Rankings Review: 2022 Small Forwards
When it comes to the Small Forward position in the Class of 2022, there is a little bit of everything for college recruiters to consider. There are a variety of Division-I prospects, some tremendous small college prospects, athletes, wing shooters,…
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Continue ReadingWhen it comes to the Small Forward position in the Class of 2022, there is a little bit of everything for college recruiters to consider. There are a variety of Division-I prospects, some tremendous small college prospects, athletes, wing shooters, point forwards, power wings, and combo forwards to consider. Whatever colleges need, I feel like Indiana can provide in this class. Below is a look at the Top-12 Small Forward prospects in Indiana’s Class of 2022, with additional comments to follow.
Overall |
Prospect |
Ht. |
Pos. |
High School |
2019 Grassroots Team |
1 |
Ayanna Patterson |
6-3 |
W |
Homestead | Always 100 Attack 17U |
2 |
Kate Clarke |
6-0 |
W |
Carmel |
Indy Magic-Andrus 17U |
10 |
Natalie Niehaus |
5-9 |
W |
Castle |
|
12 |
Myah Montgomery |
6-0 |
W |
Southridge | Indiana Elite S.W.I.S.H. |
15 |
Katie Egenolf |
5-10 |
F |
Center Grove |
|
16 |
Jaelynne Murray |
5-9 |
W |
Pike |
Indy Lady Impact 16U |
22 |
Kuryn Brunson |
5-9 |
W |
Franklin Community |
Team Indiana Red Storm |
24 |
Davina Smith |
5-10 |
F |
Merrillville | Indiana Lightning |
25 |
Ellie Wilkerson |
5-9 |
W |
Plainfield |
Indiana Showcase-Sinclair 17U |
28 |
Shamara Allen |
5-7 |
W |
SB St. Joseph |
|
41 |
Jaleigh Crawford |
5-11 |
F |
Elwood |
|
44 |
Kelsi Langley |
5-9 |
W |
Taylor | Nike Gym Rats Maroon |
You’ll hear a lot of clichés like “turned the corner” or “blowing up” when it comes to the recruitment of Kate Clarke of Carmel High School over the last six to eight months, and while those clichés are spot-on, she has increased her recruiting interest exponentially during that time. Kate has always been a skillful kid with more size than her peers, but I’ve been impressed with how she has taken her skillset and refined it as much as possible. She is a very good perimeter shooter with range, and she has worked to speed up her mechanics and get rid of the ball extremely fast. Her handle has really improved, and she is creating more offense off the bounce now, plus she’s scoring it inside the arc much better. She also looks leaner and a little more explosive. She has drawn offers from half of the Big Ten schools, among other offers.
Unfortunately for Natalie Niehaus, your best chance to see her play is to drive to the Evansville suburb of Newburgh, Indiana. Castle High School doesn’t do much travelling, outside of the Jeffersonville/New Albany area, and Natalie has chosen not to play grassroots ball the last couple of years, so her visibility has been limited. But she is one of the most skillful kids in the 2022 class, and she helped lead the Knights to a Semi-State appearance this past season. She is a wiry strong, point forward type, who can handle it, run offense, and she is a very good passer. She could stand to be just a little more explosive, but she is a fluid and smooth wing.
I’m a little surprised I haven’t heard Jaelynne Murray’s name come up more often amongst college coaches, but she didn’t play in a major grassroots program this past Summer, despite being a Freshman starter for Pike High School last Winter. She is a long, wiry strong, athletic, and somewhat bouncy point forward type of playmaker. She is really good creating offense off the bounce, and she is strong enough to absorb contact, get through the lane, and finish at the basket. She could stand to tighten up her all-around skillset, but she is certainly an athletic talent with a great deal of upside. She could be the Red Devils’ best player the next three seasons.
In my opinion, Jaleigh Crawford of Elwood Community High School is one of the best-kept secrets in the 2022 class. She is a 3-sport athlete who excels in all three, so she hasn’t been involved with grassroots basketball as of yet. She is an extremely long, fluid, and somewhat bouncy forward who has a tremendously high ceiling right now. She can handle the ball in transition and initiate the offense, she’s good attacking the basket to her right, she can see the floor and find teammates, but she’s also a nice offensive rebounder and a versatile defender. She’ll need some work, no doubt, but her combination of size, length, and athleticism should be very attractive to college programs.
Feature image of Ayanna Patterson of Homestead High School. Image submitted by the family.