The 2nd annual WPA Bruins Summer Shootout is billed as a
July viewing period tune-up. 16 teams participated in the 2017 one-day event
Saturday at North Allegheny high school, up from 11 last year.
We covered many of the players that participated in Saturday’s
event including six of the Bruins teams and players in an earlier Blue Star
Media piece from the USJN Three Rivers Challenge in early June… As a group, the
host program’s teams look ready for the national competition they will face in the weeks to come.
The Bruins top high school team, coached by Robert Cash
(Penn Hills HS) put Western PA on notice with two very impressive wins Saturday
versus two quality teams: the Erie Saints Chuzie, a traditional powerhouse with
three committed division one prospects and Drill for Skill Miller.
We saw the coach Cash’s Bruins during the early evaluation
period in April at the Boo Williams Nike Invitational. At that time, so early
in the travel team season, the group was struggling to find an identity.
The Boo Williams Nike Invitational will rattle anyone’s
cage, add to that the pressure of coming off a season in which the Bruins were
crowned the adidas national champs and the road to back-to-back championships
was proving to be a tough goal.
Fast forward a few months, and the Bruins now look like the
proverbial contender that has been part of the club’s history for well over 25
years.
“The team has really come together and are starting to get
it” said John Tate, the WPA Bruin’s Program Director. Tate has no issue with
putting pressure on his teams, it’s expected, it’s his way. “I would be
surprised if they didn’t contend for the National Championship again this year,”
added Tate.
The Bruins were solid inside back in April, and they still
are today with the likes of 6-3, forward, Alexa Williamson (Chartiers-Houston)
patrolling the paint. Strong, and quick, with soft hands, the 2018 forward is a
tremendous shot blocker and is an intimidating presence inside for the Bruins.
Adding to the steadiness inside, Ayanna Townsend (Winchester
Thurston) is an excellent complement to Williamson. At six-foot, one inch, the
2018 versatile forward takes double team opportunities away from opponents with
her ability to rebound and score.
The biggest improvement in this team in the last two months
is in the guard play. Across the board, the Bruin guards are more comfortable. To
a player, they play hard all the time, lock up on defense and their transition
game is dangerous.
The play of Gia Thorpe (Winchester Thurston) has elevated considerably
in the short period of time between April and now. The 5-8 rising senior guard
is a vocal floor leader and has become the key figure in everything the Bruins
do on both sides of the floor. Thorpe’s play is loaded with intangibles including;
the ability to score in many different ways, turning defense to offense and
understanding how to get out in transition.
Thorpe’s raised production has also highlighted the level of
play of her back-court mates Amani Johnson (East Allegheny) and Makenna Marisa
(Peters Township).
At five-foot six, point-guard, Amani Johnson is a prolific
scorer that can handle the ball in traffic and will find openings where there
seems to be none. The 2018 graduate is strong at the basket, and can create
three-point opportunities the old-fashioned way, from the free-throw line.
The lanky five-ten frame of 2019 graduate, Makenna Marisa
make her a match-up problem for defenses, add to that a deadly perimeter game
and a wickedly efficient first step and Marisa becomes the prototypical
division one swing-guard on anyone’s scouting form.
All three players bring out the best in each other, they
have all made headlines separately this past high school season, and now they
will be making them together.
Bolstering the Bruins attack off the bench is 5-9, combo
guard, Mikayla Lovelace (Leechburg Area), the 2018 graduate is a strong scorer
with either hand and a quick first step that gets her to the hoop.
All the strides the team has made in the last couple of
months are about to be placed on display in a big way. With trips to Dallas and
Atlanta for two events in each town, the Bruins will have many opportunities to
showcase their talents in front of college coaches and media from all over the
country. One thing is for sure today though, the July version of Coach Cash’s
WPA Bruins look like they are ready and eager to defend their 2016 adidas national
title in Atlanta during the second July viewing period.
Teams that attended the 2nd annual WPA Bruins Summer
Shootout and where they will be during the first July viewing period (July
5-12)
WPA Bruins – Cash
(PBA Super 64 Showcase July 6-9, Frisco TX / adidas Uprising Gauntlet Finale
July 10-12, Frisco TX)
WPA Bruins – Zeise
(Run for the Roses July 5-8, Louisville KY / Battle in the Boro July 10-12,
Louisville KY)
WPA Bruins – Murray
(PBA Super 64 Showcase July 6-9, Frisco TX / adidas Uprising Gauntlet Finale
July 10-12, Frisco TX)
WPA Bruins – DeRubbo
(Run for the Roses July 5-8, Louisville KY / Battle in the Boro July 10-12,
Louisville KY)
WPA Bruins –
Lewandowski (Run for the Roses July 5-8, Louisville KY / Battle in the Boro
July 10-12, Louisville KY)
WPA Bruins – Dunn
(Run for the Roses July 5-8, Louisville KY / Battle in the Boro July 10-12,
Louisville KY)
Erie Saints – Chuzie
(USJN Premiere Midwest July 5-8 Indianapolis IN / Nike Tournament of Champions,
July 9-12 Chicago IL)
Erie Saints – 15U
Drill for Skill –
Miller (Battle in the Boro July 10-12, Louisville KY)
Drill for Skill –Brown
(Battle in the Boro July 10-12, Louisville KY)
Drill for Skill –
Vannoy (Battle in the Boro July 10-12, Louisville KY)
Triple Threat
Institute
212 Degrees (Run
for the Roses July 5-8, Louisville KY)
Slaam (Run for
the Roses July 5-8, Louisville KY / Battle in the Boro July 10-12, Louisville
KY)
Erudite (Blue
Chip USA Invitational July 5-8, Manheim PA)
Next Level Hoops (Run
for the Roses July 5-8, Louisville KY)
Good luck to the Western PA players in July and beyond!
For complete July coverage on Western PA and beyond, please
follow us on Twitter at:
@JosephGCosta
and
@411_412
