2023 Rankings: Biggest Movers, Part 2
After taking a look at the top advancers of the 2022 class I now offer a look at the 2023s. There have been some substantial changes in the ranks. When a player can advance 25 spots and not be included…
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Continue ReadingAfter taking a look at the top advancers of the 2022 class I now offer a look at the 2023s. There have been some substantial changes in the ranks. When a player can advance 25 spots and not be included in the top 10 movers in the class ranks that is saying something. A variety of factors have contributed to the large swings up and slides down but they all are rooted in the amount of visibility players received over the summer. Filling the shoes of graduated 2021s enabled more opportunities for players to get looks especially by scouts and other observers. Because of the numbers of prospects making major advancements I am breaking the look at the class into two parts. This part 2 offers a look at players outside the top 40 who advanced more than ten positions. The list is in order by number of positions advanced.
Brielle Staines Brielle Staines 5'11" | PF Shawnee Mission South | 2023 State KS , 5’11”, PF, Shawnee Mission South – Staines cracks the top 50 following a strong summer, advancing 24 spots to #47. Distilling reports from my Oklahoma and Missourit colleagues Jason Green and Earl Austin, Staines has clearly announced herself as a post player to be reckoned with in the Sunflower League this fall after not reaching an all-conference team a year ago. In earning honorable mention selection to the PGH Circuit Dynasty Regional Finals 16U all-tournament team, she showed how formidable she is on both ends of the floor. Fluid with good size, strength, and length, Staines moves well with and without the ball. She also operates well in the low post, effectively providing nice targets for entry passes, and can finish well against taller defenders. She uses her body well defensively and in boxing out to pile up her rebounding numbers.
Leah Durr Leah Durr 5'11" | PF Norwich | 2023 State KS , 5’11”, PF, Cheney – Durr will have a substantial impact on Cheney’s attempt to repeat as 3A state champion. Why explains why she exploded up the ranks 45 spots to #85. At World Exposure GBB’s Wichita Exposure Event in September Durr especially used her powerful lower body to create space inside while calling for the ball. She showed better hops than expected, solid transition speed, and a solid ability to closes out on shooters. Using her size and strength, Durr elevated well on rebounds and went back up quickly. A pile cutter is she knows what she is going to do with the ball on the block catch before the ball gets there. An important skill! While I would like to see her get faster, I look forward to seeing her show more in her bag of moves around the hole and her mid-range game in the upcoming year. Norwich opponents should thank her for transferring to Cheney ahead of last 2021 season.
Avery Caselman Avery Caselman 5'7" | SG Southeasr of Saline | 2023 State KS , 5’7″, SG, Southeast of Saline – Among the most entertaining games I watched all regular season in 2021 was Southeast of Saline at Sterling. Like Sterling, Southeast of Saline returns pretty much the entire varsity squad including four all-North Central Activities Conference selections. Caselman will be a significant factor in the team’s success in ’22. A solid ball handler who can run the point when needed, Caselman is a substantial three point threat with long range. Defensively, she hustles, closes out well and instinctively. Easy to see why she advanced 35 spots to #78.
Tessa Kuker Tessa Kuker 5'7" | SG Spearville | 2023 State KS , SG, Spearville – Against Spearville, who opposing coaches will be talking about when they plead to their players to keep track of the shooter those coaches will mean Kuker. An example as to why, on eight three balls she scored nearly half of her team’s points a year ago in a 49-38 win over South Central. She climbs 33 spots to #89.
Addison Martin Addison Martin CG Life Prep | 2024 State KS , CG, Life Prep – Martin has some foundational abilities worth remembering. She moves well on the move, makes good use of bounce passes on the perimeter, and keeps her composure in trapping situations to pivot and get the ball out. She does need to improve her 1-on-1 speed and quickness and to display that she is a shooting threat but her foundational abilities lift her 28 spots to #108.
Camryn Clevenger Camryn Clevenger 5'10" | CG Clearwater | 2023 State KS , 5’10”, PF, Clearwater – = 27 Clearwater will have as deep in the post as any team in 4A this season. That group includes the Clevenger, a player described as big; strong; and bruising. Clevenger makes effective use of her mid-range jumper when she isn’t tying up opponents on both ends of the floor. Clevenger advanced 27 spots to #82.
Lauren Torrance Lauren Torrance 6'1" | C St. Mary's-Colgan | 2023 State KS , 6’1″, C, St. Mary’s Colgan – Torrance ended 2021 with first team selections to the Kansas Basketball Coaches Association 2A and CNC League first team. She was also the only sophomore on the 2A all-state teams. She clearly will be one to watch this upcoming season. In driving up 22 spots to #73 Torrance, who grew several inches after her freshman year, showed she is a force on both ends of the floor. She has good transition speed, quickness to play the top of the press, hops on rebounds, and athleticism and scoring ability on the interior. A key thing I like is that Torrance keeps the ball high off the catch out of the pick-and-roll game.
Shiney Hughes Shiney Hughes 5'9" | SF Wellington | 2023 KS , 5’9″, SG, Wellington – Hughes will be looking to build on her 2021 and 2020 AVCTL Div IV honorable mention selections. Advancing 21 spots to #46 Hughes has established herself as a quality perimeter threat with 23′ range, especially off the catch. Players have to get a body on her as she is effective following her shot. She also protects the ball well off rebounds and steals.
Paige Chauncey Paige Chauncey 6'0" | PF Manhattan | 2023 State KS , 6’0″, PF, Manhattan – Chauncey has been a beast all summer says my colleague, and Chauncey’s Lady Prospects coach, Phillipe McCree. As a result she advanced 21 spots to #49. Chauncey uses her size, strength, athleticism, and quickness to create shots off the basket drive as well as off interior play. She pivots well, is able to split defenders on the finish, and transitions with solid speed.
MaKayla McClellan MaKayla McClellan 5'4" | CG Wichita South | 2023 State KS , 5’4″, CG, Sunrise Christian Academy – The transfer from Wichita Collegiate certainly drew her share of attention this summer from not just myself but also fellow PGH scouts Jason Green (Oklahoma) and Shayla Smith (Georgia & Florida). Thoughout the summer I have liked her speed and quickness with the ball in transition. My colleagues commented on her perimeter stroke, handles, ability to play through contact, hustle, and passing. As Jason said from the PGH Circuit Dynasty Regional Finals, where she was a 16U honorable mention all-event selection, she is a baller. McClellan advanced 21 spots to #93.
Piper McCann Piper McCann 5'3" | PG Maize South | 2023 KS , 5’3″, PG, Maize South – On a deep, versatile roster McCann’s carves out her niche with quickness, movement without the ball, and her threat as a perimeter shooter. McCann advance 19 spots to #86.
Addison Schletzbaum Addison Schletzbaum 5'10" | SF Atchison County | 2023 State KS , 5’9″, SF, Atchison County – The Northeast Kansas League second team selection culminated her summer by being selected to the PGH Top 250 Exposure Event, Kansas City – All-Event Team in October. In climbing 16 spots to #42 Schletzbaum showed an all-around game on both ends of the floor. She uses her frame, strength, and leaping ability effectively to overpower similar sized opponents on the glass. She also elevates well on mid-range jumpers and when finishing at speed with length. Schletzbaum can play the shooting guard spot as well due to having solid handles and being a perimeter threat. She will mix it up on the offensive glass and consistently boxes out well. In a variety of ways Schletzbaum is a walking mix-match.
Featured image: Shawnee Mission South 2023
Brielle Staines
Brielle
Staines
5'11" | PF
Shawnee Mission South | 2023
State
KS
. Photo: Prep Girls Hoops.