Top Newcomers to the 2021 Rankings
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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. No Boundaries Athletics and Wichita West…
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Continue ReadingThe 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.
Takia Profit Takia Profit 5'8" | PG Wichita West | 2021 State KS , 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.
Taria Franklin Taria Franklin 6'0" | PF Wichita Northwest | 2021 State KS , 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.
Lauren Gleason Lauren Gleason 5'9" | SG Dodge City | 2021 State KS , 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.
Maci Claycamp Maci Claycamp 5'11" | PF Circle | 2021 State KS , 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.
Alicia Solis Alicia Solis 5'9" | PF Dodge City | 2021 State KS , 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.
Nicole Szadkowska Nicole Szadkowska SG Wichita Independent | 2021 State KS , 5’7″, CG, Independent, Next 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.
Makayla Popovich
Makayla
Popovich
5'6" | SG
Spring Hill | 2021
State
KS
, 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.
Catherine Bowman
Catherine
Bowman
5'5" | SG
Bucklin | 2021
State
KS
, 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.
Peyton Peterson
Peyton
Peterson
5'5" | PG
Stanton County | 2021
State
KS
, 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.
Marcy Hamel
Marcy
Hamel
5'8" | SF
Norton | 2021
State
KS
, 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.