Player Rankings Update 2024: The Top-3
The 2024 rankings have been updated and there has been a few changes at the top. The class is loaded with prospects and it is going to be fun to watch them come into their own over the next few…
Access all of Prep Girls Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingThe 2024 rankings have been updated and there has been a few changes at the top. The class is loaded with prospects and it is going to be fun to watch them come into their own over the next few years. Take a closer look at the top-3 players in the class of 2024 below!
Taliyah Parker | 6-1 CG | Putnam City West | @tparkerhoops24
When I say Taliyah has a ton of offers… y’all, she has a TON of offers. There aren’t many schools in the country who don’t have her on their radar – and for good reason. Taliyah is an extremely tall guard with great length – that alone would be enough to get some interest. But, to be No. 1-ranked, you basically have to be able to do it all. Taliyah can score it from any level. She has tremendous handles and brings the ball up the court with ease despite any amount of pressure from the opposing defender. She reads the play well, makes the best pass and hardly makes mistakes despite being just a sophomore. As any great player can attest, offense is not the only part of your game that matters. In that case, Taliyah is an outstanding on ball defender. She is vicious in her desire to stop the opponent from scoring. She crashes the boards and has probably already landed her share of triple-doubles with a ridiculous mix of skills.
Caya Smith Caya Smith 6'2" | SF Putnam City West | 2024 State OK | 6-2 CG | Putnam City West | @CayaSmith
Speaking of tall guards from PC West, there is another one – the scary thing is, Caya is even taller. I would love to see a PC West practice one of these days to see these two go at it. Their skill set is very similar and it is clear that they are receiving some great coaching in both school and grassroots. Caya was fifth in the previous iteration of the rankings and after seeing PC West play last season (along with seeing her play in the MAYB Nationals), I made myself a note that even No. 5 was too low for her. I haven’t seen her make a mistake yet. She is a heady basketball player with a whole lot of skill. She has a vicious stop-and-pop jumper that she uses as a weapon when her defender gives her too much room. When they step in, she easily moves around them with speed and silky handles to finish at the rim – which she is pretty close to touching sometimes. She defends well and is a nightmare for opposing guards with her length and quickness. This PC West squad is going to be a problem for the next several years.
Jill Twiehaus Jill Twiehaus 5'10" | SG Jenks | 2024 State OK | 5-8 SG | Jenks | @Jill_Twiehaus
It’s one thing to jump up in the rankings a few spots, but it’s a whole other thing to have been unranked previously and to now be No. 3! Jill was overlooked in the previous rankings and made sure that she wasn’t overlooked again. On the PGH Circuit, Twiehaus absolutely lit up opponents usually hitting five or more three-pointers per game. She is probably the best pure shooter in the class, but is definitely not just limited to shooting. She is a very good defender with surprising quickness. She is a silent assassin who doesn’t talk much on the court, but instead lets her offensive prowess do the talking. She is very coachable as I have seen on several occasions things pointed out to her and immediately improved upon. After a tremendous summer, the offers poured in for Jill from the likes of Abilene Christian, Eastern Illinois and McNeese State. I have a feeling that once word gets out about this Steph Curry-esque shooter in Jenks, more D-I offers are on their way.