Stock-Risers: 2021 Front-Liners

A couple of weeks ago we released our Winter rankings update for the Class of 2021. Since it came just after the midpoint of the 2020-2021 high school season, I felt like it was a great opportunity to highlight five young ladies who have either played well following our September update, or who have put together tremendous Senior seasons. Below are five power forwards and posts, all still uncommitted to the best of our knowledge, who are quickly gaining the respect of their teammates and opponents as the season turns toward the home stretch. &nbsp; <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="130364" first="Francisca" last="Galicia"], 2021, 6-4 C, South Bend Washington H.S.</strong></span> The Panthers have seen Francisca’s growth over these past couple of seasons, and they are thrilled with her ability to contribute regularly this season. Having never really played basketball, she stepped into the game just a couple of years ago. The development process hasn’t been easy, and there are still plenty of areas where she can improve, but she has picked up quite a bit in a short period of time that now she’s able to effectively help a talent-rich team in most games, especially at the defensive end of the floor (<em>5.0r, 2.5b</em>). Her size alone has drawn college interest, and she’s shooting 54% from the field this season (<em>as opposed to 35% last year</em>), plus she has made a couple of 3-pointers. <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="99389" first="Natalie" last="Howard"], 2021, 6-0 PF, Ben Davis H.S.</strong></span> I first saw Natalie during the Summer of 2019, and her talent was intriguing. She is a wiry strong, long, and athletic front-liner, but at that time she was still a little raw skillfully. Last Winter she started to turn the proverbial corner, as she averaged 9.7 points and 5.5 rebounds per game for the Giants, but this season she has taken that to another level. She is leading the 13-6 Giants in scoring at 13.9 points per game, and she’s the only player on the team averaging double-figures against what figures to be one of the Top-10 schedules in the state. Her talent and consistent development should garner a lot more college interest, as she’s one of the better uncommitted front-liners left in 2021. <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="130363" first="Remi" last="Jordan"], 2021, 6-0 PF/C, Knox H.S.</strong></span> Remi is a four-year Varsity starter, and her individual contributions have improved each year. She has been the team’s best player over the last couple of seasons, and she has helped them to an 87-16 record over her four years. She has a solid frame, some length, and she has really good touch facing the basket to about 17-feet. Each time I’ve seen her, I’ve actually felt like she prefers to play in the mid-post and short-corners, looking to shoot over defenders or attack one dribble to the basket. Defensively, she rebounds it consistently, plus she is a shot-blocking presence. On the season, Remi is averaging 16.3 points, 10.0 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 2.4 steals, and 2.8 blocked shots per game. <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="130368" first="Amaya" last="Thomas"], 2021, 5-11 PF/C, Evansville Central H.S.</strong></span> The Central Bears have struggled throughout Amaya’s career, winning just 17 games over the last three seasons. But Amaya is the least of their worries, as she is a constant producer, playing with a great motor each and every night. She is strong, physical, and deceptively athletic. She likes to play with contact, and she is a workhorse in and around the paint. This season, she is averaging 16.9 points and 9.4 rebounds per game, but she is also averaging a career-best 2.4 assists per game. Amaya will need to expand her range a little for the next level, but she could be a real steal for small colleges looking for interior players. She is currently sitting at 1023 career points and 659 career rebounds. <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="130345" first="Chloee" last="Thomas"], 2021, 6-1 C, Frankton H.S.</strong></span> Chloee is one of the better uncommitted posts in the 2021 class, and if she were to choose basketball in college, I think she could be a tremendous small college player. She has a strong frame, she can play through contact with her back to the basket, plus she is much more athletic than you might assume based on appearance. She plays with a great motor, she runs the floor hard North/South, and she’s an active rebounder. I feel like she has really improved her touch and skillset over the last year, and I think she could definitely end up being a full-scholarship kid somewhere. I also like her ability to sit in a stance and defend the perimeter when necessary, especially hedging ball-screens.