2022 Rankings Overview: Top 5 Analysis
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With the rankings released for the Class of 2022, I wanted to break down the top 5 players in the class and explain the criteria behind how I rank these talented athletes. Considering the next ranking update is in June,…
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Continue ReadingWith the rankings released for the Class of 2022, I wanted to break down the top 5 players in the class and explain the criteria behind how I rank these talented athletes. Considering the next ranking update is in June, there is plenty of time to see more players in person and rank accordingly as we head into the spring season. Here are some of the factors I emphasize that go into my ranking process:
- Can the player impact both sides of the floor at a high level?
- Is the player transcendent in a skill that is a driving force in their respective team’s success?
- Does the player show versatility on both sides of the floor?
- Hypothetically, if the player is the team’s focal point, does their talent, skill set, and intangibles translate to a team winning at a high level?
- For consistency purposes, all players are graded on the same scale. My rankings are not influenced by other rating outlets. They are solely based on my eyes and personal analysis. With the next update in June, I will continue to get out to watch the players, dissect their film and bring the rankings up to date.
Here is a look at the top 5 from the Class of 2022:
#5: Emily Greenwood Emily Greenwood 6'0" | SF New Hampton | 2022 State New E – New Hampton/Rivals – 6’0’’ – SG/SF/PG
Greenwood is a complete player who can play multiple positions effortlessly. What raised Greenwood’s stock, in my opinion, is her activity on defense inside and on the perimeter. She has good size and athleticism where she can cause chaos in the passing lanes, leading to her smart playmaking ability in transition. Besides being a versatile defender, Greenwood is a lethal shooter who can play off the ball and stretch the floor. Greenwood is a skilled three-level scorer who can get her shot off against any defense. She has even shown the ability to score efficiently in the post, which adds to her offensive potency. Her high IQ and ball movement in the half-court make her a reliable playmaker, and at 6’0’’, she has the size and length to control the game on both sides of the floor.
#4: Carys Baker Carys Baker 6'1" | SF Loomis Chaffee | 2023 State New E – Loomis Chafee/Exodus EYBL – 6’1’’ – SG/SF
Baker is one of the most dangerous scoring wings in the region, largely due to her 6’1’’ athletic frame and unreal wingspan. She has one of the sweetest lefty strokes, and she is so comfortable shooting over the top of defenses, making it look easy. It is hard to find a player who scores so easily at all three levels than Baker. She picks apart zones with her spot-up shooting, and when defended one-on-one on the wing, her quick first step and long strides get her to the basket at will. A tremendous player in the high post, Baker, catches the ball and is unselfish enough to identify cutters and rope passes to them for lay-ups, rise up for a jumper or take the ball to the hole. She is a deadly scorer who knows how to use her physical gifts to be unstoppable on offense. Her length, agility, and quickness give her the make-up of a great defender who can make her opponent’s lives miserable, especially when she is one pass away on the perimeter denying passing lanes.
#3: Taina Mair Taina Mair 5'8" | PG Brooks | 2022 State New E – Brooks/Rivals – 5’9’’ – PG
Mair is a no-brainer for the best floor general in New England. Her ball-handling and shot creation are elite, and she has a long track record of scorching some of the best team defenses in the region with her offensive brilliance. She has one of the most jaw-dropping snatch-back crossovers I have seen, which leads to an easy jump shot off the bounce. Mair plays with aggression, and her energy level is sky high which adds another dimension to her game. She is a blur and one of the most innovative players in transition, always dazzling with her playmaking or finishes. You can run Mair off screens, and she can extend her range out to the three-point line; she also has great court vision, always recognizing the open player when the defense collapses on her. A tenacious defender, Mair does not have many holes in her game and will be in the conversation for the best player in the region for this year and next.
#2: Morgan Lee Morgan Lee 6'5" | PF Kent | 2022 State New E – Kent School/Hoopers NY – 6’4’’ – PF
Lee is as dominant a two-way player as you will find. She is impossible to defend one-on-one in the post, and unlike many bigs, she can beat you from the outside with her three-point shot. She shows good footwork not just on the block in the post but also when facing up in the mid-range area. She can go to a dribble, pull up, spin move, and can score with both hands well. An absolute force on defense, Lee is an intimidating presence who roams the paint and has excellent help-side defense instincts. She can cover a lot of ground in a short amount of time to get back in the play and swat or alter shots repeatedly. She single handily can own the paint and change a team’s gameplan because of how difficult Lee makes it to score inside. Lee is the rare two-way big who has size, strength, agility, and inside-out scoring.
#1: Shay Bollin Shay Bollin 6'3" | SF Bridgewater-Raynham | 2022 State #26 Nation New E – Bridgewater Raynham/Bay State Jaguars – 6’3’’ SF/PF
There are players on this list that are bigger than Bollin and more athletic but what separates the 6’3’’ combo forward from everyone else is that she is one of the best passers I have seen from any class at any position. Bollin is a gifted shooter and scorer, but her ability to make her teammates better is second to none. In my opinion, there is no skill more vital to team success than a player who is willing to create scoring opportunities for others. Bollin can score whenever she wants, whether she is in the post or out on the wing. can run your offense through her every possession and she can make a play in various ways that enhance the team’s potency. Bollin is one of those players whose style of play makes other girls want to play with her. If you play with Bollin, you will be a significant piece to the offense, and no matter who is on the court with her, Bollin can maximize the talent.