Top Newcomers to the 2021 Rankings

The number of ranked 2021 players in the August release has swelled to 233. That is an increase of 48 players from the March update. Enjoy a look at the top ten debuting players. [caption id="attachment_186831" align="alignleft" width="149"]<img class=" wp-image-186831" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2020/07/Takia-Profit-2021-No-Boundaries-Athletics-Wichita-West-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="149" height="98" /> No Boundaries Athletics and Wichita West 2021 [player_tooltip player_id="185818" first="Takia" last="Profit"]. Photo by Robert Kelly.[/caption][player_tooltip player_id="185818" first="Takia" last="Profit"], 5'8", G/F, Wichita West, No Boundaries Athletics - The solidly built Profit enters the rankings at #57. Strong and fast with handles to navigate quickly in traffic, she is able to create opportunities to score off the bounce and hit the mid-range jumper off a strong jab step. On the finish she has a good ability to freeze an opponent by showing the ball. A 2020 Greater Wichita League honorable mention selection, where I would like to see improvement is in her defensive quickness on the perimeter and aggressiveness fighting through ball screens and disrupting shooters on exchanges. [caption id="attachment_195076" align="alignright" width="149"]<img class=" wp-image-195076" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2020/08/Taria-Franklin-Wichita-NW-296x300.jpg" alt="" width="149" height="151" /> Wichita Northwest and No Boundaries Athletics 2021 PF [player_tooltip player_id="158594" first="Taria" last="Franklin"]. Photo by Robert Kelly.[/caption][player_tooltip player_id="158594" first="Taria" last="Franklin"], 6'0", PF, Wichita Northwest, No Boundaries Athletics - At #79 Franklin is arguably the most improved player I saw. After initially seeing her play at the Mid America Classic earlier this year, her game has grown substantially on both ends of the floor. While she is a little jumpy on interior defense, she rebounds athletically; boxes on shots; and uses her size and strength effectively to keep opposing posts from setting up. Franklin runs well and is quick enough to play on the top of zones to disrupt guard play. She also has great hands and goes up quickly on entry passes off the catch. A 2020 Greater Wichita League honorable mention, she is also a strong free throw shooter. [caption id="attachment_186836" align="alignleft" width="150"]<img class=" wp-image-186836" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2020/07/Lauren-Gleason-2021-Dodge-City-295x300.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="153" /> Dodge City and Western Kansas Elite 2021 [player_tooltip player_id="185819" first="Lauren" last="Gleason"]. Photo by Robert Kelly.[/caption][player_tooltip player_id="185819" first="Lauren" last="Gleason"], 5'9", SG, Dodge City, Western Kansas Elite 2021 - Gleason was the Demons' starting point guard this past season and comes in at #137. She runs the break well with her head up, makes solid interior passes off the bounce, finishes with both hands, and has a quick three point shot. She did have some struggles this summer defending quicker guards. This past season she averaged 3.7 assists and had just over a 2 to 1 assists to turnover ration. [player_tooltip player_id="185820" first="Maci" last="Claycamp"], 5'11", PF, Circle - The Ark Valley Chisholm Trail League Division III second teamer enters at #170. A stretch four possibility at the next level, Claycamp can take the ball the length of the floor off the rebound with speed, can finish and block shots with either hand, and has good hands. She is also a solid interior passer off the high-low game. [player_tooltip player_id="186680" first="Alicia" last="Solis"], 5'9", PF, Dodge City - Solis is another vastly improved athlete. Coming in at #173, she is fast, strong, and an offensive threat with three point range. She can go end-to-end off the rebound and finish with speed and athleticism. A physically strong defender. [player_tooltip player_id="186607" first="Nicole" last="Szadkowska"], 5'7", CG, Independent, [program_tooltip program_id='716118' first='Next' last='Level Eclipse'] 17U Henry - Szadkowska enters the rankings at #187. The Central Plains League honorable mention averaged 9 points and 3 rebounds this past season. She also shot 28% from behind the arc with 37 makes. At the June MAYB Summer Kickoff Szadkowska played hard on both ends, showed good speed, and was a credible three point shooter. [caption id="attachment_195216" align="alignleft" width="154"]<img class=" wp-image-195216" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2020/08/Makayla-Popovich-Clay-Center-Khaos-11th.12th-2021-272x300.jpg" alt="" width="154" height="170" /> Clay Center and Khaos 11.th/12th 2021 guard [player_tooltip player_id="186586" first="Makayla" last="Popovich"]. Photo by Robert Kelly.[/caption][player_tooltip player_id="186586" first="Makayla" last="Popovich"], 5'6", CG, Spring Hill, Khaos - Popovich joins the rankings at #188. At MAYB Summer Kickoff this strongly built guard showed speed with the ball in transition and an ability to finish on the break when challenged. [caption id="attachment_195217" align="alignright" width="151"]<img class=" wp-image-195217" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2020/08/Catherine-Bowman-Bucklin-Western-Kansas-Elite-2021-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="151" height="99" /> Bucklin and Western Kansas Elite 2021 guard [player_tooltip player_id="186590" first="Catherine" last="Bowman"]. Photo by Robert Kelly.[/caption][player_tooltip player_id="186590" first="Catherine" last="Bowman"], 5'6", SG, Bucklin, Western Kansas Elite 2021 - This Southern Plains-Iroquois League first teamer enters the rankings at #189. I was able to see Bowman play a couple of times this summer. While she is primarily a shooting guard, she has can run the point when needed. Bowman is fast, can get to the basket effectively, and can finish with athleticism. Being a threat on the perimeter sets that all up. She is a good, not great, three point shooter. What separates her is her ability to knock down the contested three. [caption id="attachment_195225" align="alignleft" width="151"]<img class=" wp-image-195225" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2020/08/Marcy-Hamel-Clay-Center-2021-v-Eudora-300x289.jpg" alt="" width="151" height="145" /> [player_tooltip player_id="186587" first="Marcy" last="Hamel"], left, boxes out on a Eudora free throw attempt late in their March 2020, class 4A, quarterfinal game. Photo by Robert Kelly[/caption][player_tooltip player_id="186591" first="Peyton" last="Peterson"], 5'5", G, Stanton County - This High Plains League second teamer comes in at #190. Her numbers show an ability to distribute efficiently. She averaged 5.3 points, 4.1 assists, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.4 steals with a 1.54 assists to turnovers ratio this past season. [player_tooltip player_id="186587" first="Marcy" last="Hamel"], 5'8", W, Clay Center - Hamel caught my notice in Clay Center's class 4A state quarterfinal victory. Entering the rankings at #191, what stood out was her ability to create her own shot off head and shoulder fakes. Using an inside spin move to score a left handed floater was also eye catching. Off the bounce she has a quick mid-range jumper. I will be looking for her perimeter game in the future as well as her defensive capabilities, but the athleticism to create and score around the basket are there.