Who I've Seen : Summer Ball All-Kansas 2023 Team

Following on the heals of my just released class of <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/2021/08/who-ive-seen-2022-summer-ball-all-kansas-2024-team/">2024</a> all-Kansas Summer Ball Team I present to you my all-Kansas Summer Ball 2023 Team.  Saw a lot of talented players but not as many as I would have liked.  The 2022 summer was a welcome breath of normalcy anyhow.  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. As with the 2024 team, it is composed of only players that I saw play live. Also as with the 2023 team, 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.  16 players make up with burgeoning list that reflects the depth of talent in the class. <h2><span style="text-decoration: underline; font-size: 14pt;">Point Guards</span></h2> [player_tooltip player_id="156294" first="Chloe" last="Clevenger"], 5'6”, McPherson, [program_tooltip program_id='712615' first='Lady' last='Prospects'] 17U - The transfer from Doniphan West has great speed, quickness, and hustle.  Definitely the kind of player that can speed up play from the moment she steps on the floor.  She will often beat opponents back in transition with the ball, will drop a dime as easily as she finishes herself.  She also is a consistent perimeter threat with a quick shot.  Clevenger has toughness as well.  I have seen her get back from off-side to try to draw a transition charge without thinking twice about it. [player_tooltip player_id="127283" first="Amaya" last="Gallegos"], 5'8", Garden City, SSA GameBall Basketball 16U - Gallegos has been running the point for the Buffaloes for two-years now.  She has killer handles and quickness.  An example I witnessed from an early summer event was watching her beat three defenders on a drive from the wing to earn a lay-in over the rim.  She is also a surprising shot blocker who reads plays well. [player_tooltip player_id="156319" first="Sophia" last="Gimino"], 5'4", Kapaun Mt. Carmel, [program_tooltip program_id='713034' first='Wheat' last='State Elite'] 2023 Crain - Early in the summer I really looked forward to seeing how Gimino and her fellow guards matched up with those of SSA GameBall Basketball 17U.  It was a sight to watch. Gimino continued to show her quickness, handles, strength, IQ, creativity, scoring ability, and overall strong-mindedness.  A real floor leader with a big future. [player_tooltip player_id="127285" first="McKayla" last="Miller"], 6'1”, Cimarron, SSA GameBall Basketball 17U - Over the course of the summer Miller's game grew with each tournament.  Even from the beginning of play this summer she grew stronger, more physical, and more aggressive than ever.  She is as strong of an offensive rebounder as there is in the state, which also shows how well and the timing with which she elevates. A three point threat with range, she can get to the hole and finish athletically with both hands.  She also has a strong mid-range game. A flurry of offers from the likes of Kansas, Kansas State, Wichita State, Indiana State, and Oklahoma State have come her way for very good reason. <h2><span style="text-decoration: underline; font-size: 14pt;">Shooting Guards</span></h2> [player_tooltip player_id="298587" first="Avery" last="Caselman"], 5'7", Southeast of Saline, [program_tooltip program_id='713034' first='Wheat' last='State Elite'] Speer - After seeing Caselman in the Trojan's track meet contest with Sterling this past season I enjoyed seeing her play in a different environment.  Not only did she show off l<span data-sheets-formula-bar-text-style="font-size:13px;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:none;font-family:'Verdana';font-style:normal;text-decoration-skip-ink:none;">ong three point range and handles solid enough to run the point, Caselman hustled all over the floor.  What really caught my eye was how well she instinctively closed out on the ball.</span> [player_tooltip player_id="227693" first="Mariah" last="Farmer"], 5'6", Silver Lake, [program_tooltip program_id='712615' first='Lady' last='Prospects'] 16U - I first saw Farmer last fall at a [program_tooltip program_id='712615' first='Lady' last='Prospects'] exposure event.  She stood out with her aggressiveness with the ball, how well she could create shots for herself and her teammates, and how well she held her own against older, more experienced players.  Her game has continued to grow.  She handles the ball with poise and aggressiveness, defends fiercely, and is a threat to score all over the floor.  A consistent standout for the [program_tooltip program_id='712615' first='Lady' last='Prospects']. [player_tooltip player_id="298588" first="Makayla" last="McCLellan"], 5'4", Wichita Independent, [program_tooltip program_id='716194' first='[program_tooltip program_id='714510' first='[program_tooltip program_id='713097' first='Dynasty' last='']' last='']' last=''] 17U - McClellan is a diversely talented player who had a breakout summer.  Her quickness on both ends stands out on her ability to get into the lane and in being sticky to ball handlers in the half court.  In transition she has speed that at times she will kick into an extra gear to finish with athleticism on the fly.  What caught my eye the most was how well she shoots the three in transition off the catch.  My colleagues Jason Green and Shayla Smith also noted her play.  At the Prep Girls Hoops Circuit [program_tooltip program_id='716194' first='[program_tooltip program_id='714510' first='[program_tooltip program_id='713097' first='Dynasty' last='']' last='']' last=''] Regional Finals Green said "<span data-sheets-formula-bar-text-style="font-size:13px;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:none;font-family:'Verdana';font-style:normal;text-decoration-skip-ink:none;">She is just a baller, plain and simple. She is extremely quick with the ball in her hands. Her first step is great at throwing her defender off balance and she clearly relishes the one-on-one challenge that comes with playing guard at a high level.</span>"  When writing about day 1 standouts at that event Smith wrote "<span data-sheets-formula-bar-text-style="font-size:13px;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:none;font-family:'Verdana';font-style:normal;text-decoration-skip-ink:none;">"Mcclellan is one of the quickest guards I seen so far. Knows how to attack the basket and finish strong through contact. Has the ability to shoot the pull up jump shot and the 3 ball."  </span> [player_tooltip player_id="127282" first="Becca" last="Unruh"], 5'6”, Dodge City, [program_tooltip program_id='713034' first='Wheat' last='State Elite'] 2023 Crain - Ankle breaking handles and three point shooting ability has highlights her abilities.  She has come a long way from the talented but physically overmatched freshman days to where she is now and she is a long way from finished.  Quick hands and feet on both ends of the floor help her defend well and turn transition opportunities into baskets. <h3><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Combo Guards & Wings</span></span></h3> [player_tooltip player_id="94958" first="Mikyn" last="Hamlin"], 5'8", Hugoton, [program_tooltip program_id='713034' first='Wheat' last='State Elite'] Paul - Hamlin has the ability to play and defend multiple positions due to her size, quickness, and strength.  She is a consistent perimeter threat and is able to get to the hole off the bounce to finish with contact.  She has picked up offers from University of San Francisco, UMKC, Wichita State, Tulsa, Abilene-Christian, and Missouri Western and still has the second half of her high school career to go. [player_tooltip player_id="94964" first="Kaleigh" last="O'Brien"], 5'10”, Remington, [program_tooltip program_id='713034' first='Wheat' last='State Elite'] 2023 Crain - It will be very interesting to watch how the former Halstead Dragon impacts the Heart of America League this upcoming season.  Her size, strength, physical tools and skill set led her to be as good of a matchup with [player_tooltip player_id="127285" first="McKayla" last="Miller"] early in the season as anyone could offer when they crossed paths.  She has good speed with the ball in transition and an ability to score at all three levels.  Her length and quickness often finds her disrupting passing lanes, creating transition basket opportunities.  A high potential player who has made the 2023 all-Summer Ball team two years straight. [player_tooltip player_id="94971" first="Rebecca" last="Snyder"], 6'0", Emporia, [program_tooltip program_id='716118' first='Next' last='Level Eclipse'] Stewart - Before catching her at the April PGH Circuit stop in Lawrence it had been since the summer of 2020 since I had seen her.  With a field of teams from more than half a dozen states she emerged as a third team, all 17U selection.  And while I thought she needs to continue to get stronger and improve her back-to-basket game her competitiveness on both ends of the floor was attention getting.  Her effort enabled her transition speed, hands, and ability to provide a good target for guards to gather assists, and finishing ability with both ends to stand out.  And on the finish she does so with length.  At MAYB Nationals in Oklahoma City my colleague Phillipe McCree also was impressed.  He described her as a long, athletic forward who "<span data-sheets-formula-bar-text-style="font-size:13px;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:none;font-family:'Verdana';font-style:normal;text-decoration-skip-ink:none;">plays with great energy and really gets up and down the floor." He also liked her finishing ability and handles while being contested as well as making good use of her length to alter shots. </span> <h4><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Power Forwards & Centers</span></span></h4> [player_tooltip player_id="191483" first="Madi" last="Denison"], 5'11", Minneola, Western [program_tooltip program_id='715643' first='Kansas' last='Elite'] 2023 Flyer - After making note of her while watching a Minneola game online this past high school season I was looking forward to seeing her play this summer.  Well, I am not the only PGH scout to liked what they saw.  Cue Jason Green of PGH Oklahoma, “When I write something like the “Day One Standouts” piece I did Saturday, I usually try not to highlight players that I already feel like will make the first team – so as not to write about the same player twice in a row. However, when a player like Madi stands out after the first day and then just keeps standing out every time that you watch her, sometimes that very thing happens. Denison just kept on scoring. She also kept on doing the little things that coaches and scouts love to see.” Dennison had a huge summer.  She just competes on both ends, all the time.  She rebounds, scores, and gets the ball out quickly off the rebound. <span data-sheets-formula-bar-text-style="font-size:13px;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:none;font-family:'Verdana';font-style:normal;text-decoration-skip-ink:none;">[player_tooltip player_id="191470" first="Avery" last="Lowe"], 6'3”, Maize South, Kansas United 2022 - I got two great looks a Lowe this summer.  Early in the summer she was the newest addition to a highly experienced and talented group of players who had been playing for years.  Her uncertainty showed but she still still showed solid glimpses of her ability that I saw in 2020.  Come late June, she not only showed how much more comfortable she was to play to her strengths and take some chances in areas needing development but also how high her upside is.   Heading into her senior year I anticipate she will be one of the twas far more comfortable.  An improving defender she is also growing in physicality on both ends of the floor especially against bigger players.  She has good hands, athleticism, and finishing ability inside.  Lowe was able to use her length to her advantage to score at times and showed a nice duck-in move on the block, off the catch, to get a score. Her passing ability is deceptively good.  Lowe has made two straight all-Summer Ball 2023 teams.</span> <strong>Makenzie Lucas</strong>, 5'10", Garden City, Western [program_tooltip program_id='715643' first='Kansas' last='Elite'] Blue - Lucas' has a solid ability to take up space defensively in the paint and to rebound with strength and elevation.  But really caught my eye is, outside the crazy ability shown by Liberal's [player_tooltip player_id="94032" first="Bree" last="Horyna"], she tracks the ball as well as anybody. [player_tooltip player_id="191482" first="Jordan" last="Sears"], 5'9”, McPherson, SSA GameBall Ingram - Transferring into McPherson from home school Sears inexplicably will be confined by KSHSAA to wreak havok on jayvee teams the Bullpups face.  Playing with a strong defensive team this summer Sears was a major cog in the transition game and on the boards.  A play where she took a defensive rebound the length of the floor to score a contested layup sums up a great deal of what she brings to a team. [player_tooltip player_id="191485" first="Grace" last="Williams"], 6'1”, Wamego, [program_tooltip program_id='713034' first='Wheat' last='State Elite'] 2023 Crain - Williams is one to watch for sure.  She has a solid, lengthy build and uses it to great effect with her persistence on the boards. I look forward to seeing more of her game. <span data-sheets-formula-bar-text-style="font-size:13px;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:none;font-family:'Verdana';font-style:normal;text-decoration-skip-ink:none;"><em> Featured image: Minneola and Western [program_tooltip program_id='715643' first='Kansas' last='Elite'] 2023 [player_tooltip player_id="191483" first="Madi" last="Denison"].</em> </span>