Top Small Forwards in Class of 2022: Part I

In an era of positionless basketball, we have a talented group of small forwards that all have different skill sets that set them a part from each other. These players have helped their respective teams to above-.500 records, and some led their squads on deep runs in the playoffs. Lets take a look at these very talented players.   [player_tooltip player_id="95169" first="Taylor" last="Ray"] (Highlands Ranch) Standing at 5-foot-11, Ray has great length for her size and gets her hands on a lot of blocks.  She averaged 2.2 blocks per game, hitting her season high in blocks with 11 against Regis Jesuit. To go along with her ability to make it tough to score inside, she averaged 13.4 points per game, 5.9 rebounds per game, 2.5 steals per game, and 2.0 assist per game. Ray does well running the floor, and is an able shooter.  She lead her team in 3-point percentage this past winter, shooting 37 for 105 (35 percent) from long range.   [player_tooltip player_id="95172" first="Gracie" last="Gallegos"] (Mullen) [caption id="attachment_141992" align="alignright" width="182"] [player_tooltip player_id="95172" first="Gracie" last="Gallegos"][/caption] Gallegos is a player that plays like a guard at 6 feet tall, and can create plays off the dribble. She is a player that you can put in any position on the floor, and Gallegos averaged 10.2 point and 3.5 rebounds. On a team that loves to get the ball up the floor, and stretch you out by knocking down 3’s, Gallegos is one of the team’s top shooters on the floor. She went 42 for 108 (39 percent) from behind the arc in 2019-20, and 99 for 230 (43 percent) from the field. As she continues to improve her ball-handling skills, she will continue to be a tough guard.   [player_tooltip player_id="117679" first="Marya" last="Hudgins"] (Grandview) [caption id="attachment_144338" align="alignright" width="150"] [player_tooltip player_id="117679" first="Marya" last="Hudgins"][/caption]A transfer from Georgia, Hudgins fit right in on Grandview’s roster, averaging 10.1 points, 4.7 rebounds, two assists and 1.4 steals per game. She is a player with a high motor that can do it all on both ends. Hudgins is also a clutch player, and can knock down open and contested shots, going shooting 107 for 241 (44 percent) from the field. Hudgins is also the team’s best 3-point shooter, making 40 percent (33 for 82) of her distance attempts in 2019-20 and went a season-best 5 for 6 from behind the arc in her last game against Valor Christian.   [player_tooltip player_id="117697" first="Jessica" last="Bollwahn"] (Columbine) [caption id="attachment_149135" align="alignleft" width="150"] [player_tooltip player_id="117697" first="Jessica" last="Bollwahn"][/caption]On a team that will be losing seven seniors, Bollwahn led her team in points and rebounds.  She averaged 15.1 points per game shooting the ball 149-318 (47 percent) from the field.  Bollwahn is one the most efficient players in her class, and shows the ability to knocked down shots from outside shooting 27-76 (36 percent).  She can put the ball on the floor and get to the rim.  To go along with her ability to score she averaged 8.0 rebounds, and 2.0 steals per game.   [player_tooltip player_id="95180" first="Gabby" last="Louther"] (Pueblo West) [caption id="attachment_135527" align="alignright" width="201"] [player_tooltip player_id="95180" first="Gabby" last="Louther"][/caption] Playing on a team with one of the best players in the state in class of 2020, [player_tooltip player_id="95017" first="Hannah" last="Simental"], Louther was the second leader on her team in points with 7.5 points per game. She also averaged 5.6 rebounds per game, making her the Cyclones’ top rebounder on top of averaging 2.5 assists and 2.3 steals a night. Putting up a season high in points with 18 against Pueblo Centennial on 7-for-10 shooting from the field, the 5-foot-11 Louther is a willing defender who does well moving her feet.