Class of 2023 Stock Risers Pt. 1

The latest 2023 class rankings just dropped earlier this week! Here are some of the class’s highest stockrisers: <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="206579" first="Bella" last="Samz"] | Arrowhead | Combo Guard | Up 17 spots from 34 to 17</strong> <strong>Biggest Improvement: Point Guard Skills</strong> Samz is an eccentric combo guard who perfectly embodies that bit of basketball slang. Though most comfortable taking on the role of a traditional two-guard, her handle and strengths as a passer see her operating the point for Arrowhead as well. Samz’ willingness to pass the rock and versatility floating around the perimeter opens up space for the rest of the Warhawk offense. This is where that "traditional two-guard" bit goes into effect. Samz is an elite shooter whose quick release off the catch and comfort adjusting her feet to set up her shot is a constant threat in the half-court, and her solid shot mechanics allow her shot to translate at all three levels. The biggest improvement that Samz has made is in her decision-making and comfort as a primary ball-handler. Though her talent as a passer was evident during her sophomore year--routinely making the smartest, best passes in the halfcourt in limited opportunities--her scope and comfort handling the rock has taken a big step forward and Samz continues to grow in this area. A particularly exciting aspect of her development is as a screen manipulator. With her translatable jump shot and keen short-twitch movements, Samz has shown the ability to create space by using ball screens, but she’ll have to get more used to setting up her shot off the dribble to maximize this new skill. Overall, a much-deserved bump up in the rankings for a lethal shooter. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="206719" first="Lalani" last="Ellis"] | Milwaukee Academy of Science | Scoring Guard | Up 18 Spots from 47 to 29</strong> <strong>Biggest Improvement: Passing</strong> Ellis is a crafty guard with a scoring instinct that sees her getting to the paint at will. The MAS junior has flexed her ability to get downhill and adjust on the fly when attacking the basket, a valuable skill considering her touch around the rim. But Ellis’ greatest skill is that she never plays the game at a pace outside her own, controlling tempo in isolation and attacking open spaces with precision. This kind of creativity and simplicity is essential to the Novas offense and demonstrates Ellis’ combination of talent, instincts, and her ability to simply put the ball in the hoop. Where I’ve seen the most improvement out of the junior scorer is in her decision-making as a passer. Though at her best going downhill with the intention to score, Ellis has begun to capitalize on the attention she draws to get looks for others. The aforementioned craftiness that she plays with is only promoted further with this additional wrinkle she’s added to her game. She’ll need to improve as a shooter to reach her full potential as a scoring guard, but the incremental signs of growth from Ellis has seen her skyrocket into the top 30 of the PGH Wisco and could see her climb even higher if she maintains her trajectory. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="156088" first="Emma" last="Raye"] | Superior | Guard/Forward | Up 20 spots from 78 to 58</strong> <strong>Biggest Improvement: Creating her own Offense</strong> Raye’s defensive motor and offensive versatility has anchored Superior to a 14-2 record through the first two months of the season. And versatility truly is the operative word. The do-it-all junior plays as the big defensively, can trap on the wings, has the lateral quickness and timing to jump into passing lanes, and the physicality to bang down low. On the offensive end, Raye is just as effective hovering around the baseline and attacking off power dribble as she is spacing the defense with her three-point shot. Raye can operate in so many different roles in Division 1 despite being relatively undersized when she slides into that forward slot. Where Superior’s Swiss army knife has taken the biggest jump is as a creator for herself. She’s become a much more explosive threat than she was a year ago, particularly when operating 17-feet and in. Her strength and technique has allowed her to play in forward positions (as previously mentioned), but she’s beginning to use what is typically construed as a size disadvantage as a <em>speed advantage</em>. This new skill has allowed Raye to further showcase her finishing ability and overall offensive bag. Jumping 20 spots is no joke and Raye’s two-way consistency is a big reason why she’s taken that leap. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="342098" first="Makiah" last="Hawk"] | Sun Prairie | Forward/Center | Up 22 pots from 45 to 23</strong> <strong>Biggest Improvement: Defensive Consistency</strong> Sun Prairie goes as Hawk goes. When she’s getting touches and looks confident on the ball, the Cardinals’ ceiling raises exponentially. The flashes of passing and interior finishing are incredibly promising in terms of her long-term development. But it’s her defense that makes her special. Last season’s shortened slate of games, and Hawk’s role within that condensed schedule, didn’t provide enough of a sample size to accurately assess how dominant a force the frontcourt baller could be. The flashes of the defensive impact that were evident during the shortened 2021 season have become a staple of the 6’1"’ forward/center’s game. Her instincts, footwork, and ambidexterity blocking shots around the baskets are imposing. She swallows up smaller guards attacking her paint and acts as Sun Prairie’s enforcer in doing so. Hawk has also been impressive as a wing defender in spot opportunities. She does an excellent job of using her body as a deterrent against the speed of guard and has the length to cover up any space that may have been created on the attack. Bringing that kind of intensity and reliability on the defensive end on a consistent basis has made Hawk one of the 25 best players in the C/O 2023. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="156094" first="Hattie" last="Fox"] | Osceola | Scoring Combo Guard | Up 27 spots from 68 to 41</strong> <strong>Biggest Improvement: Space Creation</strong> Fox is a two-way guard whose seemingly infinite energy drives her game above that of her competitors. She averages 5.5 more points per game than the Middle Border conference’s second-leading scorer. While bearing the vast majority of the offensive load for Osceola, Fox still finds the energy to spearhead their diamond full-court press. She has a fairly deep bag offensively, but it’s in this defensive scheme where her run-jump athleticism is on full display, jumping passing lanes, blocking overhead passes, and creating separation in transition. Though Fox has always had a shooter’s touch, her improved ability to create space without the ball has made her an elite scoring threat in Division 3. She cuts sharply and with purpose, finding gaps along the perimeter and running off of screens tightly to maximize the space she can work with off the catch. She’s also become comfortable launching from a standstill, making her jab steps more potent and her first step seem more explosive. She’s just become a much more dominant offensive player and has the motor to present constant problems for opposing defenses. &nbsp;