2023 Top 10 Remain Solid Amid Miller's Move Up

While the 2022 July rankings refresh saw substantial changes throughout the top 20 the 2023 rankings do not sport many substantial changes from March. The top ten contain the same ten players, but one player’s play has leap-frogged her into the top 5. #1 [player_tooltip player_id="127277" first="S’Mya" last="Nichols"], 6’0", CG/SF, Shawnee Mission West, Missouri Phenom - Nichols is one of three players in the top ten who have been or are currently ranked in ESPN HoopGurlz recruiting rankings. As recent as last season <a href="http://www.espn.com/high-school/girls-basketball/recruiting/player/_/id/238899/smya-nichols">Nichols</a> was ranked #17 in the 2023 Terrific 25. Now, not even on the list of current 2023 Super 60. Go figure. Before even reaching high school she was on the JrNBA Central Team that won back-to-back national and international championships. Averaging 14.1 points, 3.5 assists, and 2.8 steals this past season Nichols earned Kansas Basketball Coaches Association 6A second team and Sunflower League first team. While I have not seen her play in person many in the know regard her as a cut above anybody else in the class around the Kansas City area. They also fully agree with R. Simone’s comments about her from the May 1, 2019 Boo Williams Invitational, "To watch her play, especially against the competition she faced all weekend; no one would have guessed that S’Mya has yet to play one game of high school basketball. This talented young player worked hard every possession, did not mind diving on the floor for loose balls, and created contact under the rim to get the free throw line." #2 [player_tooltip player_id="94970" first="Kiara" last="Smith"], 5’7", SG, Topeka, Missouri Phenom - Kiki was a KBCA 6A and Centennial League first team selection. Oh, and she was a JrNBA Championships MVP for the Central team. A serious perimeter threat, for her first two years of high school she has made 70 threes at a greater than 42% clip. After averaging 20.3 points, 2.8 assists, and 2.8 steals her freshman year she followed that up with 15.7 points, 3 assists, and 2.8 steals this past season. She also shot 81% from the charity stripe and had a 1.71 assists to turnovers ratio. #3 [player_tooltip player_id="94960" first="Ava" last="Jones"], 6’2", PF, Nickerson, Wheat State Elite - It has been my fortune to have watched Jones from her eighth grade year on and have seen her several times. Her work ethic drives her continuous improvement and has led her to be the strong all-around player that she is. Her ability to out-hustle opponents is a big strength. Coupled with her terrific hands, an ability to score a substantial number of ways from the mid-range in, her IQ, and her physical gifts of size; length; and athleticism, she is just tough. Defensively she is formidable for those same personality and physical gifts that leads to gathering rebounds, boxing out, and controlling the ball. Jones has already verbally committed to Arizona State University. #4 [player_tooltip player_id="127285" first="McKayla" last="Miller"], 6’1", PG, Cimarron, SSA Gameball - Some numbers to think about last season at her school. Led the team in scoring (18 points, 37% from three), rebounds (7.7), steals (3), assists (3) and blocked shots. She also shot 77% from the line. She earned KBCA 3A honorable mention and Great West Activities Conference first team honors this past season and is a player that makes others around better no matter who she plays with. I have seen her play several times in her two high school and club years and her game has taken off. She is stronger, more confident and physical than ever, and is turning herself into a great offensive rebounder. Her length, IQ, unselfishness, and ability to score at all three levels has jumped off the charts as well. Her play has not gone unnoticed as she recently completed the trifecta of offers from all three of Kansas's D I schools, Creighton, Oklahoma State and more. She deservedly jumped five spots in the class rankings. #5 [player_tooltip player_id="94968" first="Taryn" last="Sides"], 5’6", CG, Phillipsburg, Missouri Phenom - I personally have not had the pleasure of watching Sides play since last summer. I first saw her when, as a freshman, she led her high school team to its first ever 3A state tournament appearance. What has been true every time I have watched her in some fashion is her quick hands, ability to score off the bounce with athleticism, activeness as a offensive rebounder, unselfishness, and her perimeter range. She is just tough on both ends of the floor. She wrapped up this past high school season with KBCA 3A first team and repeated on the brutal Mid-Continent League first team. While I have not been privy to offers she has received, I am fully aware of the high level of attention she has been generating. #6 [player_tooltip player_id="94952" first="Maryn" last="Archer"], 5’6", PG, Derby, PBR Team Lex Nation - Archer returned to game play in May after suffering a knee injury in mid-December vs Goddard. After seeing some July footage, the Arkansas commit is back to playing her strong suit with tremendous success. She plays with composure - head up, controlled, deliberate about looking at openings and options. She is also strong off the bounce, able to split defenders and drop dimes to teammates. Archer also is a solid three point and mid-range shooter. In 2020 Archer was selected to the KBCA 6A honorable mention and Ark Valley Chisholm Trail League Division I first team. She also has been one of the three players in this top 10 who have been in and out of ESPN rankings in the past couple of years. #7 [player_tooltip player_id="94954" first="Addyson" last="Brown"], 6’2", SF/PF, Derby, PBR Team Lex Nation - Brown is the third player to appear in a ESPN Hoop ranked list and, at the moment, is ranked #36 in the ESPN 2023 Super 60. The two-time AVCTL Div I first team selection followed up her <span data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"The 2020 KBCA 6A honorable mention selection bested that this past season by being selected to the 6A first team. She also repeated as first team Ark Valley Chisholm Trail League Div I. Ranked #7, the physically strong player uses her frame well to power through a defense, is versatile on the perimeter as well, and has good hands to finish around the basket. A three point threat, she can beat defenders off the dribble. In 2021 she averaged 18.8 points and 8.8 rebounds per game. She also tied for the team’s lead in assists per game with 2.8. Averaged 10 points and 6 rebounds in 2020."}" data-sheets-userformat="{"2":5025,"3":{"1":0},"8":{"1":[{"1":2,"2":0,"5":{"1":0}},{"1":0,"2":0,"3":3},{"1":1,"2":0,"4":1}]},"10":2,"11":0,"12":0,"15":"Verdana"}">2020 KBCA 6A honorable mention selection by earning first team 6A honors in 2021. Brown is a physically strong player who uses her frame well to power through a defense, is versatile on the perimeter, and has good hands to finish around the basket. A three point threat, she can beat defenders off the dribble. In 2021 she averaged 18.8 points and 8.8 rebounds per game. She also tied for the team’s lead in assists per game with 2.8. Brown is also fielding multiple division I offers. #8 [player_tooltip player_id="127286" first="Brooklyn" last="Deleye"], 6’2", F, Washburn Rural, Missouri Phenom - This University of Kentucky alum (the home of the real Wildcats) locked in right away when he saw that Deleye had committed to play for them. But not basketball, she's going to deal with a different kind of net - that of a volleyball nature. With that being noted Deleye is without a doubt one of the class's strongest basketball players as well. She earned KBCA 6A honorable mention honors. She also earned 2021 Centennial League first team honors after being selected to the second team in 2020. She is extremely athletic, a good scorer, and obviously has some hops. A very good combination in a 6'2" package that will have Washburn Rural challenging again for a state title. Deleye was also on the Central Team, JrNBA Champions. #9 [player_tooltip player_id="94958" first="Mikyn" last="Hamlin"], 5’8", CG, Hugoton, Wheat State Elite - Prep Girls Hoops' Joel Hannagan wrote back in February that Hamlin is "<span data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Joel H. 2.4.21 post - Strong and physical. She likes to get down hill, use her strength to create space, and draw fouls. Mikyn has a mid range game and shoots the three ball off the bounce as good as anyone that I have seen in the state. KBCA 3A honorable mention. Great West Activities Conference first team. Averages 16.3 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 2.2 steals per game. Shoots 38.8% from three (40 made). Reign the Plains (July 2019) - Good ball fake from the wing to get to the hole. Fast, hustles in transition. Guarded Nichols at NBA Central regional. Gave up 10 but scored 14 on her. WKE coach/Gameball Basketball - With strength and speed that is rare for a freshman. Has a high IQ for the game. She plays down hill uses her speed and strength to get to the basket and draw fouls. Weakness needs to improve on her shooting off the bounce and 3 point shooting"}" data-sheets-userformat="{"2":5025,"3":{"1":0},"8":{"1":[{"1":2,"2":0,"5":{"1":0}},{"1":0,"2":0,"3":3},{"1":1,"2":0,"4":1}]},"10":2,"11":0,"12":0,"15":"Verdana"}">Strong and physical. She likes to get down hill, use her strength to create space, and draw fouls. Mikyn has a mid-range game and shoots the three ball off the bounce as good as anyone that I have seen in the state." Hamlin joined Sides as the only sophomore KBCA 3A first team selections, stepping up from her honorable mention nod in 2020. She is also two-time first team Great West Activities Conference. Averaging 16.3 points (38.8% from three with 40 made), 6.5 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 2.2 steals per game last season she has applied her combination of strength, speed, and scoring ability to show her game just continues to grow. Recent offers from Wichita State, University of San Francisco, and others show her work has gained attentions. #10 [player_tooltip player_id="127283" first="Amaya" last="Gallegos"], 5’7", PG, Garden City, SSA Gameball - <span data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"2021 Western Activities Conference first team. Joel H. 2.2.21 post - Strong, physical, fast. MAYB Reign the Plains (7.21.20) - Very quick and strong on perimeter defense. Finish athletically on both sides with contact. Super quick off the bounce. MAYB Summer Kickoff (June 2020) - Strong drive off a spin, then whirl for a layup with contact. Good free throw shooter. Western Activities Conference second team. Averages 9.9 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 1.8 steals. Away v Hutchinson (Mr. 2020) - Showed three point shooting and jump shooting ability. Has talent to get going off the bounce but struggled to finish against strong, physical players. Hutch’s 2022 Harley Wilson able to keep her in front of her. Active on the defensive boards. Good elevation and length. Good speed with the ball. Gameball Basketball - [player_tooltip player_id=" data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4609,"3":{"1":0},"12":0,"15":"Verdana"}">Gallegos, a player I have seen several times in the past two years, brings this top ten to a close. The physical and strong defender brings that mentality to the offensive end where she uses her athleticism, quickness, and handles to show off her ability to score. She can finish with either hand and is among the best at breaking her defender down with multiple ways of scoring around the basket - floaters, reverse layups, finger rolls, and do it with either hand. She is one of the quickest point guards in the west who can put together multiple moves to abuse defenders in the half court...and score with contact. She also has three point and jump shooting abilities. After earning second team honors in 2020 Gallegos was the Buffalo show runner this past successful season, earning Western Activities Conference first team honors. The offer flood gates have yet to open much yet but heading into her junior year I suspect it is only a matter of time. Featured image: Cimarron and SSA Gameball 17U 2023 [player_tooltip player_id="127285" first="McKayla" last="Miller"]. Photo: Robert Kelly.