2022 Rankings: The Debuts

Here we will take a look at five players making their debut on the 2022 rankings. I’ve said before, we don’t always see the players that we should and we don’t always get them ranked as we should, but even if it takes until their senior year of high school, the goal is to get everyone the recognition that they deserve. Here are five players who weren’t ranked in the past three years, but we finally got it right in time for their senior season. Enjoy! No. 30 - [player_tooltip player_id="327624" first="Sydni" last="Smith"] | 6-2 F/C | Union | 2022 | <a href="https://x.com/sydnismith2022">@sydnismith2022</a> As somebody who watches a lot of Union games, I have always thought that Sydni was a standout basketball player. Honestly, I have no idea why she hasn’t always been ranked. Sometimes I make mistakes. Just being honest. Smith is a D-I player and holds an offer from Lamar to prove it. Just watch her play even briefly and you will see that she is. Obviously, her size is great. But, it’s the things she can do with that size that really set her apart from other bigs. She gets up and down the court quickly, she is confident with the ball in her hands and never panicked. Sydni has really good vision for a big and does a good job of passing out of double teams (because she sees a lot of them) and not turning the ball over, but instead hitting the open teammate. She is a team leader on a very good team and really possesses every skill that a coach could ask for from a player. No. 38 - [player_tooltip player_id="327625" first="Madison" last="Burroughs"] | 5-7 SG | Pryor | 2022 | <a href="https://x.com/burroughsmadi">@burroughsmadi</a> Burroughs currently holds several offers from very good NAIA schools. Though she is apparently a very good softball player on a very good team, where she really does her best work is on the hardwood. She is a slashing guard who is quick and can blow by just about anyone. She has a high basketball IQ that she uses best on defense when stepping into passing lanes in anticipation of a pass, then coming up with a steal for her team. She makes precise passes that are crisp. Madison can also shoot it from outside and has hit three-pointers at a high clip over the last few seasons. On a really good Pryor squad she stands out as one of the best. Some schools have taken notice only recently and I would expect a few more offers to come her way if she doesn’t commit prior to the beginning of her senior season of basketball. No. 40 - [player_tooltip player_id="327626" first="Jayden" last="Weiberg"] | 5-7 CG | Madill | 2022 | <a href="https://x.com/JaydenWeiberg">@JaydenWeiberg</a> Weiberg is another player who has seen a lot of offers coming in since the grassroots season started. I actually had several coaches ask about her prior to this newest iteration of the rankings coming out and I got the sense that she should definitely be on the list based on how much interest she was bringing in. So, why so much interest? To begin with, Jayden is a bouncy and very athletic guard who has tremendous speed, even with the ball in her hand. She can blow by almost any defender and if someone was to impede her progress, she always makes the right basketball play by dishing it off to a teammate. She goes hard all game long and on both ends of the court and really just stands out any time you see her play. She has caught the attention of a lot of good schools and I fully expect more to jump in the fray before too long. No. 41 - [player_tooltip player_id="327627" first="Willow" last="Grimmett"] | 6-1 F/C | Heritage Hall | 2022 | <a href="https://x.com/WillowGrimmett">@WillowGrimmett</a> Since I saw Willow play at MAYB Nationals in OKC a few months back, I have been telling every coach that will listen about how talented of a player that she is. She should have been ranked a lot earlier and probably will end up ranked higher than No. 41 if things shake out the way I expect during the upcoming high school season. Grimmett is a strong and tough "big" who can hold her own against anyone down low. She has great conditioning and is a player that can play every minute of every game for you. When she isn’t on the basketball court, she is on her school’s rowing team and the cardio work she is doing there definitely has its benefits when it comes to the basketball court. But, that isn’t the only thing that stands out when watching her play. She has great footwork down low and is a player who does a good job of getting turned toward the basket and finishing strong despite what the defender does. A lot of younger players will kind of just throw it up once they are under the rim. Not Willow. She gets into position to make the high percentage basket and it shows when she puts up points at a very high percentage. No. 43 - [player_tooltip player_id="327629" first="Makayla" last="Washington"] | 5-7 CG | East Central | 2022 | <a href="https://x.com/makaylawashin23">@makaylawashin23</a> I have seen a lot of good players come out of East Central, but there is a chance that Makayla may be the best of the bunch. She is one of those players that I had heard a lot about for actually getting to see her play. On this rare occasion, the hype was right. Washington has great size and uses her body very well. She finishes strong, draws contact, and more often than not, converts the free throw. She is a tough defender with quick hands that racks up the steals. Makayla is quick on the offensive end also, with handles that can help her to get past seemingly any defender. She may end up going JuCo, but she projects as a D-II player eventually. Make the trip to Tulsa this season college coaches. You need to see her in person and I promise you will not be disappointed.