7 Shooters to watch in the Class of 2022

There are plenty of snipers from deep in Arizona's high school basketball scene, so here we will narrow down some of the standouts in this regard. In today's game, shooting is at a premium and one of the most valuable commodities a player can offer from a schematic perspective offensively. The best way to measure shooters outside of the eye test is by scouring through the raw numbers and looking for the best combination of volume and efficiency. Along with that, some other positive (or negative) shooting indicators can be their free-throw percentage along with "touch" around the rim on floaters or mid-range jumpers. Having a quick release and providing counters towards whatever the defense throws at you is also very important when looking towards adjusting at the next level. Let's dive in. [player_tooltip player_id="214585" first="Charlotte" last="Kelmon"] (Notre Dame Prep, SG/SF) Charlotte is a 5'11" sharpshooter that led all juniors in Arizona in total three-pointers made last year for the Saints. She shot an absurd 52-for-126 from deep which was good for a 42% clip. The combination of efficiency and high volume shooting is one of the many reasons she is ranked as one of the top guard/wings <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/arizona/rankings/2022-rankings/">(22nd overall) in the state of Arizona</a>. She has a quick release and will make you pay if you give her any space. [player_tooltip player_id="137288" first="Gracelyn" last="Nez"] (Flagstaff, SG/SF) Nez, a 5'7" junior, shot the lights out for Flagstaff High School last year in 19 games played. She shot 40-for-108 from distance, which was good for an efficient 37% mark on a fairly high volume. Nez is a well-rounded scorer that shot a robust 57% on two-point field goals on the season. She eclipsed the 20-point mark in 8 of her 19 games played, displaying her microwave scoring ability. [player_tooltip player_id="114254" first="Lexi" last="McNabb"] (Seton Catholic, CG) McNabb helped lead Seton Catholic to a pristine 20-1 record as a junior last season. The 5'6" combo guard is far more than just a shooter, but she definitely belongs on this list. Lexi shot 35-for-91 (38%) from three-point range last season, including finishing the year off with a blistering 9-for-12 (75%) shooting stretch in her final 2 games. [player_tooltip player_id="36790" first="Jennah" last="Isai"] (Valley Vista, F) Isai is more than capable of belonging on this list, but the statistics available from her High School stats the past couple of years are very limited due to injury/limited games played due to COVID-19. She's proven herself on the Grassroots circuits and is a top 30 player in the country for a reason, as her pull-up shooting is advanced. Her height gives her the advantage of shooting over the top of defenders with ease whether it's off the bounce or in a catch-and-shoot situation. She is a true three-level scorer that should put up monster numbers during her senior season. <strong>Kaitlyn Reekie</strong> (Desert Ridge, F) Kaitlyn Reekie is a 5'10" forward that plays for Desert Ridge that had a very productive junior season from long distance. She shot 33-for-87 (38%) in 14 games. Reekie averaged 10.6 PPG, 3.1 RPG, and 1.4 SPG in 14 games played for the Jaguars. A breakout senior season should be on the way from the sweet-shooting forward. <strong>Samantha Thomas</strong> (Peoria, G) Thomas finished 2nd in total threes made amongst all qualified juniors. The 5'3" guard made 41 of her 122 attempted triples which was good for a 34% clip. Along with that, she shot 72% from the charity stripe which bodes well for her future shooting projection. <strong>Talia Estrada</strong> (Leading Edge Academy, G) Estrada was one of only 5 juniors to hit the threshold of 2.0+ three-pointers made per game while shooting 34% or better. The 5'3" junior led 11.9 points per game in 16 games played for the 19-3 Leading Edge Academy squad. Not only is she a frequent shooter from deep, but she also averaged 5.1 assists per game, which makes her a dangerous offensive threat. If the defense overcommits she will make the right pass. Talia also finished 19th among juniors in steals per game (3.8) <h3><strong>Honorable Mentions</strong></h3> [player_tooltip player_id="214588" first="Nicole" last="Evenson"] (Gilbert, G/F) Evenson is one of the best all-around guard/wings in the state of Arizona and shot at a very high volume last season, totaling the 4th most 3's made (among juniors) tied with [player_tooltip player_id="259209" first="Brooklyn" last="Pablo"] (listed below) but due to the shooting percentage sitting at 30 she fell to the honorable mentions section and just missed the cut. Expect a big senior season from the Gilbert guard/wing. [player_tooltip player_id="259209" first="Brooklyn" last="Pablo"] (Coolidge, G/W) Pablo's numbers were nearly identical to [player_tooltip player_id="214588" first="Nicole" last="Evenson"]'s above, and for the same reason they each <em>just</em> missed the cut. Pablo is a versatile player that brings far more to the table than just shooting, as she posted 15.8 PPG, 11.2 RPG, 5.1 BPG, and 2.3 SPG in 16 games for the Bears last season. Like Evenson, expect a huge season from the dynamic guard/wing.