Rankings Review: 2022 Stock-Risers
It is always refreshing to see a number of players improve their game from one viewing to the next, but there might not be a time so crucial to a prospect than the offseason between their Freshman and Sophomore high school seasons. Below is a look at five members of the 2022 class who I feel have made a nice jump from the 2018-2019 season to now. This isn’t everyone who has shown improvement, but they are five young ladies who stand out to me.
Gracie Gilland
Gracie
Gilland
5'8" | SG
Wes-Del | 2022
State
IN
, 5-7 G, Delta H.S.
A season ago, Gracie was Delta’s leading scorer (9.2), second leading rebounder (4.3), plus she led them in steals (2.3). But this year, she has exploded and been their best player by far, averaging 16.3 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 4.9 steals per game. She is extremely long, somewhat slender, but very fast, bouncy, and just all-around explosive. She can handle the ball and run offense on occasion, but she’s so good scoring the ball, that you want her getting 15 shots per game. She can make perimeter jumpers, and she’s made 41 3-pointers in 16 games so far this year, but her percentages could certainly come up a bit. I think she has a lot of value defensively, too, because she can guard the ball, plus she’s great in passing lanes.
Emma Good
Emma
Good
5'6" | PG
Taylor | 2022
State
IN
, 5-6 G, Taylor H.S.
Emma was a Varsity starter one year ago, but she was more of a complimentary player and helped to facilitate offense a lot more due to the presence of current Miami of Ohio Freshman
Taylor Boruff
Taylor
Boruff
5'10" | PF
Taylor | 2019
State
IN
. This time around, Emma is one of the Titans top offensive options, as she is scoring 11.3 points per game for a 14-6 Taylor squad. She has proven to be a solid perimeter shooter (38 made 3s in 20 games), and she is starting to defend much better in all facets. She has some wiry strength, really good length for her height, and she’s a solid all-around athlete. She can play point guard or off the ball, and she has a quiet toughness to her game.
Kenna Kirby
Kenna
Kirby
5'8" | SG
Tri-West | 2022
State
IN
, 5-8 G, Tri-West H.S.
Make no mistake about it, last season Kenna was really good, but she was new to the high school game, and at times she was sort of figuring it all out. This season, she has been lights-out and has become the focal point of the Bruin offense. She has increased her scoring by nearly seven points per game (19.4 this season), plus she has a 44-point game under her built. She is also shooting a solid 49% from the field and 80% from the free throw line. Kenna looks leaner, a little longer, a little taller, and much more explosive. In the past, she has proven to be an effective perimeter shooter, but now she’s finishing through contact better, and the mid-range game is much more consistent.
Kaybree Oxley
Kaybree
Oxley
5'9" | PF
Tecumseh | 2022
State
IN
, 5-10 F, Tecumseh H.S.
Kaybree’s stock has continued to rise since she stepped foot on a high school floor. First, she had an outstanding Freshman season, averaging 16.7 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 2.6 assists. She then went on to have a nice Spring & Summer grassroots season. But this Winter, she is up across the board, averaging 20.2 points, 11.4 rebounds, and 3.2 assists, plus she’s shooting 56% from the field. She has a fairly strong frame, some length, and good all-around athleticism. She plays with a motor and simply out-hustles most opponents. The next step in her progression will be to add a 3-point shot to her arsenal. Otherwise, she’s a really nice forward who does a little of everything.
Ella Wolfe
Ella
Wolfe
5'8" | SG
Tipton | 2022
State
IN
, 5-8 G, Tipton H.S.
Ella has gone from a nearly lost season, to the Blue Devils leading scorer and defender. During her Freshman season, Ella missed all but the last six games due to an injury. She returned just before the Sectional and had an impact in a couple of their state tournament games. This season, however, she has been highly impactful, averaging 12.3 points, 3.7 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 2.8 steals per game for the young Tipton team. She is long, quick/fast, and explosive. She can knock down an open rhythm ’3’, but she’s so good gliding to the rim and finishing. Defensively, she affects passing lanes as a help-side defender, but she can also defend multiple positions because of her height, length, and quick feet.
The feature image is of
Kenna Kirby
Kenna
Kirby
5'8" | SG
Tri-West | 2022
State
IN
of Tri-West High School. The image is courtesy of Eric Gardner at our Prep Girls Hoops Top-250 Expo.
Emma
Good
5'6" | PG
Taylor | 2022
State
IN
, 5-6 G, Taylor H.S.
Emma was a Varsity starter one year ago, but she was more of a complimentary player and helped to facilitate offense a lot more due to the presence of current Miami of Ohio Freshman
Taylor Boruff
Taylor
Boruff
5'10" | PF
Taylor | 2019
State
IN
. This time around, Emma is one of the Titans top offensive options, as she is scoring 11.3 points per game for a 14-6 Taylor squad. She has proven to be a solid perimeter shooter (38 made 3s in 20 games), and she is starting to defend much better in all facets. She has some wiry strength, really good length for her height, and she’s a solid all-around athlete. She can play point guard or off the ball, and she has a quiet toughness to her game.
Kenna Kirby
Kenna
Kirby
5'8" | SG
Tri-West | 2022
State
IN
, 5-8 G, Tri-West H.S.
Make no mistake about it, last season Kenna was really good, but she was new to the high school game, and at times she was sort of figuring it all out. This season, she has been lights-out and has become the focal point of the Bruin offense. She has increased her scoring by nearly seven points per game (19.4 this season), plus she has a 44-point game under her built. She is also shooting a solid 49% from the field and 80% from the free throw line. Kenna looks leaner, a little longer, a little taller, and much more explosive. In the past, she has proven to be an effective perimeter shooter, but now she’s finishing through contact better, and the mid-range game is much more consistent.
Kaybree Oxley
Kaybree
Oxley
5'9" | PF
Tecumseh | 2022
State
IN
, 5-10 F, Tecumseh H.S.
Kaybree’s stock has continued to rise since she stepped foot on a high school floor. First, she had an outstanding Freshman season, averaging 16.7 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 2.6 assists. She then went on to have a nice Spring & Summer grassroots season. But this Winter, she is up across the board, averaging 20.2 points, 11.4 rebounds, and 3.2 assists, plus she’s shooting 56% from the field. She has a fairly strong frame, some length, and good all-around athleticism. She plays with a motor and simply out-hustles most opponents. The next step in her progression will be to add a 3-point shot to her arsenal. Otherwise, she’s a really nice forward who does a little of everything.
Ella Wolfe
Ella
Wolfe
5'8" | SG
Tipton | 2022
State
IN
, 5-8 G, Tipton H.S.
Ella has gone from a nearly lost season, to the Blue Devils leading scorer and defender. During her Freshman season, Ella missed all but the last six games due to an injury. She returned just before the Sectional and had an impact in a couple of their state tournament games. This season, however, she has been highly impactful, averaging 12.3 points, 3.7 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 2.8 steals per game for the young Tipton team. She is long, quick/fast, and explosive. She can knock down an open rhythm ’3’, but she’s so good gliding to the rim and finishing. Defensively, she affects passing lanes as a help-side defender, but she can also defend multiple positions because of her height, length, and quick feet.
The feature image is of
Kenna Kirby
Kenna
Kirby
5'8" | SG
Tri-West | 2022
State
IN
of Tri-West High School. The image is courtesy of Eric Gardner at our Prep Girls Hoops Top-250 Expo. 
