CLASS 5A: 2020 Most Underrated

Israel Potoczny

March 18, 2020 @ 03:42 PM

The Kansas 5A state championships were short lived in Kansas as the Kansas High School Activities Association announced on Thursday the remaining state tournament games will not be played following a single quarterfinal round of play. However, Prep Girls Hoops takes a look at several players who stood out at the event, with a look here at several senior guards. To recap the quarterfinal scores, McPherson (1) beat Basehor-Linwood (8), 59-44; Aquinas (4) beats Maize South (5), 62-35; Andover Central (2) beat De Soto (7), 61-52; and Topeka-Seaman (3) beat Maize (6), 54-44. [player_tooltip player_id="90154" first="Chloe" last="Carter"], 2020, Seaman Carter is a good senior player for her team who can contribute from distance and inside. She is good at spacing and keeping her eyes open for developing plays and applies good defensive pressure to opponents and looks to contest the shot and go after the ball. Carter is also a reliable scorer in the second half as she has a way of getting buckets inside and out. Cassie Cooks, 5’8, G/F, 2020, McPherson Another strong defender who can be in the right place at the right time. She’s a two-way player who can score inside as she looks to create paths and clean up plays around the glass. Cooks is an impressive rebounder for her age and shows great strength and nice athleticism. Cooks runs the floor well and is an impact player inside given the matchup. Joscelyne Espinoza, G/F, 2020, Maize She can hit the occasional 3-pointer and also contribute on defense. She looks to keep the ball moving but also tries to make smart plays and get the ball to teammates who are looking to score or have a nice matchup. [player_tooltip player_id="121750" first="Emily" last="Laham"], 5’7, G/F, 2020, Maize An active two-way player who sees time on the low post as a defender given her physicality and timing. She is a good shot blocker and can also find ways to contribute on offense. She has a knack for being in the right place at the right time and can score when she has an open look and has a green light. A good player who led by example and was vocal and kept her teammates involved. [player_tooltip player_id="121753" first="Cassie" last="Onwugbufor"], 5’5, G, 2020, Maize A nice guard who can handle the ball and create with her dribble. She has good speed and a good eye for plays and can also find open lanes and score using floaters and glass shots. She makes solid passes and is also a capable defender and looks to move your feet and stay in front of the ball. LaMayh Ricks, G, 2020, De Soto Another nice two-way player who is quick and has the ability to knock down shots from 3-point range. Ricks is a well conditioned player and she gets up the floor quickly and looks for transition plays. Also a pest of a defender who looks to poke away the ball and get physical and overwhelm opponents and anticipate passes. Madison Steiner, 2020, Seaman A senior player who looks to shoot from 3-point range and feed the ball inside. Steiner is a strong player who has experience and understands her role and how to contribute on both ends of the floor quickly from the start. She is good at collapsing on the ball and plays a thoughtful game overall. Clair Thomas, 5’10, F, 2020, Aquinas Thomas is a seasoned player for Aquinas who makes plays inside. She has good size at 5’10 and runs the floor and gets back on defense. She has the ability to use her strength and force turnovers and contest shots on defense. Thomas had a game high eight rebounds for Aquinas as well.