Fall Rankings Review: 2022 2G Rundown

The featured image is of [player_tooltip player_id="206423" first="Abigail" last="Young"] (2022) of Mooresville High School and Indiana Showcase Red. Last month we completed our quarterly rankings overhaul, and we finished it off with the 2022 class, updating those lists for the first time since June. While we didn’t expand the 2022 list this time around, we will look to do so for a final time during our December update. In this article, however, I have taken time to examine the games of a few of the 2-guards in this class from a variety of different angles.   Top of the Class Residing at the top of our 2-guard list are actually a pair of versatile combo guards who can play just about anywhere on the floor. [player_tooltip player_id="61030" first="Jessica" last="Carrothers"] of Crown Point has long been at or near the top of our 2022 rankings, and she just continues to produce at a high level. She is strong, tough-nosed, and plays with an outstanding motor. She is one of the best downhill drivers if she gets an angle, and she understands how to draw contact and earn repeated trips to the free throw line. She gives great effort at the defensive end of the floor as well, and she anticipates what her opponent is going to do about as well as anyone. This Fall she made a verbal commitment to play at IUPUI. Joining her in the Top-10 in the class is [player_tooltip player_id="34537" first="Rayah" last="Kincer"] of Franklin Central. She is another strong, versatile guard who can play any of three positions because of her size, skill, and physicality. She is good with the ball in her hands and sees the floor very well, she can absorb contact when attacking the basket, and she is shooting the ball more consistently than ever at this point. She plays with a competitive grit and fire, and she had some strong moments throughout the Spring and Summer where she took over games. Like Carrothers, Kincer made a Fall commitment as well, to the University of Evansville where she’ll team up with 2022 point guard [player_tooltip player_id="128116" first="Kynidi" last="Striverson"]. Over the past year, I have been impressed with the continued improvement of [player_tooltip player_id="128154" first="Zoe" last="Stewart"] from Terre Haute’s North Vigo High School. Stewart has always flashed nice talent, a wiry-strong, athletic frame, and fluid/smooth athleticism in all directions. She’s starting to play with a greater sense of urgency, and her efficiency at the offensive end of the floor is improving as well. She can play on the ball and initiate offense, especially in transition, but she’s so much more effective off the ball as a shooter/scorer. I think she has the physical talent to become a high-level defender at the next level, and if she commits to that end of the floor the way she does offensively, I look for her to play a lot immediately next year as a college Freshman. She will attend Murray State University. Tri-West’s [player_tooltip player_id="61059" first="Kenna" last="Kirby"] had a tough break during the grassroots season, suffering a severe injury that kept her sidelined the entire month of July. But she is a strong, tough-nosed kid who always plays with a motor. She is a very nice perimeter shooter with deep range, and she was starting to handle it more and create offense, at least for her high school team. She is a real weapon on the perimeter, and if she can get back to herself by midseason, I look for Tri-West to again make another deep run through the state tournament. Kirby recently signed with Marian University in Indianapolis.   On the Rise For a while now, Penn has been blessed with talented ballplayers. One who just continues to improve each time I see her is [player_tooltip player_id="128151" first="Gracie" last="Bobo"]. I’ve mentioned her a few times on this platform, but she seems to do something differently each time I see her. She has always been an effective scorer, whether she’s attacking the basket or knocking down 3-pointers. But her shot selection has improved a great deal, she’s taking care of the basketball better, and she is playing a more efficient game in total. She has a wiry-strong frame, solid athleticism in most directions, and she sees the floor and plays with a nice motor. She has been recruited by a number of the Midwest’s better small colleges, and she should really help someone in the future. [player_tooltip player_id="303394" first="Taylor" last="Lynch"] of Madison continues to rise, but some of that is simply my newfound familiarity with her and her game after seeing her for the first time in April. She has a solid to strong, athletic frame, she moves well in most directions, and she plays with a really nice motor. She has touch outside, she can attack North/South and score or get to the line, plus she has some touch around the perimeter. While she’s likely a ’2’ at the next level, she can handle the ball for her high school team, make plays, and find open teammates. She’s tucked away in an isolated area by the Ohio River, but if schools are willing to make the trip, I think they’re going to see she’s a talented young lady who can compete with many of these other prospects. Mooresville’s [player_tooltip player_id="206423" first="Abigail" last="Young"] was one of the most improved players throughout the entirety of the Spring and Summer. She has always possessed a strong frame, solid all-around athleticism, and a nice foundation skillfully. But this year she looks so much more comfortable with the ball in her hands, she is regularly making plays for teammates off the bounce, and she’s shooting it more consistently from the perimeter. You can tell she has put the time in. She’ll still need a little work defending the ball at the next level, but she plays with an outstanding motor and a quiet toughness. Plus, she has the versatility to flex between the ’2’ and ’3’ positions because of her size and strength. She recently made a commitment to Indiana University-Southeast. [player_tooltip player_id="97326" first="Mariah" last="Claywell"] of Union City has been a somewhat hidden prospect East of Muncie near the Ohio state line. But this Spring and Summer her grassroots team participated in a few well-attended events and she was able to draw some college attention. She is a nice athlete with a wiry-strong frame, and she’s always aggressive off the bounce. She doesn’t shoot it much outside, but she can handle the ball, attack the basket, and find open teammates. I also think she has the potential to be a really nice defender at the next level. Mariah made a commitment to Bethel University in Mishawaka earlier this Fall.   Don’t Sleep on Them Every class has a handful of girls you can identify quickly as really standing out, whether it be size, strength, skill, or ability. At the same time, there is another group of prospects who tend to fly under the radar for a number of different reasons, so I wanted to mention four such young ladies. [player_tooltip player_id="97260" first="Trinity" last="Barnes"] is someone who started her high school career with some fanfare, but this Summer was the most I have seen her on the grassroots circuit since, and she didn’t disappoint. She has a long, athletic frame, a little bounce in her step, plus some speed and quickness. She plays with a nice motor, and she will work at the defensive end as much as the offensive end. She is a natural scorer. She can hit shots outside, in the midrange game, or finish at the basket. She’ll need to continue tightening her skillset, but she’s one of those kids who just has a natural overall feel for the game. She transferred back to Gary West Side after spending a couple of years at Lighthouse CPA. I’m also anxious to see what [player_tooltip player_id="128123" first="J’Asia" last="Scott"] does at Fort Wayne Northrop this year, with a new system and a couple of new teammates in the lineup. She is a very athletic, quick/fast guard who does a little of everything well. She can make plays with her ability, but at times she gets almost too comfortable just doing that, because she does have good ball skill, a creative nature, and she can knock down an open perimeter jumper. Where I think she can be elite is at the defensive end of the floor. She has really nice athletic talent, and I can see her absolutely frustrating opposing ball-handlers. The remaining two guards are a pair of ladies who I haven’t spent much time addressing in the past, but who definitely deserve more attention from everyone. [player_tooltip player_id="303399" first="Marissa" last="Shelton"] of Mishawaka is a really nice, intriguing guard who I certainly want to see more of this Winter. She has a solid, athletic frame, she moves well in most directions, and she can take on a variety of roles. She has the ability to handle the ball in transition and even initiate the offense, though I think she’ll be more of a natural ’2’ at the next level. She can glide to the basket off the bounce or knock down open jumpers consistently. Mishawaka hasn’t been great the last few years, but Shelton will definitely help that this season, and I think she could be a nice steal for a high-level small college. I also saw [player_tooltip player_id="303404" first="Zaya" last="Adagbada"] of Avon for the first time this Spring. She’s the leading returning scorer for the Orioles, and she possesses a great deal of length, wiry strength, fluid athleticism, and some bounce. She has some touch from the perimeter, she’s solid attacking the basket off the bounce, and she plays with a nice motor. She’s another prospect who I think could become a tough on-ball defender because of her length and athletic ability. Avon is under new leadership this season, so I’m curious to see what her role and output will be in 2021-2022.