PGH Nebraska Top 250 Expo: Top Wings

Ciara Eastmo

October 18, 2020 @ 10:07 PM

The position of “wing” is one of the most diverse on the court. It often describes players who have the skill set to do a lot of different things - they step out and shoot the three, they can post up in the lane, they can create opportunities for themselves and their teammates. There is not one mold for what a wing looks like, which makes it one of the most fun positions to scout. The Nebraska Top 250 Expo provided the opportunity to watch many different types of wing players, and their diverse skill sets did not disappoint. J’Unti Franklin | Lincoln High School | 5’7 Junior Franklin could truly play any position on the floor. She is explosive and athletic and was a nightmare for every defense at the Expo. She proved that she can be a pure scorer if need be, stepping out and knocking down threes whenever a defender failed to contest her shot. Franklin also proved that she can score dynamically at the rim, and if the help collapsed, she would find her teammates. J’Unti was a creator, and playing at the wing position allowed her the opportunity to create for her teammates often. She also brought a level of intensity and aggression on the defensive end that was a strong disruption to the offense. [player_tooltip player_id="174467" first="Freddie" last="Wallace"] | Lincoln Southwest High School | 5’11 Junior Wallace is the ideal player to put at the wing position. She has the ability to push the ball in transition and make good decisions, step out to the three-point-line and knock down shots, and handle the ball. These are all the marks of a solid guard; however, she is also able to go inside and post up strong. Wallace’s size and physicality allow her to hold her own in the paint, and her speed and skill allow her to step out to the wing. She is a matchup nightmare for any defense she might face. And regardless of who is defending her, she is able to out-jump and out-rebound just about anyone. [player_tooltip player_id="94546" first="Aaniya" last="Webb"] | Omaha Central High School | 6’0 Junior Webb is a great wing player, first and foremost because her shot has no limits. Standing three to four feet behind the three-point-line is not a deterrent to Webb pulling the trigger on her shot - and usually making it. Putting that kind of scoring threat on the wing will change the game plan of any defense. Webb also has the size to step into the lane and post up, which is a rare skill to combine with knock-down shooting ability. Lastly, she is long and active on defense, and is skilled at anticipating where the ball is going to be. This leads her to many rebounds, steals, and tipped passes. [player_tooltip player_id="174483" first="Abby" last="Boyes"] | Bennington High School | 5’10 Junior Boyes is a tough guard who plays strong. She showed that she was willing to go down low and post up, finishing strong in the paint. She also demonstrated an impressive shooting ability from the three-point-line, showing consistent range throughout the course of the Expo. Boyes also created for her team, did not make a lot of mistakes, and was an all-around solid asset at the wing position. She showed that she really has the ability to do a little bit of everything and can play anywhere on the floor. Yelaniya Bradley | Lincoln High School | 5’5 Freshman Bradley is a skilled player at the wing position for a number of reasons. Her mid-range game is truly a rarity in basketball at any level. She is constantly hunting scoring opportunities or herself and her teammates, and her ball-handling ability is impressive. At the wing position, Bradley poses a scoring threat every time she touches the ball. Even though her defenders often outmatched her in size, Bradley found creative ways to get into the lane and score the ball. She is a player that is only going to continue to get stronger and more dynamic in the coming years.