Top Unsigned 2020s : Combo & Shooting Guards
After reviewing top unsigned 2020 bigs and wings and small forwards Prep Girls Hoops Kansas now turns its attention to available combo and shooting guards. In this third in a series of posts looking at unsigned 2020s we have listed…
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Continue ReadingAfter reviewing top unsigned 2020 bigs and wings and small forwards Prep Girls Hoops Kansas now turns its attention to available combo and shooting guards. In this third in a series of posts looking at unsigned 2020s we have listed a dozen standout players by their current rank order. Interestingly, three of the those listed played together as part of Ohlde Elite 2020 Yellow. Four of the listed appear in a May, 2019, rankings update article about combo guards.
#39 Hannah Landwehr, 5’8″, Bishop Carroll, Next Level Eclipse – A season ago Landwehr made the Greater Wichita League all-league team as a honorable mention selection. Landwehr was arguable the best perimeter shooter I saw at July’s Reign the Plains event. Her tournament two game average was 10 points per game, including 5/7 from three. The strong perimeter shooting clearly helped her as she moved without the ball as it opened up opportunities where she showed a good ability to finish off a slashing drive from the high elbow and wing areas.
#44 Heather Mills, 5’7″, Derby – A problem Mills has is being caught up in the bottleneck of playing time at Derby due to their abundance of guard talent. A multi-sport athlete (basketball, volleyball, soccer), she should not be overlooked. Mills has good transition speed with defensive quickness and is a good spot up three point shooter from corners. According to MaxPreps, after six games she is averaging 6 points and 1.3 assists per game. With 9 makes Mills is shooting 43% from behind the arc and 86% from the free throw line.
#51 Neleh Davis, 5’7″, Olpe, Ohlde Elite – Davis earned all-Lyon County League second team and Topeka Capital Journal 1A honorable mention all-state selections a year ago. A strong three point shooter, she has put in substantial time in weight room, which shows up in her ability to handle contact on the finish and defend more physically. Already with good transition ability she is a leader for the #2 ranked Eagles.
#53 Madison Ruda, 5’9″, Holcomb – Ruda was a all-Great West Activities Conference second team selection last season. She sees the floor, jumps passing lanes, and elevates well on the shot block. Ruda has solid handles and can go end-to-end to finish under pressure. A strong shooter, she shot 43% from beyond the arc with 42 makes on the way to averaging 11.7 points, 2.8 steals, and 2.7 assists a year ago. Her production through eight games has dropped slightly to 9.6 points, 2 steals, and 1.2 assists as the Longhorns have grinded through a tough schedule that will not let up as the GWAC has several top 3A teams in the state in its makeup that have yet to be played.
#55 Madison Ontjes, 5’5″, Nickerson – Ontjes wrapped up last season with selections to the Kansas Basketball Coaches Association’s 4A all-state second team and Central Kansas League’s first team. She is currently recovering from a MCL and ACL tears suffered during a June 2019 team camp. In a December profile by PGH’s Israel Potoczny she said she anticipated to be medically released this month. Upon her return to form she can be expected to show speed with the ball, the ability to finish under pressure in transition, and the ability to jump passing lanes off the ball. She was a strong three-point shooter a year ago, making 78, while averaging 14 points, four rebounds, and six steals. She has attracted interest from NCAA D II, NAIA, and NJCAA D I schools.
#63 Mary Reiber, 5’5″, Olathe Northwest, Precision Athletics – Reiber is fast with strong one-on-one defensive footwork in the full court. She also closes quickly on and boxes out perimeter shooters. Away from the ball she anticipates perimeter shots and is quick to get weak side offensive rebounding position. Reiber’s quicks are helped offensively by her having three point range. Reiber was the MVP of the Hutamaki Classic tournament in December.
#65 Brooklyn Zoeller, 5’9″, Blue Valley-Randolph, Lady Prospects – This past season Zoeller was selected to the Wichita Eagle’s and Topeka Capital Journal’s 1A honorable mention all-state teams in addition to being named to the all-Twin Valley League first team. She averaged 15.8 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 3.1 steals. Her club coach describes her as a Swiss army knife due the diverse tools she has in her game. He said “She can shoot, handle, makes good decisions in the passing game. She’s got great size and is a fierce competitor. Whomever lands her will get a true sleeper in the class of 2020.” More can be learned about her from this October article. She has received offers from Kansas Wesleyan, Ottawa University, University of Saint Mary and Fort Scott Community College.
#66 Aloera “Allie” Ostermann, 5’9″, Manhattan, Ohlde Elite – Ostermann averaged 6.4 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 1.6 steals a year ago. This season, through six games, those numbers have bumped up to 9 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 1.8 steals per game. She showed a great deal of her game at the Reign the Plains event this past July. She was a active, physical, defensive presence with good strength and weak side, offensive rebounding sense. She had good end-to-end speed with the ball, a quick three point shot, and the confidence to attack opposing bigs and shoot over them in the paint with contact. Her IQ shined in a situation where she was about to be double teamed along the sideline mid-court. She backed off to draw defenders toward her, then hit open teammate.
#68 Tianna Lohse, 5’8″, Hanover, Ohlde Elite – Lohse was a first team all-Twin Valley League and Topeka Capital Journal Honorable Mention 1A all-state selection a year ago. Her freshman year she hit a game winning three to win the ’17 state title. Hanover went back-to-back in ’18 and finished runner up in ’19. Currently the team is 8-0 and ranked third so being part of a winning culture is something she has thrived in. Last year she averaged 10.9 points, 2.9 assists, and 2.6 steals. She is up in all categories so far, averaging 13.6 points; 3.8 steals; and 3.2 assists with a 2.67 assists to turnovers ratio. She is also shooting 39% from three with 12 makes and 83% from the free throw line.
#69 Addison Campbell, 5’5″, Hoxie, Wheat State Elite – Campbell was a all-Northwest Kansas League first team selection a year ago. With averages of 11.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 4.3 steals per game, Campbell is a force on both ends of the floor. She has shown the ability to knock down the mid-range and perimeter jumper as well as get to the rim quickly and finish with either hand. With solid off-ball anticipation to go with her quickness, she is a threat to jump passing lanes and take the ball the length of the floor in a hurry. At Reign the Plains (July 2019), she showed an ability to score in traffic and to knock down the three. Over three games she averaged 6 points (3/7 from three), 3.3 rebounds, and 2 assists.
#72 Megan Foster, 5’5″, Waverly – Foster was a KBCA 1A second team all-state selection a year ago and was named to the Sports In Kansas 1A state all-tournament team. PGH’s Israel Potoczny describes her as “A guard who can contribute on both sides of the floor. She scores well around the basket and can knock down shots from distance. She distributes the ball well and is actually a solid rebounder for her size. She slips in between opponents and can come down with the ball and then push the tempo on the other side. She’s also a pest on defense who looks to force turnovers.”
#91 Taighe Weeter, 5’6″, Goodland – Weeter was a KBCA 3A honorable mention all-state and a second team Great West Activities Conference selection a year ago. She is a solid perimeter shooter with the ability to score in traffic with either hand. Weeter also has good hands catching and scoring quickly when flashing down the lane.
More can be learned about Foster and Weeter from this June stock risers report from PGH Kansas contributor Israel Potoczny. Others just outside of this list who deserve a look include Colby’s Hallie Vaughn, Maize’s Emily Laham and Cassie Onwugbugor, and Wichita Southeast’s Charity Dixon.
Featured image: Nickerson combo guard Madison Ontjes pops a three during their March, 2019, Class 4A state tournament game against Abilene.