5 Major Movers in the 2021 Rankings

The latest refresh of class 2021 rankings reached public eyes earlier this week beginning with the class of 2020. It is composed of 118 and growing. The five players listed below have rocketed up the ranks since the August refresh. <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/kennedy-taylor/">Kennedy Taylor</a>, 6'3", PF, Shawnee Mission Northwest, KC Dream - Taylor advanced 27 places to #3. In Northwest's December 10 win over defending class 6A champion Washburn Rural she finished with 18 points and seven rebounds. Last season she was a Sunflower League third team selection while averaging 10.3 points and 9.3 rebounds. Taylor brings a combination of good size, strength, and speed. Blue Star Media's Mark Lewis shared these notes" "Size with strength…Has agility to go with it…Young power player…Gets out and runs the floor…Hi-Lo passing is there…Offense is still more a thought than a reaction but it's coming." Continued improvement in control on the shot block, boxing out, and expansion of her game especially outside the paint remains. Holds offers from Kansas, Kansas State, Wichita State, Kentucky, Missouri, Iowa State, Penn State, Washington, and many more. [caption id="attachment_125271" align="alignright" width="225"] Schlagle 2021 Tylieea Wallace has a ball with a pre-season team photo shoot.[/caption] <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/tylieea-wallace/">Tylieea Wallace</a>, 6'0", C, Schlagle, KC Dream - Advanced 63 places to #11. Wallace was a Topeka Capital Journal 5A honorable mention selection a year ago. Former coach Mark Western, now head coach at Shawnee Mission South, described her as being strong with a big frame and as having great feet and hands. She had 27 points and 13 rebounds in a first round state tournament win over Wichita Heights. Holds offers from Kansas City, Missouri Western State, Missouri Southern and others. [caption id="attachment_99312" align="alignleft" width="300"] Piper's 2021 Evelyn Vazquez drives on an opponent playing for her KC Dream club team.[/caption] <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/evelyn-vazquez/">Evelyn Vazquez</a>, 5'6", G, Piper, KC Dream - Advanced 38 places to #13. <span data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"KBCA 4A honorable mention all-state. Very slightly built. Has solid ability to create and finish. Joel Webb (11.22.19) - Terrific speed and quickness defensively. Good ball IQ, handles, and court awareness. Watch her output increase. Part of the 4x100m state champion team with <a href=">Vazquez was a Kansas Basketball Coaches Association (KBCA) class 4A honorable mention all-state selection a year ago. While slightly built she has solid ability to create and finish. PGH Kansas scribe Joel Webb noted in a November 22 article that she has terrific speed and quickness defensively, and has good ball IQ; court awareness; and handles. Vazquez was part of the 4x100m state champion, and new 4A state record holding, team. She also collected two, third place, class 4A state track championship finishes in the 100m and 200m. She has generated interest from Northwest Missouri State, Newman University, Missouri Western State, and Missouri Southern. [caption id="attachment_116273" align="alignright" width="259"] Sumner Academy 2021 PG Jordyn Rowe finishing at the hole. Courtesy of Grind House Basketball.[/caption] <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/jordyn-rowe-2/">Jordyn Rowe</a>, 5'5", PG, Sumner Academy, SHOtime Basketball/Missouri Phenom - Rowe has advanced 57 places to #24 and is expected to continue to climb. The reigning Kansas City Atchison League 2019 defensive player of the year, she has exploded from the gate this season having scored 66 points and is in the low to mid teens in steals and assists over the first three games. While she has good, not great, speed end-to-end with the ball she finishes well around the basket with both hands. She also has solid three point range and distributes the ball well to open teammates. [caption id="attachment_110786" align="alignleft" width="268"] Blue Valley Southwest guard Amiah Simmons. Simmons attended the Prep Girls Hoops 250 Expo Iowa in October.[/caption] <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/amiah-simmons/">Amiah Simmons</a>, 5'7", PG, Blue Valley Southwest, Team KC Hoops - Simmons has advanced 24 places to #52 and expected to keep climbing. Simmons was an honorable mention Eastern Kansas League selection a year ago. At Prep Girls Hoops 250 Expo Iowa in October she made her presence felt. Physically what stood out was her hand speed and athleticism. She also showed quality handles and decision making abilities. The latter was displayed when she ran a textbook 3-on-2 break from the middle and set the table for a teammate to get an easy layup. Offensive quickness found her getting to the hole quickly off the dribble. Defensively she's solid, using her hand speed to get steals and tie up drivers from the help side. Featured image: Kennedy Taylor 2021 Shawnee Mission Northwest.