Don’s 2021 Top Unranked Frontcourt Players
With the AAU season not yet underway and possibly not getting played at all there is a definite affect on the recruiting. Many of the kids that will end up at a D3/NAIA/JC don’t get recruited until the summer before…
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Continue ReadingWith the AAU season not yet underway and possibly not getting played at all there is a definite affect on the recruiting. Many of the kids that will end up at a D3/NAIA/JC don’t get recruited until the summer before their senior season. For the kids that would be a great fit at that level they are possibly being hurt by the lack of opportunity to showcase their game. So, in this article I will cover some 2021 kids that are not in our rankings but show the game to play at the next level. Many of these girls will be added to our rankings on the next version, but without the likely chance to evaluate them in AAU ball I wanted to get their names out early for the college coaches to have on their radar. These names are in no particular order.
- Emma Slagle is a 5’11 Forward from West Central. She has a ton of potential and I believe this would have been a huge year for Emma. She has guard potential but is not used that way in HS as much. Can hit the 3, good driving capabilities, and can finish at the basket. She has good speed at her height and with a little more strength could be a very very good player. Her aggressive play makes her tough. Averaged a double double last year as a junior.
- Tyana Lovelace is a 5’11 Post from O’Fallon. Tyana is a strong inside player that can finish with either hand. Her post moves are very good and she shows patience when she gets the ball, waiting to see her opening and then making her move. She shot almost 60% from the field, so once she gets the ball deep in the lane, she is going to score most of the time. Her drop step is very effective from either side of the lane because she can hold you off and finish with either hand.
- Melissa Schmidt is a 6’0 Forward from Plainfield Central. Melissa is long and works hard in the post. She does a good job of fighting for position and using her length/athletic ability. Melissa has some guard skills and some post skills. She is likely a stretch 4/5 and can play at the D2 level or with a top flight NAIA/D3. Whoever gets Melissa is getting a player that can defend and hit the 3 enough to be a threat.
- Madyson Hill is a 5’11 Forward from Vandalia. Madyson is a player that shows the ability to be a “Point Forward”. She has good ball skills and court sense that allows her to run the offense. She can post up smaller players with ease while maintaining the ability to beat a bigger defender off the bounce. She does a good job of using her height to see the floor and deliver passes to her teammates.
- Carsyn Todd is a 5’9 Forward from Salt Fork. Carsyn is a long range shooter that would be a potential great fit as a stretch 4 at a small school. She made it to the State Finals in the 3 point contest. Carsyn is working to improve her perimeter skills and that will ultimately determine if she can be a 3 or an undersized 4 with her length in her frame.
- Harper Buhs is a 5’8 Wing from Civic Memorial. Harper will be returning from an ACL injury that kept her out most of last year. Prior to injury she has shown the ability to score in a variety of ways and defend. Harper can get into the paint on offense and finish over taller players. Defensively she excels in the pressing run and jump system deployed by CM.
- Hannah Sontag is a 5’9 Wing from Civic Memorial. Hannah is coming off two ACL injuries that have sidelined her since December of her sophomore season. When she is healthy she is a pure scorer. She can slash to the basket as well as anyone on her team while also being one of the best 3-point shooters. Hannah has long arms which really helps her be an excellent defender. She also rebounds very well for a wing.
- Keaton Link is a 5’10 Wing from Gillespie. Keaton is a very good mid range shooter that can also score in the lane. She has long arms that she uses well on the defensive end of the floor. Keaton is a fundamentally sound player that plays with toughness and can shoot it both off the catch and the dribble.
- MIah Weems is a 5’9 Wing from Breese Central. Miah is a very strong and tough player. She can get going down hill on the drive and is tough to stop based on her strength. MIah has extensive experience on the varsity squad and has been a go to scorer. Her biggest threat is her ability to catch and shoot from behind the 3-point line.
- Korrie Hopkins is a 5’11 Forward from Piasa. Korrie is strong and athletic which allows her to be effective in the post despite being a little under sized. She shows solid footwork which allows her to use her moves and counters very well based on her read of the defense. Korrie has also been working to improve her ball handling and perimeter game.
- Chloe Harness is a 5’11 Forward from Salem. Chloe is a player that plays with heart and hustle. She has the ability to fight inside but is most effective playing with her face to the basket. She can play score off the bounce and will hit the outside shot if you give her room. Chloe fits as a 3/4 combo at a small school scoring and rebounding for her team.
- Khloe Damm is a 5’10 Wing from Illini Central. She has PG type skills with her ability to see the floor, her very quick first step and her ability to create. At 5’10 she is a matchup problem. Defensively she is a constant steal threat with her long Wing span and great speed on the and off the ball.
- Izzie Grimm is a 5’11 Post from Liberty. Izzie is a strong bodied post player. Under developed at this point but I believe her year in AAU ball would have been huge. She has good footwork and can finish. A few extra post moves will make her tough. Defensively she is tough to go through and does a good job around the rim.
- Nikya Harston is a 5’10 Forward from Hillsboro. Nikya is an excellent athlete that can really go get the ball on the boards. She uses her strength and post moves to score consistently in the paint. Nikya will run the floor and defend, often handling girls 2-3 inches taller than her. She has the potential to improve her perimeter game and be a good stretch 4 at a small school.
- Natalie Iberg is a 5’9 Wing from Greenville. Natalie is an extremely athletic wing that can run and jump. This allows her to be very effective in an open court game where she can defend and get to the rim. Natalie has an improved outside shot and ball handling skills that may eventually allow her to play anywhere from the 1-3.
There is plenty of talent in this group. There are some that are D2 players, some that may need JC to develop them game and opportunites and many others that are going to be a great fit for NAIA/D3. Take a look and keep an eye on them!