Down-the-List Must See 2022 Bigs

The 2022 class is blessed with numerous quality centers and power forwards. In this article I take a look at a bunch who all are major contributors to their high school team's success #90 [player_tooltip player_id="124983" first="Nicole" last="Ruda"], 5'10", Holcomb - Two time Great West Activities Conference honorable mention. Solid defensive post with length who walls up well. Transitions well with some ability to take it down the floor with speed. [caption id="attachment_196535" align="alignleft" width="150"]<img class=" wp-image-196535" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2020/08/Sydney-Scott-2022-Augusta-Next-Level-Eclipse-Silver-261x300.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="172" /> Augusta and [program_tooltip program_id='716118' first='Next' last='Level Eclipse'] 2022 PF [player_tooltip player_id="191201" first="Sydney" last="Scott"]. Photo by Robert Kelly.[/caption]#97 [player_tooltip player_id="191201" first="Sydney" last="Scott"], 6'1", Augusta, [program_tooltip program_id='716118' first='Next' last='Level Eclipse'] - When I first saw Scott at the 2020 MAYB Summer Kickoff I was impressed with how hard she competed against a bigger, stronger team even when Scott's team was getting buried. I liked her fire but thought she needed to get stronger. Fast forward to the Lawrence PGH Dynasty Classic this past April. She had gotten stronger and I expect that will continue. She boxed out, posted up, and moved into space well. She also earned All-Event honorable mention selection. #98 [player_tooltip player_id="191224" first="Katie" last="Kueker"], 6'1", Hesston, KS Dream Team - I was somewhat familiar with Kueker heading into a February contest that saw Halstead host Hesston. Given how well Dragon power forward Kerenna Gerber, now at Pittsburgh State, had become I really wondered if Kueker would have anything for her. While she could not match Gerber's pure power she showed strength on both ends of the floor and defended well, showing shot blocking ability. What I really liked about her was how good her hands were, that she showed an ability to expect where the pass was going to come from, and was able to finish with athleticism and length. Kueker showed some mid-range scoring ability and that she can knock down her free throws. The only question I left with was if she has perimeter shooting ability. [caption id="attachment_272136" align="alignright" width="160"]<img class="wp-image-272136" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/04/Lily-Boughfman-2022-Little-River-KS-Dream-Team-SW-276x300.jpg" alt="Little River 2022 [player_tooltip player_id=" width="160" height="174" /> Little River and KS Dream Team 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="158582" first="Lily" last="Boughfman"]. Photo: Robert Kelly.[/caption]#101 [player_tooltip player_id="158582" first="Lily" last="Boughfman"], 6'1", Little River, KS Dream Team - 2021 KBCA 1A Div I and two-time Wheat State League first team. Boughfman caught the attention of several coaches at April's MAYB Hall of Fame National Showcase. They liked her strong, solid build, ability to change ends, and competitiveness on both ends of the floor. Boughfman is box-out minded, has good size and length, and posts up strongly. She uses her hips to create space and moves well to get inside position. #102 [player_tooltip player_id="125006" first="Kate" last="Eichelberger"], 6'1", Moundridge - Eicherlberger emerged last season as the top post player for her team. She went from Heart of America League second team honors in 2020 to K<span data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"KBCA 2A second team. 20210 Heart of America League first team, second team in 2020. Lanky, competitive. Effective scorer around the basket. "}" data-sheets-userformat="{"2":12801,"3":{"1":0},"12":0,"15":"Verdana","16":10}">BCA 2A second team and Heart of America League first team selections in 2021. Lanky and competitive, she is a effective scorer around the basket. #127 [player_tooltip player_id="296372" first="Laurel" last="Streit"], 6'0", Clearwater - I look for Streit to have a strong senior season. She is v<span data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Very athletic, quick on the close-out and reaction to challenge the shot from the next pass. Shot blocker with quick elevation. "}" data-sheets-userformat="{"2":12803,"3":{"1":0},"4":{"1":2,"2":16777215},"12":0,"15":"Verdana","16":10}">ery athletic, quick on the close-out, and reacts to challenge the shot from the next pass well. Streit also has quick hops to block shots. [caption id="attachment_255559" align="alignleft" width="150"]<img class="wp-image-255559" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/02/Akeir-Scales-2022-Wichita-East-2.12.21-162x300.jpg" alt="Wichita East 2020 [player_tooltip player_id=" width="150" height="278" /> Wichita East and SSA GameBall 2022 [player_tooltip player_id="191223" first="Akeir" last="Scales"]. Photo: Robert Kelly.[/caption]#157 [player_tooltip player_id="191223" first="Akeir" last="Scales"], 6'2", Wichita East, SSA GameBall - Speaking of hops, Scales has great hops. Grab the rim with two hands kind of hops. Scales is also a terrific shut down defender who can rebound, block shots without fouling, run, and anticipates well. When her offensive game catches up, look out. After a great summer the two-time <span data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"2021 Greater Wichita League honorable mention. MAYB Tournament (7.11.20) - Only plays behind inside. Can run. Not a post threat, no moves. Good shot blocker. MAYB Summer Kickoff (June 2020) - Slim, athletic, and long limbed. Can anticipate plays and block shots without fouling. Coach says she can grab the rim with two hands. 2020 Greater Wichita League honorable mention. "}" data-sheets-userformat="{"2":12801,"3":{"1":0},"12":0,"15":"Verdana","16":10}">Greater Wichita League honorable mention selection is poised to challenge for first team honors. #178 [player_tooltip player_id="191220" first="Aniya" last="Stierlen"], 6'2", Russell, Western Kansas Elite - At the April <span data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"MAYB HOF Nat'l Showcase (Apr. 2021) - One move said a great deal about Steirlyn - a drop step left from the left block. She showed quickness, back-to-basket feel, and scoring ability to go with her size and length. Some back-to-basket game with a soft touch around the basket on both sides of the basket. Able to score with both hands. Will go right up off the catch. Elevates well on interior shots. Needs to get stronger. Reign the Plains (7.21.20) - Long. Runs well. Good FT shooter. Competes inside on both ends. Crashes the boards."}" data-sheets-userformat="{"2":1317377,"3":{"1":0},"12":0,"14":{"1":2,"2":0},"15":"Verdana","21":0,"23":1}">MAYB Hall of Fame National Showcase one quick, strong move said a great deal about Steirlyn - a drop step left from the left block. She showed quickness, back-to-basket feel, and scoring ability to go with her size and length. She has a soft touch, is able to score with both hands, and elevates quickly off the interior catch. A very long player who runs well and competes inside on both ends. #186 [player_tooltip player_id="260149" first="Sydney" last="Frankenberry"], 5'9", Frontenac - While Frankenberry does not have the size of the others on this list she plays a pivotal role for the Raiders as their power forward. She will be one to watch this upcoming high school season. She is a good weakside offensive rebounder, anticipates getting position on mid-range jumpers well, and has solid hands to catch entry passes or finish on the break. Frankenberry also brings three point shooting ability to the table. Featured image: Hesston's [player_tooltip player_id="191224" first="Katie" last="Kueker"], 40, works inside against Halstead's Kerenna Gerber in their early 2021 matchup. Photo: Robert Kelly.