A Look at Recently Seen Post Players

In the past week plus I have been able to hit the gym to see a few games involving 1A-3A schools. Catching up on the games of familiar players is exciting. I like to see how players are continuing to grow their games and impact their teams. Discovering and providing exposure for new and unfamiliar players is especially rewarding. With mid-season tournaments in full swing I have been able to hit gyms to see a bunch of teams in a short amount of time. Besides the obvious power forwards and centers this group also includes forwards who occasionally will be found on the wings. [caption id="attachment_140127" align="alignleft" width="155"] Sterling 2022 forward Sadie Beagley battles Hugton 2021 center <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/jordyn-beard/"><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/jordyn-beard/">Jordyn Beard</a></a> for position in their Sterling Invitational contest. Photo by Robert Kelly.[/caption] NR, 2022, Sadie Beagley, 5'8", PF, Sterling, SC Dream - The work Beagley put in over the summer with her teammates is readily apparent. While undersized for a power forward, Beagley has developed into an interior scoring threat with good strength to battle on both ends. She is unafraid to attack post player six inches taller, using her body to shield her shots or floating them over their outstretched arms. [caption id="attachment_140112" align="alignright" width="151"] Hugoton 2020 center <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/jordyn-beard/"><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/jordyn-beard/">Jordyn Beard</a></a> boxes out a Sterling opponent during their Sterling Invitational contest. Photo by Robert Kelly.[/caption] #33, 2021, <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/jordyn-beard/"><a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/jordyn-beard/">Jordyn Beard</a></a>, 6'1", C, Hugoton, Wheat State Elite - In Hugoton's (3A) victory over 2A #1 ranked Sterling during the semi-finals of the Sterling Invitational, for which she earned an all-tournament team spot, Beard only saw two baskets scored on her the entire game. A terrific shot blocker Beard continuously altered shots despite only getting credit for a single block. Her instincts to get blocks without fouling pair well with her strong build and long arms. She is also a strong rebounder due to her boxing out ability. Offensively, she showed good hands; generally finished well; and handled the ball well backcourt to help break the press. Improvement in her back-to-basket game, including stringing together a few moves, and developing perimeter range will make her especially difficult to handle. A year ago Beard was a Great West Activities Conference second team selection. [caption id="attachment_140099" align="alignleft" width="150"] Lyons 2020 power forward Kristina Head calls for the ball on an inbounds play of a 2020 Sterling Invitational contest. Photo by Robert Kelly.[/caption] NR, 2020, Kristina Head, 6'0", PF, Lyons - Head is long, strong, and physical. A year ago she earned selection to the Central Kansas League second team. Head has improved notably from when I <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/2019/01/sterling-invitational-tournament-post-prospects/">reported</a> on her last year at the Sterling Invitational At this year's tournament she showed solid 10' range, good speed in transition, and fair quickness to defend other bigs and to get a step to the basket. Improvement in her ability to consistently finish and command rebounds would make her a bigger problem on the interior. [caption id="attachment_140114" align="alignright" width="150"] Hugoton 2022 forward Breckyn Haar gets set to defend a inbounds play at the Sterling Invitational. Photo by Robert Kelly.[/caption] NR, 2022, Breckyn Haar, 5'10", PF, Hugoton - Haar was one of three players in this list that I saw for the first time, all at the Sterling Invitational. Haar showed good strength on the post up and an ability to block shots. NR, 2022, Aly Lambert, 6'0", C, Central Christian - Lambert provides a substantial interior presence for the Cougars. She uses her large build and long arms effectively off power moves around the basket. Additionally, she runs well in transition. Lambert will be a player to keep an eye on for additional development in her repertoire of interior moves, expansion of her range outside the lane, and defensive quickness against bigs with that range. [caption id="attachment_140116" align="alignleft" width="151"] Central Christian 2022 center Aly Lambert. Photo by Robert Kelly.[/caption] NR, 2021, Hannah Pearce, 5'8", F, Kingman - Pearce is another of the three new-to-me players. In the one point loss to Smoky Valley Pearce showed an ability to put together a couple back-to-basket post moves to score inside as well as step out and knock down the three. Pearce has a solid build and good transition speed as well. [caption id="attachment_140104" align="alignright" width="150"] Smoky Valley 2022 forward Abby Rose catches an entry pass against Kingman's Cassidy Blank in their Sterling Invitational contest. 2021 (25) Hannah Pearce is in the background. Photo by Robert Kelly.[/caption] NR, 2022, Abby Rose, 6'0", SF, Smoky Valley - The Sterling Invitational gave me the opportunity to see Rose for the second time, the <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/2019/12/smoky-valley-at-halstead-takeaways-and-standouts-2/">first</a> being against Halstead in December. Rose continues to show good athleticism. While she did not stand out as a scorer, she did on the defensive end. In a one point victory over Kingman she collected four of the team's six blocked shots along with four points. NR, 2020, Daci Stover, 5'10", F, Lyons - Stover is the third new-to-me player. With solid size and build Stover was notable on the boards as well as with her perimeter shooting. Additionally, she has handles to bring the ball up the floor with speed or get into the lane. In November Stover signed to play volleyball at Southwestern College. <em>Featured image: Lyons 2020 forward Daci Stover drives the lane during a 2020 Sterling Invitational contest. Photo by Robert Kelly.</em>        