Kansas 2023s to Watch at Midwest Melee Legacy Circuit Event
The first of a pair of Prep Girls Hoops Circuit events I will be attending at Hy-Vee Arena, Kansas City, Missouri is the Midwest Melee Legacy Circuit event this weekend. Below is a look at Kansas 2023s to watch at…
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Continue ReadingThe first of a pair of Prep Girls Hoops Circuit events I will be attending at Hy-Vee Arena, Kansas City, Missouri is the Midwest Melee Legacy Circuit event this weekend. Below is a look at Kansas 2023s to watch at the event.
Kansas Elite 2023 – Obley
Mack Carson
Mack
Carson
5'8" | CG
De Soto | 2023
State
KS
, 5’8″, CG, De Soto – It has been nearly just over 10 months since I last saw Carlson on the court in person. Last April she was a honorable mention 16U all-tournament selection at the Prep Girls Hoops Dynasty Classic in Lawrence. At that event she showed an ability to hit the quick tre off the catch but she showed off her athleticism and handles in making a nifty whirl to create a shot off the bounce. I am looking to seeing continued growth as an offensive threat and improvement in her body positioning when defending on the wing. Carlson earned first team United Kansas Conference in 2022.
Brielle Staines
Brielle
Staines
5'11" | PF
Shawnee Mission South | 2023
State
KS
, 5’11”, PF, Shawnee Mission South – Staines made a big move last fall to break into the class’s top 50 powered by observations from my Oklahoma and Missouri colleagues Jason Green and Earl Austin. And yet still has not earned any all-league honors in the Sunflower League. In earning honorable mention selection to the 2021 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 moved well with and without the ball. She also operated well in the low post, effectively providing nice targets for entry passes, and finished well against taller defenders. Staines used her body well defensively and in boxing out to pile up her rebounding numbers.
Delanie Tally Delanie Tally 5'6" | PG Louisburg | 2023 State KS , 5’6″, SG, Louisburg – Tally’s quick hands, speed with the dribble, and ability to shoot the three-ball in flow will be things to watch this weekend.
KC Royalty
Lucy Hardy
Lucy
Hardy
5'8" | CG
Lawrence | 2023
State
KS
, 5’8″, Lawrence – At the Kansas City PGH Top 250 event this past October scout Philippe McCree said “one of the first things that popped out about Hardy was how active she was on both ends of the floor.” She was always making basket cuts, coming off screens, setting screens and otherwise making defenders really pay attention to her. She also got rebounded well and got out in transition. Hardy earned Sunflower League honorable mention honors this past season.
Daphne Bracker-Sturm Daphne Bracker-Sturm 6'3" | C Lawrence | 2023 State KS , 6’3″, Lawrence – PGH Top 250 Oct 2021 Kansas City – Great size but not very athletic. Solid mid-range jumper. Posts up but not real physical about it. Very hard to move. Average speed, not nearly quick enough to defend drives from quicker bigs like Hurd and Moree. But, once post the strong Hurd could not get around to stop her from scoring. Phillipe – Bracker was one of the true post at the Expo. She ran the floor and played hard. Offensively in the half-court, she does a good job of carving out space with her body. Did a good job of keeping the ball high when shooting and finishing around the basket.
Lady Prospects 17U
Addison Denney Addison Denney 5'10" | SF Wamego | 2023 State KS , 5’10”, G/F, Wamego – Denney is on my list of players I am looking forward to seeing since I have not seen her play in person in nearly a year and a half. She has athleticism, strength, speed, and plays with physicality.
Addison Schletzbaum Addison Schletzbaum 5'10" | SF Atchison County | 2023 State KS , 5’9″, G, Atchison County – The Northeast Kansas League first team selection was also selected to the October 2021, Kansas City PGH Top 250 All-Event Team. Schletzbaum showed an all-around game on both ends of the floor. She used 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. Can play the shooting guard spot as well with her due to having solid handles and her being a perimeter threat.
Avery Larson
Avery
Larson
5'6" | CG
Manhattan | 2023
State
KS
, 5’6″, G, Manhattan – Larson was one of the top guards in the Indian rotation this past season. At the Kansas City PGH Top 250 Expo the lefty showed an ability to shoot quickly, set up teammates with some nice passes, finished in traffic, shot well off the catch, and ran the break well. I got to see her at the Mid America Classic this past season and among the things she showed was speed with the ball and an ability to finish with either hand in transition. What I really enjoyed seeing was her poise to make solid decisions under constant ball pressure.
Taylor Ross, 6’0″, F, Silver Lake – Ross was a big factor in the team’s ability to stay in the 3A state tournament semi-final game against eventual state champion Goodland. When the team’s starting center got shut down by the forest of trees the Cowgirls had, and then got in foul trouble, Ross’s quickness; length] and defense enabled the team’s to flow well. I am really looking forward to seeing her play with this team.
Mariah Farmer
Mariah
Farmer
5'6" | PG
Silver Lake | 2023
State
KS
, 5’6″, PG, Silver Lake – The two-time Mid-East League honorable mention selection is the ring leader of Silver Lake’s game. She can handle the ball against pressure, pushes the ball well to get the transition game moving, does a great job of setting up other teammates, and can create her own shot. A very aggressive point guard.
Destiny Yates Destiny Yates 5'5" | PG Manhattan | 2023 State KS , 5’5″,. PG, Manhattan – World Exposure GBB Wichita (9.2021) – Yates showed solid quicks, which showed up well in direction changes with and without the ball. Scores the mid-range jumper well and makes effective use of ball fakes to get her drive going. Uses the glass well on finishes. Kansas PGH Top 250 Expo (Oct. 2020) – The quick, very fast, and athletic Yates can score from behind the arc as well as off the bounce. She also showed some interior game with a terrific up-and-under move. Yates deflected a lot of passes.2020 USJN Battle at the Border pool E all star. Lady Prospects Nov. 2020 camp
Trista Hoobler
Trista
Hoobler
5'7" | SG
Wamego | 2023
State
KS
, 5’7″, SG, Wamego – I-35 Exposure (9.29.22) – A quick, slick pivot inside for a score showed several things. Quicks, smarts, creativity, and finishing ability inside. I will be lookin’ for more. I-35 Exposure (9.13.20) – Hoobler showed solid handles and speed in transition. Consistently knocking down the mid-range jumper in the transition game was a strong point. MAYB Reign the Plains (7.21.20) – Three point threat. First team North Central Kansas League.
Chloe Clevenger
Chloe
Clevenger
5'6" | PG
McPherson | 2023
State
KS
, 5’6″, G, McPherson – Clevenger is a player I have seen play in a variety of environments and what she brings to the floor never changes. She is high energy, fierce defensively, tough, and has great stamina. Her offensive game, in terms of creating her own shot, continues to grow. She has become a three point threat and can get to the hole off the bounce and finish with athleticism with both hands. She made my All-Summer Ball 2021 team and earned second team Ark Valley Chisholm Trail Div III.
Paige Chauncey Paige Chauncey 6'0" | PF Manhattan | 2023 State KS , 6’0″, PF, Manhattan – With center Grace Dixon Grace Dixon 6'0" | PF Manhattan | 2022 State KS graduating and moving on the play college ball Chauncey has a great shot at taking over in the middle. She is solidly built, strong, pivots well and creates, runs well, and has the athleticism to split defenders.
Lady Prospects Select
This squad is filled with new-to-me players. While I cannot comment on them yet, expect a report on every player a day or two after the event ends. This weekend is a great opportunity for me to get these players on my radar.
Jacey Clancy, G, Wellsville
Reagan Thayer, 5’8″, SG, Perry-Lecompton
Brooke Metcalfe, 5’8″, G, Perry-Lecompton
Morgann Haaga, SF/CG, Lawrence
Morgan Davis, F/C, Royal Valley
Mariah Jeter-Parrott, 5’3″, PG, Junction City
Featured image: Lawrence and KC Royalty 2023 Daphne Bracker-Sturm Daphne Bracker-Sturm 6'3" | C Lawrence | 2023 State KS . Photo: Robert Kelly.