2022 Rankings: Who To Watch At The Next Level

Now that their high school and AAU careers are officially over, it’s time to look at which seniors will have the most prolific college careers. There are a total of 16 players from Missouri’s Class of 2022 who will play basketball at the Division-I level starting next winter. Six of the ladies in this piece signed with Power Five schools, while another inked with a team out of the Big East that made this year’s Elite Eight. The other player is going to be a on a Ohio Valley Conference squad that has the highest WNBA Draft pick in conference history, who is currently on the Indiana Fever. With that said, here are the top-eight players in our latest Missouri Class of 2022 rankings: 1. [player_tooltip player_id="106921" first="Ysabella" last="Fontleroy"], Kickapoo <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2019/10/Ysabella-Fontleroy-crop-548x360-1649651273.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-412274" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2019/10/Ysabella-Fontleroy-crop-548x360-1649651273-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a> SF Ι 6-foot-2 Ι Signed with: Baylor (Big 12) Kickapoo doesn't reach back-to-back final fours and this year's Class 6 State Championship game without Fontleroy. After averaging 24 points, 10.9 rebounds and 1.6 steals per game this season, she was named Missouri's 2021-22 Gatorade Player of the Year and MBCA's Miss Show-Me Basketball on top of earning Co-Class 6 Player of the Year honors. She also, of course, earned all-state for the second time. The three-time national champion Baylor Bears are getting a player in Fontleroy who is an impeccable three-level scorer and does so at a high rate with fluidity. Dangerous with the ball in her hands due to her handle and ability to pull up in a heartbeat. Boxes out extremely well for boards and easy putbacks. 2. [player_tooltip player_id="162388" first="Saniah" last="Tyler"], Incarnate Word Academy <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-412278" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/04/DSC_0301-scaled-crop-1512x993-1649651489-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /> PG Ι 5-foot-6 Ι Signed with: Kentucky (SEC) To end her prep career, Tyler led an Incarnate Word Academy team that finished the season nationally ranked (#16 in ESPN's latest national list) after winning its fifth-straight state championship. IWA went undefeated the past two seasons as they've won 68-straight games with Tyler running the show. Earned all-state honors for the third time and was named the Post-Dispatch All-Metro Player of the Year after averaging 12.2 points, three assists and two steals per game this season. The Kentucky Wildcats, which beat this year's national champions South Carolina for the SEC Tournament Championship, are getting an all-around player in Tyler. One of the best passers in the nation and has the highly-sought after attack mentality. 3. [player_tooltip player_id="213690" first="Ashton" last="Judd"], West Plains <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/04/DSC_0358-scaled-crop-1812x1190-1649650269.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-412259" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/04/DSC_0358-scaled-crop-1812x1190-1649650269-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a> SF Ι 5-foot-11 Ι Signed with: Missouri (SEC) Judd had a picture-perfect ending to her high school career by leading West Plains to win its second-ever state championship in program history. It was the first first state title in her career, and she was named the MBCA Class 5 Player of the Year and became a two-time all-state recipient because of it. Judd posted averages of 26.5 points, 11.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.8 steals per game this winter. The Missouri Tigers have recently had standouts like the Phoenix Mercury's Sophie Cunningham and current Tiger Hayler Frank grace their program, and a diverse player like Judd could become a Mizzou great herself. Three-level scorer with a fine pull-up jumper, plays with a high motor and defends multiple positions. 4. [player_tooltip player_id="107958" first="Averi" last="Kroenke"], Rock Bridge <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2020/08/averi-kroenke-crop-383x251-1649650345.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-412260" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2020/08/averi-kroenke-crop-383x251-1649650345-300x196.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="196" /></a> CG Ι 5-foot-11 Ι Signed with: Missouri (SEC) Rock Bridge only lost two games with Kroenke leading the way this winter. However, one of those losses came in the district championship game to eventual Class 6 third-place finisher Blue Springs. Despite not making it past districts, she shared MBCA Class 6 Player of the Year honors with Fontleroy and earned all-state for the third time. She did so by averaging a double-double with 16.3 points and 10.2 rebounds per game, and she also had 4.2 assists and 2.0 steals each contest. Kroenke and Judd could make for quite the duo at Mizzou as both play with contagious tenacity. Kroenke is all gas no breaks in every facet and is a threat to score from just about anywhere thanks to her lethal pull-up shot. Overall natural playmaker. 5. [player_tooltip player_id="162386" first="Alexa" last="Rubel"], Cape Notre Dame <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-412262" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/10/DSC_0505-scaled-crop-2141x1406-1649650426-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /> CG Ι 6-foot-0 Ι Signed with: UT Martin (OVC) Before Rubel, Notre Dame went 10 seasons without winning a district championship. She proceeded to lead ND to win four district titles in a row but fell in the Class 5 Quarterfinals this year. Though Rubel didn't make it to the final four the second time (2020), she became a three-time all-state selection after averaging 15.9 points, 10.3 rebounds, 4.9 assists and 3.3 steals per game as a senior. UT Martin had Chelsey Perry selected 26th overall in the 2021 WNBA Draft, and I wouldn't be surprised if Rubel was the next Skyhawk to have her name called on draft night in the future. She's a prolific stat stuffer who scores at will with an array of moves and knocks down 3-pointers (42.2% this winter). One of the best passers and rebounders in her class. 6. [player_tooltip player_id="107959" first="Kennedy" last="Townsend"], Park Hill <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-412264" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/10/3562466F-6A6E-406E-A722-66F7DF33F9F4-scaled-crop-2291x1505-1649650643-300x197.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /> CG Ι 5-foot-8 Ι Signed with: Creighton (Big East) Townsend was able to help Park Hill reach its second-straight district championship game in her final season of high school ball. Unfortunately, she didn't come away with a district title on either occasion, but Townsend did join Tyler, Kroenke and Rubel as the only three-time all-state honorees on this list. She accomplished this feat after averaging a team-high 21.6 points per game. Townsend's scoring ability will be well suited for a Creighton Bluejays team that made it to its first-ever elite eight behind a balanced scoring attack this past March. Is quite the silent assassin with the ball in her hands thanks to her ability to pull up in an instant for swishes. Very controlled, polished offensive talent, and she's always gunning for the ball defensively. 7. [player_tooltip player_id="107976" first="Allison" last="Fitzgerald"], Marquette <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-412265" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/05/D75C4D9A-8104-441A-B6CC-DEDF4FBB1A50-scaled-crop-2304x1513-1649650807-300x197.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /> PF Ι 6-foot-3 Ι Signed with: Colorado (Pac-12) To no fault of her own, Marquette was unable to four-peat as district champions in Fitzgerald's final season. This was largely due to the fact she wasn't able to finish the season after suffering a season-ending injury in January. The past three seasons in the starting five, Marquette's all-time leader in blocks Fitzgerald led the Mustangs to a district title. When she did play this season, Fitzgerald was named to the Visitation Academy All-Tournament Team along with Tyler. The Colorado Buffaloes were able to make the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2013 this season, and they will be in good hands with Fitzgerald. On top of her knack for swatting shots, she finds the basket with ease and plays with incredible court awareness. 8. [player_tooltip player_id="177088" first="Eliza" last="Maupin"], Webster Groves <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2020/12/Eliza-Maupin-II-crop-1633x1072-1649650893.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-412267" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2020/12/Eliza-Maupin-II-crop-1633x1072-1649650893-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a> PF Ι 6-foot-2 Ι Signed with: Kansas State (Big 12) Webster Groves made back-to-back state final fours for the first time in school history thanks to a player like Maupin. While Webster Groves didn't end up winning what would've been its first state championship, she did help her school take second in Class 6 last season and third in Class 5 this winter. In her final season to be named all-state for the first time, Maupin recorded averages of 15.3 points and 7.5 rebounds per game. The Kansas State Wildcats made this year's NCAA Tournament and will return a star player in senior post Ayoka Lee for Maupin's first season in the Big 12. Extremely athletic player who protects the rim and can guard multiple positions. Smooth with the ball in her hands.