Lauren Betts
Azzi Fudd of St. John's College Prep has been unflappable on the national state. *Photo by Chris Hansen.
PHOENIX -- With a big national stage come hard to reach expectations. But for Azzi Fudd and Lauren Betts it appears their games were made for the spotlight of the Nike Tournament of Champions based on their play the first two days.
As Good As Advertised
It’s a tough thing when you are celebrated player at a young age. Coming into the Nike TOC this year the most talked about new name was Grandview High School’s (Aurora, Colo.) freshman post Lauren Betts. The 6-foot-8 interior prospect was a force in the paint. For a player of her size her agility and coordination was impressive.
Betts aggressiveness on both ends of the court was impressive. She intimidated most of the guards from Archbishop Mitty from even attempting a shot in the lane. Her work in the high-low as well as on the offensive glass along with the defensive impact were huge in securing the 62-58 win over Mitty.
Where Betts has clearly lived up to the early hype around her name, another player with no shortage of fanfare continues to step up on the big stage time and again.
Class of 2021 guard Azzi Fuddof St. John’s College Prep (D.C.) has established herself as the top prospect in the country. Performances like the one she had here in Phoenix have her poised to be in the discussion for the Naismith Trophy Player of the Year sooner than later in her still young high school career. Fudd has the skill to create off of the bounce, catch and shoot or use the called action from the coaching staff to make a play offensively.
Class of 2019 point guard Lauren Park-Laneof Samford (Del.) is a dynamic, tempo pushing option at the position. Much like she did at the PeachStateBasketball.com Elite 32 in July for Team Takeover PSB EYBL, Park-Lane showed the skill set for her school team that she’ll take to Seton Hall next season.
Like she did a year ago at this same event, class of 2020 point guard Jana Van Gytenbeekof Cherry Creek (Colo.) came out ready to deliver on the major stage. She is one of the country’s top distributors in the junior class. Already committed to Stanford, Van Gytenbeek has played her way into the Elite 60 and continues to ascend with performances like this one.
AROUND THE RIM
Speaking of Van Gytenbeek, Highlands Ranch coach Caryn Jarocki guides her CBC team each July at events like the PeachStateBasketball.com Power 48. She coaches a talented guard of her own in Peyton Muma.
Keep an eye on Taylor Bigby of Centennial (NV). For the second straight day, the talented sophomore brought her lunch pail and hard hat playing multiple positions in an effort to produce in a big way for her team.
One of Betts’ Grandview teammates, 6-4 sophomore Addison O’Grady has also proven her talent is worthy of Power 5 conference recruitment. She has the size and skill set to play inside but also moves incredibly well and can play facing the basket as well.
Logn Beach Poly sophomore guard Simone Morris is one to keep an eye on. The 5-9 guard has shown great quickness with the ball in her hands and made plays both getting to the rim and finishing in the mid-range for Carl Buggs program.
Brandon Clay serves as the WNBA Director of Scouting for ProspectsNation.com and owns The JumpOffPlus.com International Report, which is picked up by more than 150 colleges and universities nationwide. He serves as the Executive Camp Director for the Elite Basketball Academy Camps. He serves on the Naismith Trophy Men’s / Women’s College Player of the Year Academy and is chairman of the HS Boys / Girls Board of Selectors and is on the McDonald’s All-American Selection Committee. He also is the publisher of PSBPopCulture.com.
Chris Hansen is managing editor of ProspectsNation.com and serves on the McDonald’s All-American and Naismith Trophy selection committees. He was a co-founder of and the national director of scouting for ESPN HoopGurlz from 2005 until 2012 and is the director of the Check Me Out Showcase and ELITE is EARNED events. He can be reached at chris@prospectsnation.com.
