2022 Rankings: Under Appreciated Players
In this article we take a look at a few players that I believe are under valued by college recruiters right now. I do understand that for 2022 players it is still early in the process, but I feel these…
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Continue ReadingIn this article we take a look at a few players that I believe are under valued by college recruiters right now. I do understand that for 2022 players it is still early in the process, but I feel these ladies are being left out so far and should be coveted. There are varying reasons why they might be left out, too short, too skinny, too this and too that. Watch them play, they produce and they are all hard workers. Here you go:
Laila Barakat Laila Barakat 5'6" | PG Stagg | 2022 State IL is a 5’6 Combo Guard from Stagg High School and Chicago Hoops Express. Laila is a lead guard that can also score. She handles the ball well and does a great job of changing direction and using her eyes and body to make the defender think is going to shoot. Laila is nasty when she raises her upper body and eyes as if the jump shot is coming and then she will cross over and blow by her defender. She has two offensive skills that will translate very well to the next level. First, she has good range and a nice repeatable stroke from behind the arc and second when she does drive she is very good at releasing her shot 5-8 feet from the rim before the shot blockers can get to her. Laila is not “ideal” height for college ball but her skill is ideal, don’t miss out.
Maya Osborn Maya Osborn 5'5" | CG Marshall | 2022 State IL is a 5’5 Combo Guard from Marshall and the Heart of Illinois club team. Maya gets consistent feedback from trainers and scouts that say the same things over and over. She is smart, she can shoot, she is very tough competitor and she is a leader. Now, we all know if you said that about a 5’10 guard then colleges would be all over her. Well, at 5’5 she is still a special player. Maya has become a deadly 3-point shooter that can hit from a step behind the line with no problems. She has improved her game off the bounce as defenders now have to shadow her out to 22 feet or more. She is a willing passer and is more than happy to watch her teammates reap the benefits of a defense that shades towards her too much. Give this girl a look, you won’t be disappointed.
Anna Blank Anna Blank 6'0" | CG Olney | 2022 State IL is a 6’0 Point Guard from Richland County and the Indiana Elite Havoc. Anna has D1 offers, but I honestly feel like she is under appreciated. I have seen her called a point forward and a combo guard. I have seen her try to change her game a bit to score more. She can score, so that is not an issue, but I am surprised that coaches cannot see how lethal she is with the ball in her hands. Anna is an excellent quarterback and sees the floor very well. A point guard that is 6 ft and strong can control the tempo and handle pressure which allows her teammates to play their game and score. If you want proof look no further than the 2 wings on her AAU team that are getting D1 offers all the time. They are great players, but give their point guard some credit too.
Macy Silvey Macy Silvey 5'9" | CG Edwardsville | 2022 State IL is a 5’9 Guard from Edwardsville and Blue Star. Macy is a nice combo guard that has consistently shown the ability to hit open shots and play excellent team basketball. She is a very good spot up shooter as her 42% shooting from 3-point range in July will attest. But, to only talk about the shooting would be limiting Macy and her story. Macy makes very good reads with her passes so you can run many set plays through her and give her the chance to read what the defense is taking away and what is giving up. She will make the right call and deliver a pass in the right spot. Macy has come D1 and D2 interest but at this point is being slept on a little bit. I think she will be a great player for whichever team decides to pull the trigger and get her excited about their program.
Madyson Rigdon Madyson Rigdon 5'8" | CG Paris | 2022 State IL is a 5’8 Guard from Paris and Indiana Elite Havoc. Madyson is first and foremost an excellent defender. She can take the best player from the other team and make them miserable all night long. She is tough and long which translates well on the defensive end. When she runs to the other end of the floor Madyson is immediately in range as she can hit from deep. She does a good job of finishing with either hand in the lane. Madyson is more athletic than most coaches first realize. Many likely think she is bit thin but as I mentioned, she is tough as nails. She should be coveted by D2 schools looking for a tough defender that can also shoot it, 3 and D as has become the phrase.
Bella Dudley Bella Dudley 5'8" | CG Tri-County | 2022 State IL is a 5’9 Wing from Tri-County and Example Sports. Bella is a typical small town 1A player in many senses of the phrase. She is tough, she is used to playing inside at times and can do a little bit of everything that a team needs. Where she separates herself and starts to show her special talent is when she steps on the floor during AAU season. Bella runs with the Example Sports UAA team and it is a highly competitive and talented team. During this summer she continued to show that she is a not a “typical” 1A player that cannot play the game with girls from the big schools. Actually she showed everyone what a deadly shooter looks like. Bella made 8 threes in a game late in the AAU season and made All Star teams showing what she is capable of doing. She is another player that has D1 interest but when you combine her shooting ability with her strength and toughness then sprinkle an excellent student on top, more lower level D1 schools should be beating down her door.
Jillian Hamilton Jillian Hamilton 5'11" | SF Pana | 2022 State IL is a 5’11 Wing from Pana and Indiana Elite Havoc. Jillian may best be described as a raw athlete. She is fast and strong, country strong might be a phrase that would come to mind. Jillian is very much still in the middle of turning herself into a different player by improving her wing skills. She has played more in the post than on the wing in her career but you can see what she can do if she keeps improving. Jillian has a nice spot up shot but must continue to focus on ball handling and attacking off the bounce if she is going to max out her potential as a D1 player. For now she can score in the lane, runs the floor very well and can rebound. She is a player to watch and see how far she can take it.
Elle Evans Elle Evans 6'2" | SF Edwardsville | 2022 State IL is a 6’2 Wing from Edwardsville and Blue Star. Elle is a very long and thin wing that shows a variety of talents on the floor. Many had her pegged as a spot up shooter for much of her younger years. I have been impressed to see her expand her game and get more things done on the court. Because of her frame many look at her and do not see a competitor and do not see someone that can play a physical game. Don’t get me wrong, you will not likely see her pushing around bigger players in the post, but, what you will see is a kid that is not afraid and will use her length to her advantage. She does a good job of getting tips on the offensive boards to keep the ball alive. She does a good job of boxing out and being fundamental to make up for her current lack of strength. Maybe there are plenty of 6’2 wings that have a good basketball IQ and can knock down 5/6 from the three point line against a top opponent like the Philadelphia Belle’s, but I did not see them. Elle needs more attention from D1 schools and top D2 programs in my opinion.
The girls in this group can play. Again, I know it is still early for the 2022 class but this group is not getting the attention they deserve and frankly because of it I think it opens a window for the right schools to swoop in and take control and interest of some very skilled players. Good Luck girls, you deserve it and will make a college coach very happy one day.