War Games 28.5: 2028-2030 Top Performers
Girls Analysis

War Games 28.5: 2028-2030 Top Performers


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Kenzie Hinkson
2028 5-6 PG Kenzie Hinkson – Wood Elite – North Paulding
Already with a Jacksonville State offer to her credit before ever playing a varsity game, it is easy to see a route to the D-I level four years from now for Kenzie Hinkson. Hinkson sees the floor extremely well for her age. Kenzie is a playmaker that can penetrate the defense and squeeze in assists through tight quarters at the last second. She’s a good decision maker when deciphering whether to toss in a floater or find the open man. Hinkson’s floater is one of her top weapons, dropping four in a two-game span. Kenzie finishes with both hands around the hoop and defensively, proved to be an effective on-ball stopper. Against Redline Hinkson went for 8 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists and 4 steals. In a blow out of FBC Dynasty, Kenzie tacked on 8 points, 2 rebounds, 3 assists and 5 steals. With an important 2024 class graduated, Hinkson has the skill to benefit the Wolfpack in the backcourt in Year 1.

Reagan Mulligan
2028 5-3 G Reagan Mulligan – Wood Elite – River Ridge
I came away impressed with Reagan Mulligan, an undersized guard with a potent offensive game. The flag football quarterback is a compact athlete. She plays with a pep in her step. Mulligan has a combo-guard skill set with the ability to create for others or play off the ball and look for her offense. Reagan has deep three-point range which makes up for her lack of height. Mulligan is a microwave scorer, a threat to pile in threes once she sees her first shot drop. In a 45-36 win against Redline, Reagan netted a pair of threes, a mid-range jumper, a left-handed layup and a floater to finish with a game-high 13 points, 1 rebound and 3 steals. Earlier at War Games, Mulligan sank two threes en route to posting a team-best 12 points in a win over FBC Dynasty. While it may be hard to crack the River Ridge rotation as a freshman, if Mulligan is patient, she has a chance to get invaluable reps at practice and still find a way on the court in spurts whenever the Knights are looking for a shot in the arm offensively. Mulligan is going to be a good player.

2028 5-8 W Lyric Watson – Wood Elite – Kell
Lyric’s motor caused fits for opponents all week. The athletic off-guard crashed the glass, guarded multiple spots and balanced her scoring inside and out to help Wood Elite finish the summer 7-0 between War Games and SummerSlam. While Watson is often one of the most athletic players on the floor, it isn’t just her God-given abilities that lend her an edge on the competition. Lyric can shoot the three with consistency, netting three over a two-game span in which she averaged 7.5 points, 9 rebounds, 1 assist, 3.5 steals and 1 block per game. Lyric’s two-way skill set bodes well for the future.

2028 5-9 F Brenley Matthews – Wood Elite – Creekview
I really liked what I saw from Brenley Matthews. Great teams need players that buy into their role. That is exactly what Matthews does. While she does have a nice offensive skill set, what I enjoyed most was how big Brenley played inside. She did a great job altering shots and hauling down rebounds. Brenley deflected entry passes into the post and helped ignite fast breaks by getting it to a guard. In the two games I saw, I witnessed Brenley knock down a three, hit a floater and score in the post. Against FBC Dynasty she collected 5 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 4 steals and 2 blocks before chipping in 2 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 block against Redline. Matthews is a prime example that scoring isn’t everything.

2028 5-6 G Gabbi Maher – Wood Elite Keys – Lassiter
Gabbi got hot against Supreme Team Youngunz, showcasing her dynamic outside shot. Maher drilled three three-pointers including a deep step-back. Maher has a strong frame, able to handle the ball against pressure and get to her spots in the mid-range. The combo-guard wasn’t afraid to mix it up as a rebounder, providing Wood Elite Keys with a team-high 13 points, 7 rebounds and 2 steals. Maher should see significant minutes as a freshman and be a prime beneficiary of playing alongside Kenzie Wyman as a crucial floor spacer.

2029 5-3 PG Michala Butler – Wood Elite Keys – McEachern
Playing up a grade, Michala Butler fit right in with Wood Elite Keys. Butler has a tight handle, using her ball skills, strength and speed to get downhill where she can craftily finish amongst length. Butler is comfortable playing off two-feet, using step throughs to get past defenders. While she didn’t hit an outside shot in the game I watched, Butler has nice form on her jumper. I really loved the aggressive on-ball pressure defense she applied throughout the game. In a two-point loss to Supreme Team Youngunz, Butler had 2 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists and 1 steal. I like her future.

Payton Day
2030 5-1 PG Payton Day – Supreme Team Youngunz
As her nickname suggests, Payton Day will indeed be a Problem. Only a 2030, playing up two levels, Day was elusive in a 46-44 win over Wood Elite Keys, going for 15 points, 7 rebounds, 1 assist and 4 steals. Day is shifty quick with the ball. She is fluid getting into her shot off the bounce and has three-point range. Payton netted a pair of threes and a long two to go with a transition layup, a baseline drive and a left-handed And-1 in the open floor. As Day continues to grow physically and get more reps against older competition, the better and better she will become. By the time she is a freshman, don’t be surprised if she is a Day 1 impact maker and one of the better guards in her class.

Anaya Osbey
2030 5-10 F Anaya Osbey – Supreme Team Youngunz
Anaya was relentless on the glass, an active rebounder that Wood Elite Keys could not contain. Osbey scored the game-winning bucket with seconds left on a hook shot in the lane to win 46-44. Osbey finished with her left-hand throughout the day and was able to earn her team second and third chances on the backboards. Osbey double-doubled with 10 points, 15 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals.