Class of 2023–Wings & Slashers: Stock Risers
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The roller coaster ride continues of going up, down, in the air, upside down, and through the tunnel of players’ talents, skill sets, and abilities of…
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Continue ReadingThe roller coaster ride continues of going up, down, in the air, upside down, and through the tunnel of players’ talents, skill sets, and abilities of all graduation years and positions; as well as AAU grassroots programs. Just when we think we’ve hit our stopping point of fun and games; we realize that there is a lot more excitement in the journey that awaits us. Many players and teams have been covered at this present time of May 12th, 2021; however, the destination is still far away and the anticipation and elation of these Iowa studs will carry on. The enormous amount of talent we are producing in the state of Iowa is truly amazing, and there is no question that I get pure pleasure from covering these basketball players. I love seeing their skills and ability, but I also love seeing their ambition and willingness to win at all costs. We are now going to take a good look at five wings on the perimeter that have the ability to be pivotal and high-level players at the collegiate level. All of them can score at will, are very versatile, and have the knack to make things happen on both ends of the floor each possession. Let’s take a look at these five “junior to be” players and see why their joy and pleasure at the amusement park also carries over to the basketball court; and what exactly makes them players that have the potential to rack up the scoreboard, show out each game, and make themselves known to college coaches of all levels. Let’s turn on the jets and get this going now with some in-depth information of why each of these kids do what they do best; which is; ball out, and ball out with passion, desire, and a competitive drive to come out on top.
- Brooklin Dailey Brooklin Dailey 5'8" | SF Southeast Polk | 2023 State IA , 5’8, W, Southeast Polk, 2023
–Brooklin is a kid that has the ball in her hands to run the show and create an opportunity at the end of a close game, and there is no doubt about that. Her leadership and relaxed demanour stood out to me instantly, as she plays with a sense of calmness; while still being a dominant and aggressive player. She is surely a go-to player when a bucket is needed. She can drive to the basket and finish with both hands; with or without contact. She spices things up a little bit with various finishes at the rim, specifically noting her spin move and floater in the lane. She is an outstanding 3-point shooter, and has a good stroke. She can also take it off the bounce and pull up on a dime with a pure mid-range jumper. A great ball handler and passer too. Her tenacity on the defensive end is just as good, and she can steal and rebound the ball as well. A talented player that has the talent to pile up the scoreboard, her 10 point scoring average this recent HS season is just half of what she has the capability of doing. These next two seasons, you will see her raising that average tremendously and becoming a huge, well-known high scoring player in the CIML and around the state. She will be tag teaming it up cruising around to many prestigious events this summer with fellow guard Arianna Jackson Arianna Jackson 5'9" | PG Roosevelt | 2023 State IA , who is an ISU signee. Brooklin could achieve the same aspirations when discussing her potential of playing at a high level. Expect her to be a hungry baller this 2021 AAU summer season with the All Iowa Attack team. Enjoy!
2. Carlee Rochford Carlee Rochford 5'10" | PG New Hampton | 2023 State IA , 5’10, W, New Hampton, 2023
–Carlee is a kid that can put the ball in the hoop in a variety of ways and can be a main scoring threat at all times every game. She’s a lanky player, and has the length to do some tricky things on the court, as her athletic ability is outstanding. With her athleticism, she can finish at the rim with ease by utilizing both hands. Her stroke is tremendous, and she can shoot the 3 ball consistently. She plays both ends of the floor with the same effort, and can cause disruption on the defensive end with her athletic ability and size. She is definitely a kid that has great upside and has the skills to do it. I believe she can become a lethal player on the perimeter who can put up big numbers and expand her overall game. She did put up 15 a game this recent HS season, and I think that can and will definitely go up higher these next two seasons. Expect her to cause some damage this 2021 AAU summer season with the CY Select team. Enjoy!
3. Lydia Olejniczak Lydia Olejniczak 5'8" | SF Perry | 2023 State IA , 5’8, W, Perry, 2023
–Lydia is a kid that has the body of a true wing. Her height frame is listed at 5’8, however, I think she is a little taller. With her wing span, she can cause a lot of havoc on both ends of the floor. As an offensive player, she is very good at putting the ball in the net. She can score in many ways; and can beat you with the 3 ball, with the drive, or off the bounce. She has a great shot, and can step beyond the 3-point line displaying some range. She can get to the rim and finish some tricky drives with both hands. I like her ability to shoot off the dribble as well; as this is a key skill for all guards and wings, and will make you a more dangerous overall player. Her athleticism is good, and she can tally up the rebounds. What also caught my eye was her movement without the basketball. This is another critical dimension of the game that can make you a more lethal offensive player. Think of Steph Curry. This maniac runs roughly 2.5 miles per game to get himself open while being hounded by opponents, and still is putting up 31 a game. That is unbelievable. Lydia does a great job of moving continuously and finding ways to get easy buckets. At 13 points per game this recent HS season, she could elevate that average tremendously in these next two upcoming seasons. Expect her to turn some heads this 2021 AAU summer season with the Lady Pure Prep team. Enjoy!
4. Ellary Knock Ellary Knock 6'0" | SF Dike-New Hartford | 2023 State IA , 6’0, W, Dike-New Hartford, 2023
–Ellary is a kid with potential to be a special player on the perimeter, or even down low as a big. I love her size and she has a great wingspan. She is a prolific presence on both ends of the floor, and can cause significant havoc as well. Her 3-point shooting capability is tremendous, and she has a nice shot with a wonderful stroke. She is an adept ball handler, and can take it the hole and finish at the rim with both hands. On the defensive end, she is a force on the boards and can block many shots. She has good athletic ability, so this surely comes in handy as both sides of the floor. She racked up a solid 11 points per game this recent HS season, and we will see this average drastically move up the ladder these next two seasons. Expect her to come out with a bang this 2021 AAU summer season with the Iowa Prep team. Enjoy!
5. Nicole Storck Nicole Storck 5'9" | PF ADM Adel | 2023 State IA , 5’9, W, ADM-Adel, 2023
–Nicole is another kid with great size that is very versatile in the sense that she can be a great player out on the wing, but can also find herself inside as a post player being a weapon down there. In my book, she is a little taller than 5’9, and with her length and size; she can be a big threat down low. I like her fluidness and athletic ability. She’s very smooth, and can score in several ways. She can shoot the 3 ball really well, and has a great shot. She can drive to the basket and finish with both hands. She has some clever post moves up her sleeve, and utilizes them on a consistent basis; while also mixing them up. She uses her wingspan to her advantage to get tons of rebounds and to block shots. She is definitely a serious threat for opposing guards driving to the rim, as she gets her long arms on just about everything. I like her game, and I believe she can become an elite overall player in upcoming months. She put up 11 points per game this recent HS season as a sophomore, and I know she will be moving that average up enormously these next two seasons. Expect her to be a standout player this 2021 AAU summer season with the CY Select team. Enjoy!