Who I’ve Seen : 2022 Summer Ball All-Kansas 2024 Team
The 2022 summer was a welcome breath of normalcy following an abbreviated 2021 summer season that was dramatically altered due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Clubs had tryouts immediately following the conclusion of the state tournaments and a couple even jumped…
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Continue ReadingThe 2022 summer was a welcome breath of normalcy following an abbreviated 2021 summer season that was dramatically altered due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Clubs had tryouts immediately following the conclusion of the state tournaments and a couple even jumped headlong into tournaments the following weekend. My stops to see action in person included the MAYB summer kickoff in Wichita and the wildly successful inaugural Prep Girls Hoops Circuit events in Lawrence and Wichita. What follows is my class of 2024 all-Kansas team. It is restricted to only players that I saw play live. There are several clubs and teams not included. Some because they did not spend a great time gracing Kansas with their presence or were not at the events I attended. A couple because I did not get a quality look at them. Enjoy learning about the baker’s dozen included in this all-Kansas team.
Point Guards
Amani Lipscomb Amani Lipscomb 5'2" | PG Houston | 2024 State TN , 5’4”, Andover, Dynasty 2023 Blue – Lipscomb can create and score but where she shined was in leading breaks and distributing off the drive – frequently using no-look passes that her teammates set up for.
Hailey Contreras Hailey Contreras 5'5" | PG Liberal | 2024 State KS , 5’5″, Liberal, SSA GameBall Basketball – Not only is Contreras among the quickest point guards in the state, she is also a strong floor leader. She uses her quickness and speed to create, which also frees her up to knock down three balls with distance.
Ashley Singhateh Ashley Singhateh 5'8" | PG Maize South | 2024 State KS , Eureka, Arkansas Banshees – I was fortunate to get a fresh look at Singhateh when she was the Tornados played a MAYB tournament together. While she was not able to consistently hit her perimeter jumper she was off the charts effective at creating off the bounce. She showed her motor on transition plays and her finishing skills on repeated basket attacks. No slouch defensively, her quickness enables her to close the door on point guards looking pay back off the bounce after getting their doors blown off on the other end. Strong physically, strong with the ball, look for her to launch up the ranks.
Brooke Walker Brooke Walker 5'8" | CG Andover | 2024 State KS , 5’7″, Andover, Kansas United 2022 – Walker has great handles to get to the hole and finishes athletically with a variety of shots including a good floater. She is also a strong defender. She challenges and blocks shots well without fouling. The common denominator with her game on both ends? Quick feet.
Shooting Guards
Maxine Doering Maxine Doering 5'8" | SG Manhattan | 2024 State KS , 5’8”, SG, Manhattan, SSA Gameball Ingram – Doering had a terrific summer with a team that won a bunch of games by being defensive minded. What I saw from her was her ability to work her crossover dribble to perfection in creating shots off the bounce for herself and her teammates. She also showed herself to be a good mid-range shooter off the catch and has the awareness to use high glass to loft a shot over a big to finish a drive.
Jakhia Jones Jakhia Jones 5'3" | PG Wichita Southeast | 2024 KS , Wichita Southeast, ICT Surge – Jones will play some point but what caught my eye is how, at speed, the vision and decision making she showed at full speed in transition. She has a solid build and is a quick defender.
Wings & Small Forwards
Elizabeth Romer Elizabeth Romer 5'10" | SF Kapaun Mt. Carmel | 2024 State KS , 5’10”, Kapaun Mt. Carmel, Kansas United 2022 – I have been well aware of what Romer brought to the table heading into her freshman campaign as a starter with the Crusaders. She is a very versatile, athletic, fast player who can score well at all three levels and can shoot it well with distance. What I saw out of her this summer is how well she has stepped up the physicality of her defense and rebounding. As strong of a two-way player as there is in the class. Unafraid to take shots in tight games. Absolute money from three. Uses both hands well when handling in transition and finishing.
Anna Stramel, 5’10”, Colby, Western Kansas Elite Hope – Stramel is a blossoming talent for the Eagles. Defenders are kept busy defending her behind the three point line and on the drive. She has shown a good ability to abuse players who box poorly in pursuit of offensive rebounds.
Power Forwards & Centers
Lainie Douglas Lainie Douglas 6'2" | PF Blue Valley Northwest | 2024 State KS ,6’1″, C/PF, Blue Valley Northwest, Kansas Elite 2022 Novicoff – After an impactful first season of high school ball Douglas hit the floor at the first Prep Girls Hoops Circuit event in Kansas, April’s Dynasty Classic in Lawrence. The top ranked big in the class, Douglas showed off her athleticism, footwork on both ends of the floor, and versatility to earn all-event honorable mention selection. While she can put points on the board out of face-up and back-to-basket situations what helps her stand out is her passing. She has the ability to find perimeter shooters even out of double- and triple-teams.
Emily Fischer Emily Fischer 5'11" | PF Olathe Northwest | 2024 State KS , 5’10”, PF, Olathe Northwest, KC Lady Run GMC 16U – Fischer has a long, solid build that she uses to good effect on post moves around the paint to create shots – which she uses both hands to finish. On both ends of the floor she has good anticipation skills. She is as adept at jumping passing lanes and going the length of the floor as she is at stepping in to draw charges, including in open floor situations.
Aleah Moree Aleah Moree 6'2" | C Winfield | 2024 State KS , 6’1”, C, Winfield, Dynasty 2023 Blue – The last time I saw Moree this summer she was consistently dealing with two and three defenders hanging all over her to finish post moves or put back an offensive rebound. Off any bigs in the class she has the best combination of size and strength. Her post game is there as is her ability to score at the second level consistently. Watch for her to build up her three-point range to improve her as a threat from the perimeter. Until then, she is a walking traditional three-point play and does a great job of staying with a missed shot to gather it back.
Elle Hatcher Elle Hatcher 6'0" | PF Liberal | 2024 State KS , 6’0″, C, Liberal, SSA GameBall Basketball – Hatcher is a stand-out that I look forward to seeing more of in the future. What I saw this summer is she is athletic, fast, and is a high IQ leader who does a terrific and vocal job of directing traffic inside.
Jaden Wilson Jaden Wilson 5'11" | PF Derby | 2024 State KS , 6’0″, F, Derby, SSA GameBall Basketball – I first saw Wilson last summer before I learned she was transferring from Dodge City to Derby. She did not deserve to be a pine rider last season, and I am sure i and the growth in her game this summer will make it hard for her to be kept off the floor. Wilson has good speed and strength, and is very adept at finishing around the basket with contact.
Featured image: Wichita Southeast and ICT Surge 2024 Jakhia Jones Jakhia Jones 5'3" | PG Wichita Southeast | 2024 KS . Photo: Prep Girls Hoops.