
2026 MBA GUAA
Excellent facilitator. Always in positions that allow teammates to get her the ball. Made great reads and had some nice drives with good recognition of when to take it & when to kick.
Piper Graham
2026 Lady Vision And1CBL
Made some great passes including leading teammates to the rim. Aggressive drives and good finishes on both sides of the basket. High motor and high energy every time she steps on the court.
Aaliyah Cheek
2026 Lady Aces 17U NE2K
Shifty handles and can really break through a defense. Good quickness with the ball and crafty on drives. Also made some strong defensive plays including steals, blocks, and deflections.
Skylar Walden
2026 ETA E40 Campos
Range is crazy and it takes 0.2 seconds to see how good of a shooter she is. Doesn’t need much space either and can also create shot opportunities off of the bounce.
Annette Miller
2026 Lady Vision And1CBL
Strong inside presence on both ends of the court. Made things difficult defensively and rebounded really well. Also showed nice touch around the basket.
Riley Eberhard
Next Level 17U S40
Great decisions and had some really nice passes off of the dribble and catch. Crashed boards hard and was strong with rebounds. Moved feet well defensively and used her length to make things tough.
Haley Combs
2026 ETA Ice Alvin/Campos
Very in control at the point and does a great job running the offense/making sure everything is running smoothly. Recognizes when to slow things down and when to speed it up so well. Makes great reads.
Mahijah Fall
2026 Lady Aces 17U NE2K
Fall made a good impact on the interior all weekend long. Had some nice baskets inside and used some good post moves to create space from defenders. Walled up well defensively to make things tough on whoever she was guarding.
Kallie Vaughn
2026 Lady Vision And1CBL
Stayed getting her hands on the ball defensively. Got in great positions and read those passing lanes so well. Doesn’t try to do too much offensively and made a lot of smart plays.
Colie Thompson
2026 ETA E40 Campos
Lefty can really knock them down and quickly but also scored well inside. Very smooth and made some big plays in clutch minutes. Defended well also.
Ava Kenney
2026 Lady Aces 17U NE2K
The absolute definition of bench energy!! Like legitimately exactly what you want to see from a player when they aren’t on the court. Then when she stepped on the court, contributed good minutes including scoring in a variety of ways.
Payton Burgess
2026 Lady Vision And1CBL
Great job contesting shots defensively. Communicated well with teammates. Can score inside but also does a great job recognizing when to make the extra pass & locating the open player