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 the event. <h2><span style="font-size: 14pt;">[program_tooltip program_id='715643' first='Kansas' last='Elite'] 2023 - Obley</span></h2> [player_tooltip player_id="298582" first="Mack" last="Carlson"], 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 [program_tooltip program_id='716194' first='Dynasty' last=''] Classic in Lawrence. At that event she showed an ability <span data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"7.10.21 I-35 Showcase - Beat easily on the wing due to poor position and turning her shoulder instead of moving her feet. Lawrence PGH [program_tooltip program_id='716194' first='Dynasty' last=''] Classic (April 2021) - HM. Not only 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."}" data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4609,"3":{"1":0},"12":0,"15":"Verdana"}">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.</span> 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.<span data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"7.10.21 I-35 Showcase - Beat easily on the wing due to poor position and turning her shoulder instead of moving her feet. Lawrence PGH [program_tooltip program_id='716194' first='Dynasty' last=''] Classic (April 2021) - HM. Not only 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."}" data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4609,"3":{"1":0},"12":0,"15":"Verdana"}"> </span> [caption id="attachment_287845" align="alignleft" width="145"]<img class="wp-image-287845" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/05/Brielle-Staines.jpg" alt="" width="145" height="96" /> Shawnee Mission South 2023 [player_tooltip player_id="298525" first="Brielle" last="Staines"]. Photo: Prep Girls Hoops.[/caption][player_tooltip player_id="298525" first="Brielle" last="Staines"], 5'11", PF, Shawnee Mission South - S<span data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"11/15/21 article - 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 [program_tooltip program_id='716194' first='Dynasty' last=''] 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. Jason Green PGH [program_tooltip program_id='716194' first='Dynasty' last=''] Regional Finals 16U all-tournament honorable mention - "Yet another great rebounder from last weekend, Staines was all over the place in [program_tooltip program_id='715643' first='Kansas' last='Elite']'s games. She is a very good rebounder who does a tremendous job of putting a body on her opponent, then turning to search out the rebound. She is a very good inside player who has soft hands when receiving passes into the paint. She gets turned quickly and finishes often before her defender can do anything about it. She is a fluid player who has very good size, is long and is clearly comfortable with her size. Brielle moves well with and without the ball and was a stand out player all weekend long. She is a big part of what her very good [program_tooltip program_id='715643' first='Kansas' last='Elite'] squad does on the offensive end and coaches will want to get a look at her this coming high school season as she is clearly a very, very good prospect." Lawrence PGH [program_tooltip program_id='716194' first='Dynasty' last=''] Classic (April 2021) - Earl Austin - A strong player who knows how to operate in the low post. She was excellent at sitting down and sealing her defender and giving a nice target to throw the ball to. She was able to finish well against taller defenders."}" data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4611,"3":{"1":0},"4":{"1":2,"2":16777215},"12":0,"15":"Verdana"}">taines 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 [program_tooltip program_id='716194' first='Dynasty' last=''] 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. </span> [player_tooltip player_id="335936" first="Delanie" last="Tally"], 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. <h2><span style="font-size: 14pt;">KC Royalty</span></h2> [caption id="attachment_335583" align="alignleft" width="145"]<img class="wp-image-335583" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/10/35-Lucy-Hardy.jpg" alt="" width="145" height="194" /> Lawrence 2023 [player_tooltip player_id="335960" first="Lucy" last="Hardy"]. Photo: Prep Girls Hoops.[/caption][player_tooltip player_id="335960" first="Lucy" last="Hardy"], 5'8", Lawrence - At the Kansas City <span data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"PGH Top 250 Oct 2021 Kansas City - Showed good quickness and bounce defending the ball on the perimeter. Phillipe - One of the first things that popped about Hardy was how active she was on both ends of the floor. Without the ball, she was always on the move coming off screens, making basket cuts or setting screens. Crashed the boards from the guard position and got out in front in transition."}" data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4609,"3":{"1":0},"12":0,"15":"Verdana"}">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. </span> [player_tooltip player_id="335963" first="Daphne" last="Bracker-Sturm"], 6'3", Lawrence - <span data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"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."}" data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4611,"3":{"1":0},"4":{"1":2,"2":16777215},"12":0,"15":"Verdana"}">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.</span> <h3><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Lady Prospects 17U </span></h3> [caption id="attachment_277190" align="alignleft" width="146"]<img class="wp-image-277190" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/04/Addison-Denney.jpg" alt="" width="146" height="97" /> Wamego 2023 [player_tooltip player_id="227682" first="Addison" last="Denney"]. Photo: Prep Girls Hoops.[/caption][player_tooltip player_id="227682" first="Addison" last="Denney"], 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. [caption id="attachment_335607" align="alignright" width="145"]<img class="wp-image-335607" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/10/65-Addison-Schletzbaum.jpg" alt="" width="145" height="193" /> Atchison County 2023 [player_tooltip player_id="156310" first="Addison" last="Schletzbaum"]. Photo: Prep Girls Hoops.[/caption][player_tooltip player_id="156310" first="Addison" last="Schletzbaum"], 5'9", G, Atchison County - The Northeast Kansas League first team selection was also selected to the October 2021, Kansas City <span data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"PGH Top 250 Oct 2021 Kansas City - 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. Phillipe - Cunningham didn't do a lot in terms of scoring the ball, but she did a lot of little things that win games. Offensively she makes the right decisions with the ball. Defensively she was always in the right spot. Runs the floor in transition, always boxed out. Even for a smaller guard, she wasn't afraid to go get offensive rebounds. Northeast Kansas League second team. Lady Prospects Nov. 2020 camp - Coach = 5'10 wing who can play four positions on the floor. Good shooter & ball-handler. Great length. Me - Good build. Three point range with good arch on the shot. Will travel setting her feet off the catch. "}" data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4641,"3":{"1":0},"8":{"1":[{"1":2,"2":0,"5":{"1":0}},{"1":0,"2":0,"3":3},{"1":1,"2":0,"4":1}]},"12":0,"15":"Verdana"}">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. </span> [caption id="attachment_335586" align="alignleft" width="145"]<img class="wp-image-335586" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/10/41-Avery-Larson.jpg" alt="" width="145" height="193" /> Manhattan 2023 [player_tooltip player_id="227685" first="Avery" last="Larson"]. Photo: Prep Girls Hoops.[/caption][player_tooltip player_id="227685" first="Avery" last="Larson"], 5'6", G, Manhattan - Larson was one of the top guards in the Indian rotation this past season. At the Kansas City <span data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"PGH Top 250 Expo Oct. 2021 Kansas City - Lefty with the ability to shoot quickly. Did a good job of finishing in traffic. Made some nice passes to set up teammates. Ran the break well and shot well off the catch. Kansas PGH Top 250 Expo Oct 2020 - Larson unfortunately drew some difficult match-ups and was not the only one who could not stay with Piper's Evelyn Vasquez. She offensive rebounded well and looked to run the break with speed. LP added on twitter "Extremely underrated guard who will be a key factor in Manhattan's rotation this season. In her 3 games at the Expo, Avery scored 8pts twice and 10pts in the final game of the day." Lady Prospects camp 11.20 - Me - three point make, confident, good length, looked to push off rebound, left side lay-in from wing off the catch was nice."}" data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4609,"3":{"1":0},"12":0,"15":"Verdana"}">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 <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/2022/02/mid-america-classic-day-2-standout-pgs-and-sgs/">Mid America Classic</a> 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. </span> <strong>Taylor Ross</strong>, 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. [player_tooltip player_id="227693" first="Mariah" last="Farmer"], 5'6", PG, Silver Lake - The two-time <span data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"2021 Mid-East League honorable mention. Spencer Christian PGH Live 5.15.21 article - "[player_tooltip player_id=" data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4609,"3":{"1":0},"12":0,"15":"Verdana"}">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. </span> [player_tooltip player_id="227681" first="Destiny" last="Yates"], 5'5",. PG, Manhattan - <span data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"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"}" data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4609,"3":{"1":0},"12":0,"15":"Verdana"}">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</span> [player_tooltip player_id="227683" first="Trista" last="Hoobler"], 5'7", SG, Wamego - <span data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"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."}" data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4609,"3":{"1":0},"12":0,"15":"Verdana"}">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. </span> [caption id="attachment_381628" align="alignleft" width="145"]<img class="wp-image-381628" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/01/Chloe-Clevenger-2023-McPherson-slashing-300x207.jpg" alt="" width="145" height="100" /> McPherson 2023 [player_tooltip player_id="156294" first="Chloe" last="Clevenger"]. Photo: Robert Kelly.[/caption][player_tooltip player_id="156294" first="Chloe" last="Clevenger"], 5'6", G, McPherson - <span data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"PGH Top 250 Kansas City Oct. 2021 - All-Event team. Clevenger's high energy motor sets the tone for her game on both ends of the floor. And given she broke the school cross country record the previous day, she was arguably in the best shape of anybody on the floor. Combine speed, endurance, strong handles, athleticism and drive and you get a player that pretty much abused on both ends all but the top of the field. Defensively, her drive to compete against the best always found her defending the opposing team's best ball handler. Phillipe - I've seen Clevenger play many times and she has the ability to create her own shot. Plays with great energy. Always looking to attack to get her own shot or set someone else up. Seemed to take on the challenge of defending the other team's best guard all day. World Exposure GBB Wichita Sept 2021 - Clevenger showed off some strengths of her game, speed; quickness; energy; and handles. A dog defensively – a little Bullpup humor sorry – she battles all over the floor. See my All-Summer Ball 2023 team."}" data-sheets-userformat="{"2":4641,"3":{"1":0},"8":{"1":[{"1":2,"2":0,"5":{"1":0}},{"1":0,"2":0,"3":3},{"1":1,"2":0,"4":1}]},"12":0,"15":"Verdana"}">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. </span> [player_tooltip player_id="191484" first="Paige" last="Chauncey"], 6'0", PF, Manhattan - With center [player_tooltip player_id="93997" first="Grace" last="Dixon"] 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. <h4><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Lady Prospects Select</span></h4> 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. <strong>Jacey Clancy</strong>, G, Wellsville <strong>Reagan Thayer</strong>, 5'8", SG, Perry-Lecompton <strong>Brooke Metcalfe</strong>, 5'8", G, Perry-Lecompton <strong>Morgann Haaga</strong>, SF/CG, Lawrence <strong>Morgan Davis</strong>, F/C, Royal Valley <strong>Mariah Jeter-Parrott</strong>, 5'3", PG, Junction City <em>Featured image: Lawrence and KC Royalty 2023 [player_tooltip player_id="335963" first="Daphne" last="Bracker-Sturm"]. Photo: Robert Kelly.</em>      