The All-Underrated Team: Class of 2022

In this piece, we will look to shine a light on some of the most unheralded gems in the state of Arizona, starting with the Class of 2022 and working our way up. There won’t be <em>any</em> <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/arizona/rankings/2022-rankings/">top 25 ranked players in the state</a> featured on this list, as we look for players specifically based on the potential to make a major leap from their junior to senior seasons. Who’s on the outside looking in on these rankings? Who’s ready for a breakout senior season? Who should be ranked higher? I’ll do my best to answer those questions below. Let’s dive in. <hr /> [player_tooltip player_id="214589" first="Nikkianna" last="Kinsel"] Kinsel is a skilled combo guard that stands at 5’7" and plays for the Westwood Warriors in Mesa, Arizona. She’s coming off a productive junior season where she complied 11.1 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.5 steals, and 2.6 assists per contest. The well-rounded stat line across the board is impressive, and should only continue to improve during her senior campaign. She had an inspiring breakout performance against Basha last season, putting up 28 points on 58% shooting in a 71-48 victory over the Bears. [player_tooltip player_id="259205" first="Trinity" last="Flores"] Flores is a 5’5" shooting guard that can fill it up in a hurry offensively. She was limited to 10 games played during her junior year but made the most of those games averaging 15.0 points, 2.3 assists, 1.9 rebounds, and 2.9 steals per contest. She went 18-for-52 (35%) from three-point range and shot an efficient 54% on two-point field goals. Trinity’s combination of microwave scoring ability combined with her disruption in the passing lanes defensively (2.9 steals per game) makes her an easy choice to throw into the mix of the all-underrated team. [player_tooltip player_id="259200" first="Jayla" last="Scott"] Scott is a 6’1" post that plays with an edge on both ends, dominating the interior. Jayla casually averaged 20.4 points per game, which was good for the second-most among qualified juniors in the state of Arizona. The Vista Grande incoming senior also posted 12.6 rebounds and 4.5 blocks per contest, displaying just how impactful she can truly be inside the paint. Look for the 6 foot 1 post to continue to assert her presence inside during her senior season for the Spartans. [player_tooltip player_id="259203" first="Jaya" last="Huma"] Huma is a 5’7" combo guard that is coming off a very productive junior season for the Saguaro Sabercats. She averaged 13.4 points, 3.0 assists, 2.9 rebounds, and 1.9 steals per game in 16 contests. One major reason for her inclusion on this list would be her breakout scoring performances throughout the year. She had a 32-point on an ultra-efficient 73% clip from the floor in a 72-68 win over Chaparral. Along with that, she also had another efficient 30-point scoring outburst in a 74-67 win against American Leadership Academy. She shot 63% from the field in that contest. These high-level performances against good competition show that she has it in her to truly have a breakout senior season. Keep an eye out for the microwave scoring combo guard from Scottsdale. [player_tooltip player_id="137294" first="Kamiyah" last="Hurd"] Hurd is a 5’9" wing/forward for the Desert Vista Thunder in Phoenix, Arizona. She is fairly well-rounded and competes on both sides of the floor. She averaged 12.2 points, 7.2 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 2.0 steals per game in just 10 games played for her Thunder squad. She had a pair of consecutive impressive 20+ point outings in victories over Basha and Shadow Ridge. The efficiency could be up and down at times, but when she's on it's tough to stop her. I could easily see her climbing up the state rankings down the road and leading Desert Vista to a strong season. <hr /> That concludes our 2022 All-Underrated Team, be on the lookout for the 2023 and 2024 class editions in the coming days.