Summer Half Way Point : 2022s Who Have Raised Their Stock
As players reach the half-way point of the summer club ball season now is a good time to take a breather and share info on players who have raised their game heading into their senior season of high school…and into the next rankings refresh. Many others are generating attention but the ten below have stood out the most with the growth in their game.
Lily Boughfman Lily Boughfman 6'1" | PF Little River | 2022 State KS , 6’2″, C, Little River, KS Dream Team SW – Right away, at April’s MAYB’s Hall of Fame National Showcase, observing coaches loved her strong, solid build; ability to change ends well; and her competitiveness on both ends. She is box-out minded, posts strongly, uses her hips to create space, and moves well to get inside position.
AmUnique Cavitt
AmUnique
Cavitt
5'5" | PG
Wichita North | 2022
State
KS
, 5’7″, PG, Wichita North, Dynasty 17U Black – It is a good sign when players catch the attention of scouts when they are playing outside their home territory. Prep Girls Hoops scout Simmie Colson caught Cavitt in Oklahoma at the first stop of the PGH Dynasty Circuit. At April’s Battle in the Big Friendly, Colson said “was a pleasant surprise as she showed she could score, mid to long-range, take defenders with ease to finish, and also do those things down the stretch…” This summer she has shown good transition handles and speed, lead the break with her head up; finish athletically, and to hit the three-ball with range.
Aleksandra Duda Aleksandra Duda 6'4" | C Life Prep | 2022 State KS , 6’4″, C, Life Prep, Next Level Eclipse 2022 Life – At the Wichita Prep Girls Hoops Circuit stop, the Battle in the Sunflower, Duda exploded on second day – leaving nothing left in the tool box. Her play earned her event 17U first team honors. She ran the floor well, showed athleticism in unexpected spots, had terrific shot selection and scoring ability around the basket, and the ability to hit a variety of mid-range jumpers with a quick release.
Layla Harjo
Layla
Harjo
5'4" | CG
Lawrence | 2022
State
KS
, 5’7″, CG, Lawrence, KC Royalty 2022 – At PGH’s circuit stop in Lawrence in April, the PGH Dynasty Classic, Harjo earned event 17U honorable mention honors. She showed terrific athleticism and finishing ability around the basket, including hitting a pair of circus shots, good three throw shooting, and toughness to step in and draw the charge.
Jada Hopson Jada Hopson 5'8" | SG Derby | 2022 State KS , 5’8″, SG, Derby, Dynasty 17U Black – The solidly built Hopson showed good transition speed, quick hops off the catch around the basket, a fairly quick release on perimeter shots; and the ability to score the challenged three.
Bree Horyna Bree Horyna 5'9" | SF Liberal | 2022 State KS , 5’9″, SF/PF, Liberal, SSA Gameball 17U – Horyna is having a monster summer. A high IQ, hustling, strong presence she commonly battles taller and bigger post players, giving them fits on both ends of the floor. An able scorer on both sides of the basket with either hand, she has given defenders nightmares around the high post area because she also can hit the mid-range J and the perimeter three – especially off the catch. Off the bounce she also has good interior vision and passing ability to reward weak side and back-door cutters.
Charlotte O’Keefe
Charlotte
O’Keefe
6'3" | PF
St. Thomas Aquinas | 2022
State
KS
, 6’2″, C/PF, St. Thomas Aquinas, KC Lady Run GMC UAA – I was fortunate to get an extended look at the Aquinas center at Lawrence PGH Circuit stop in April, the Dynasty Classic. Having a long, athletic build she showed substantial versatility and potential. O’Keefe defended solidly, was adept at altering shots without fouling, showed handles to clear rebounds well and occasionally attack off the bounce, and hit the mid-range J with consistency. I really liked her solid north-south speed and hustle as well. It was a stock-raising event for her and her play earned her 17U event second team honors.
Elizabeth Webb
Elizabeth
Webb
5'11" | PF
Olathe South | 2022
State
KS
, 5’11”, PF, Olathe South, Kansas Elite 2022 Ebert – While she did not get many interior look at Lawrence PGH Dynasty Classic circuit stop she showed a raw, high potential game that earned her 17U event honorable mention honors. She has length, vision, and a solid build; decent hands; solid timing for the shot block, post-up and back-to-basket ability; and solid transition speed.
Caryn Yoder
Caryn
Yoder
5'2" | PG
Hesston | 2022
State
KS
, 5’4″, PG, Hesston, KS Dream Team SW – After seeing Yoder lead her Hesston team to a win over Halstead at Halstead late in the season I had the opportunity to watch her lead a team to crush a more prominent program’s squad at April’s MAYB Hall of Fame Showcase event. What she showed against the highly touted Halstead Dragons was not fluke. Yoder’s handles and transition speed lead a very good transition offense and run the show in the half court with great vision and passing ability. She also showed a soft perimeter shot.
Ann Zachariah Ann Zachariah 6'2" | SF Life Prep | 2022 State KS , 6’2″, SF, Life Prep, Next Level Eclipse 2022 Life – Zachariah came to Life Prep in Wichita after earning the Coaches Award at NBA Academy India. At the PGH circuit stop in Wichita, the Battle in the Sunflower, she earned second team 17U honors after a terrific second day where she showed off the diversity of her game. While she has three point range her strength is her mid-range jumper. Whether pulling up in transition, going up off the catch, or with a power dribble infused turnaround Zachariah scored it very well. She also showed transition speed with the ball and hustle on the break to receive a pass to finish.