Surging Sophomores
Every season there are several Sophomores who step up their game and contribute to the Varsity team a great deal more during year-two of their high school careers. Sometimes it’s a matter of physical growth and development, sometimes it’s skillful…
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Continue ReadingEvery season there are several Sophomores who step up their game and contribute to the Varsity team a great deal more during year-two of their high school careers. Sometimes it’s a matter of physical growth and development, sometimes it’s skillful development, and sometimes it’s simply opportunity, as they might have had to cut their teeth on the Junior Varsity during their rookie season due to quality upperclassmen already on the roster. Regardless of the reason for their sudden surge, below is a look at five individuals whose games really took off during the 2019-2020 season.
Ashlynn Allman, 2022, 5-10 PF, Lapel H.S.
Ashlynn took major strides as a Sophomore, as she went from being a part-time Varsity kid as a Freshman to a starter on a good and deep Lapel roster as a Sophomore. Ashlynn has a solid frame, a great motor, and she’s willing to play with physicality, but she also has a nice mid-range game as well. She cuts hard, screens hard, and posts with intent. If she can continue to stretch her game to the perimeter, she could be a really nice full-scholarship candidate long-term. She went from 4.1 points and 2.6 rebounds in 14 games as a rookie, to 8.8 points and 6.1 rebounds in 24 games as a Sophomore.
Kaliah Neighbors
Kaliah
Neighbors
5'11" | PF
Evansville North | 2022
State
IN
, 2022, 5-11 PF, Evansville North H.S.
Kaliah is a really nice frontline prospect who added a real interior presence to an already solid Evansville North team. She averaged 11.5 points and 7.1 rebounds this season, and she was a double-double threat every single night. She has solid length, a strong frame, and she likes to play physical in and around the paint. Kaliah has good hands and can finish around the rim, but she also has a developing face-up game and can knock down the mid-post jumper. As she continues to develop her game away from the basket, I think she’ll start seeing more and more interest.
Jordyn Payton, 2022, 5-7 SG, Pike H.S.
Jordyn is an intriguing guard prospect who saw a lot of opportunity for an inexperienced Red Devil squad, but she certainly made the most of her playing time. She is a fairly strong guard, a solid athlete in most directions, and she plays with a quiet toughness to her game. She can handle it a little, but she’s more of a shooter/scorer who you have to respect outside. She has a quick release, and though while a little streaky, she can really make shots in bunches. She shoots a solid percentage outside, but if she can make herself a little more consistent and tighten up the rest of her skillset, she should draw her share of elite small college interest down the road.
Kylie Reif, 2022, 5-6 SF, West Lafayette H.S.
After playing sparingly last season, Kylie stepped up in a big way for West Lafayette, averaging right at 10.0 points per game this season. She is strong, tough-nosed, physical, and she plays with a tremendous motor. She is more of a driver than a shooter, but she can consistently make shots in the mid-range. I also like her energy and versatility at the defensive end of the floor, as she’s willing to take on some bigger guards as well as smaller power forwards. I think she could become a really nice “culture” or “glue” kid at the small college level.
Alaina Thorne
Alaina
Thorne
6'0" | PF
Washington | 2022
State
IN
, 2022, 5-11 PF, Washington H.S.
Alaina is a kid who needed to get stronger, still does a little, but the difference in strength for her from year-one to year-two saw her average nearly three times as many points, jumping from 5.4 points per game as a Freshman to 15.6 points per game as a Sophomore. She is extremely long and wiry, fluid and athletic, plus she plays with an outstanding motor. She is a really nice mid-post forward who pursues rebounds, blocks the occasional shot, and she can post a little when necessary. Defensively, she can defend the perimeter some, but her recruiting will be dependent on her ability to develop her offensive skill outside.