Final 2022 Rankings: Top Centers

<p>Now that our final rankings of the 2022 class are out here are a few words about some of the top Centers in the Senior class.  </p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="106153" first="Gracie" last="Merkle"] - 6’6" - Bullitt East </p> <p>Merkle is a matchup problem for almost every team in the Commonwealth.  The best most teams can do it try to deny her the ball and many teams don't have a single player that can do that.  Her 17.4 points and 9.6 rebounds (which places her for 49th best in the state tied with several others) attests to how hard she is to stop.  </p> <p>Once she has the ball she shows how dominant great size can be and why she will play Division 1 basketball for Bellarmine next season.  She leads the state in Field Goal Efficiency making 71.2% of her shots and did the same last season making 73.5% from the field.  </p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="106132" first="Halle" last="Langhi"] - 6’1" - Marshall County </p> <p>Has a well-developed post-up game and can score in so many ways.  With a baby hook, floater, and turnaround jumper her multiple options to score the ball make her impossible to predict for a defender.  But perhaps, what sets her apart the most is her quickness to be able to find some separation in traffic to be able to receive the ball.  </p> <p>Langhi is averaging 15.5 points, 7.4 rebounds per game while making 52.2% of her field goals, 78.3% of foul shots and even making a rare three-pointer (0.2 per game) 40% of the time.  </p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="31878" first="Daisha" last="White"] - 5’11" - Manual </p> <p>White began the season ranked among the Small Forwards but after a few talented players left she found herself playing Center and has excelled.  Something I said she could do before seeing her do it in 2 different articles before the season.</p> <p>At 9.3 points and 7.3 rebounds per game, she is using speed, hustle, and a variety of frontcourt player skills to get the job done.  Perhaps no other player in the Commonwealth can play all three frontcourt positions making her positional flexibility her best attribute.  </p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="388808" first="Jacie" last="Chesser"] - 6’0" - Anderson County </p> <p>If you wanted to create a training video of how to how to utilize the pivot foot to score in the paint footage of Chesser in action would be mandatory.  She is lightning quick once she has the ball making her almost impossible to stop when she has the necessary spacing.  I wouldn't be surprised to learn she spent some time training to be a dancer because she elevates the pivot into an art form. </p> <p>Chesser, who averages 12 points, 5.7 rebounds per game, is one of the most efficient scorers in the state making 54,8% of her field goals and 80.7% free throws ranking her 40th and 14th in the KHSAA respectfully. </p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="106163" first="Tamesha" last="Dozier"] - 6’1" - Butler</p> <p>Dozier is primarily a defensive specialist and rim protector that not only blocks shots but can do so spectacularly.  She is also very effective in deflecting passes and can defend speedy ballhandlers on the perimeter.  She makes an impact on the game defensively just by being on the court because offensives have to account for where she is before every shot or risk seeing the ball carom off her outstretched palm.  </p> <p>Despite the defensive prowess Dozier still finds a way to score and grab 9 rebounds per game.  She also makes 66.7% of her free throws.  </p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="206002" first="Briontanay" last="Marshall"] - 6’0" -  Central </p> <p>Marshall is a half-court player on one of the best full-court teams in the Commonwealth which limits her offensive touches.  But she holds down the paint for her team when in half-court offense and all over the court defensively. </p> <p>If only more opponents could slow down her team during the fastbreak Marshall could easily be averaging more than 7.1 points and 7.6 rebounds per game.  Keep that in mind Coach while you are filling out the roster.  </p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="388811" first="Savannah" last="Parker"] - 6’0" - Montgomery County </p> <p>Parker has a ton of fire that keeps her pushing herself on the court and it leads to results of 12.6 points, 9.6 rebounds per game.  She also makes a very high 58.6% of her field goal placing her as the 15th most efficient scorer in the state.  </p> <p>This is a next-level player that any coach would be lucky to sign.  She is perhaps a bit too short for her body type on the D-1 level but can be a major contributor anywhere else.  </p> <!-- wp:paragraph --><!-- /wp:paragraph -->