Prospects Nation

[Jahna Hajdukovic]<http://prospectsnation.com/sites/default/files/jahna-hajdukovic-cmo15-300.jpg>Jahnna Hajdukovic

[http://prospectsnation.com/sites/default/files/hebard-depriest-dimond16-800.jpg]
Oregon signee Ruthy Hebard elevates over Denver signee Leya Depriest at the Dimond Lady Lynx Shootout. *Photo by Chris Hansen.

ANCHORAGE, Alaska – The Dimond Lady Linx Shootout has become a must attend event as it nearly duplicates the competition of the state tournament, but more than a month prior.  When you can produce that type of competition it’s a prime evaluation opportunity and several players took advantage in 2016.



Olivia Davies (Wasilla, Alaska), Wasilla – 2019<http://prospectsnation.com/player/olivia-davies>

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Olivia Davies of Wasilla, Alaska. Photo by
Chris Hansen.

Davies is a 5-foot-9 freshman combo guard who has more than a little wiggle to her game.  She changes speeds, attacks down hill and plays with terrific balance.  We saw her finish with both hands as well.  Perhaps the most exciting trait of this young talented prospect is her consistent energy on the defensive end.  She seems to enjoy tormenting the opposition the length of the court with smart but aggressive on-ball pressure.



Leya Depriest (Wasilla, Alaska), Wasilla – 2016<http://prospectsnation.com/player/leya-depriest>

When it comes to strong, physical interior play, Depriest is the best in the state.  The 6-3 post and University of Denver signee, never backs down from challenge and was impressive in her showdown with Hebard.  Teammates in club ball, the level of intensity was fun to watch.  She’s a player who utilizes her strength to neutralize quicker opposition.  She finishes around the rim and is a solid passer from the high post as well.



Jahnna Hajdukovic (Fairbanks, Alaska), Lathrop – 2018<http://prospectsnation.com/player/jahnna-hajdukovich>

This is our fifth time seeing Hajdukovic , including last August at the Check Me Out Showcase in Seattle.  The 5-8 combo guard has gotten a little stronger and is decidedly more aggressive than we saw in July and August.  She does most of her damage on the drive right now and has pretty natural passing.  She has a lot of confidence and slick handle to create.  Her jumper is much improved from a year ago, hitting multiple threes from the left side.



Ruthy Hebard (Fairbanks, Alaska), West Valley – 2016<http://prospectsnation.com/player/ruthy-hebard>

The 6-3 University of Oregon commit has dominated the paint in The Last Frontier for several years.  Her length and fluid athleticism makes her difficult to defend with just one player at the high school level.  She showed some improvements in her ballhandling, even bringing the ball up against pressure.  As she goes, her team goes in her senior season.


Alissa Pili (Anchorage, Alaska), Dimond – 2019<http://prospectsnation.com/player/alissa-pili>

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Alissa Pili was the Dimond Shootout MVP as a freshman.
Photo by Chris Hansen.

Believe it or not this isn’t our first time seeing the freshman power wing. She was featured in April 2015 from the Check Me Out SoCal Showcase<http://prospectsnation.com/story/check-me-out-socal-future>.  Everything we loved about her then, the power, balance, the early maturity to her game, all remained against high school competition.  She’s become an even better perimeter shooter.  The 5-10 wing has the strength to keep post players out of the lane and to be a rebounding force, but for her size she is incredibly nimble.  The tournament MVP has ample talent and in the next couple of years should be worth the trip up north to see her.



Nicole Pinckney (Chugiak, Alaska), Chugiak – 2017<http://prospectsnation.com/player/nicole-pinckney>

In a showdown with Lathrop’s talented backcourt, Pinckney showed her poise with how she controlled parts of the game.  She’s on the smaller size at 5-5 but doesn’t play small.  She plays with the utmost poise and isn’t afraid of the big moments in the game.  She hit a huge three to tie the game up with 23 seconds to go, making the correct read when her defender when under the ball screen.  She’s a solid defender, and again has a knack for clutch moments.  She finished with 22 points in the down to the wire loss.