‘24 Spring Eval Stock Risers: Look Up At The Star

The ’24 Spring Evaluation Rankings have been released, and this particular class had many top-tier performances throughout the season. There have been a lot of changes to this list compared to the wintertime due to prospects reclassifying into ’24, out of ’24, and new athletes appearing on my radar. This spring evaluation reflects what transpired over the last couple of months from my perspective. Below are some of the players who raised their stock from the class.   #1 <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-446688" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/06/590FD2B7-7712-41C8-BA30-2E0FDB6FE968-crop-1537x1010-1655402989-300x197.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /> [player_tooltip player_id="269345" first="Ahnay" last="Adams"]| MCW Starz|5’6’’|PG It was the [player_tooltip player_id="269345" first="Ahnay" last="Adams"] show everywhere MCW played this spring. I have never seen college coaches move their pen to notepad quick enough whenever Adams did anything on the basketball court. The offers started pouring in after the Atlantic City Showcase, including the University of Miami, Florida State, and Syracuse. The strength, toughness, and conditioning of Adams are highly impressive. She can withstand contact and absorbs it in pursuit of the basket against some of the most elite athletes in the country. She has improved as a playmaker and, instead of hunting for her shot, will drop beautiful passes to her teammates after drawing the defense. Specifically, I haven’t seen anyone consistently throw a baseline hammer pass as accurately as Adams. She was on another level this spring, and I can’t see Adams slowing down as we head into the July Live period.   #4 [caption id="attachment_446683" align="alignnone" width="300"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/06/D50CCD6F-11DD-44B0-ADD1-204B8F07F429-crop-1242x816-1655402638.jpeg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-446683" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/06/D50CCD6F-11DD-44B0-ADD1-204B8F07F429-crop-1242x816-1655402638-300x197.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a> Photo: Anna Kitch[/caption] [player_tooltip player_id="269245" first="Kelian" last="Cedano"]|NYC Gauchos|5’9’’|SG Cedano is the best scorer in the ’24 class because she can get a bucket using the least amount of dribbles. No one gets to their spots more efficiently, and Cedano’s quick first step adds to her scoring potency. Cedano can snipe from three and has been tremendous on the glass. Cedano’s scoring ability and relentlessness on the glass make her a top 5 player because she is the best at those two things at the wing spot in the class.   #7 [caption id="attachment_446677" align="alignnone" width="300"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/06/23498261-885D-46F4-9ADD-E1970AEDD3F9-crop-1537x1010-1655402487.jpeg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-446677" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/06/23498261-885D-46F4-9ADD-E1970AEDD3F9-crop-1537x1010-1655402487-300x197.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a> Photo: Anna Kitch[/caption] [player_tooltip player_id="361079" first="Lana" last="McCarthy"]|NE Crusaders|6’3’’|PF McCarthy has been a monster on defense and has neutralized some of the best post players in the region. One-on-one in the post, McCarthy doesn’t need help and can completely shut down the paint herself. She is too big and strong, and opposing teams couldn’t handle it all spring. On offense, McCarthy wears her defenders out, shows she can recognize where the double team was coming from and passes out to the open teammate. I also like how McCarthy was taking mid-range shots. It’s a complete game-changer if she can knock down 15-footers consistently.   #8 <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-446675" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/06/68DAA30E-2FDF-4195-80B8-B6A63FDC9F9B-scaled-crop-1707x1121-1655402336-300x197.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /> [player_tooltip player_id="269259" first="Nasi" last="Simmons"]| Lady Rivals|5’9’’|SG Simmons has taken her game to another level this spring. She was already an elite athlete and defender, but now she has become a consistent dynamic offensive player. Simmons is shooting the three more confidently and is torching defenders with her speed and quickness on drives. Her athleticism really shines off the ball. Simmons loses defenders with cuts and easily gets open in the halfcourt. Simmons is trending to be the best two-way guard in ’24.   #12 [player_tooltip player_id="296790" first="Maddie" last="Fitzpatrick"]| Maine Firecrakers|5’10’’|CG I saw Fitzpatrick at the Hoop Group New England Jam Fest, and she had an eye-popping performance vs. EVO. Her jump shot was on point, and she was hitting from all around the arc. She was ripping the net clean repeatedly, whether the shot was heavily contested or not. Fitzpatrick is also a good tempo setter and passer in the open court. She can see over the defense at her size, deliver deadly accurate passes ahead to her teammates, and put them in a position to score.   #16 [caption id="attachment_446673" align="alignnone" width="300"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/06/04E62FF4-E728-44F4-BA72-718CC72B748F-crop-1242x816-1655402267.jpeg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-446673" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/06/04E62FF4-E728-44F4-BA72-718CC72B748F-crop-1242x816-1655402267-300x197.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a> Photo: Anna Kitch[/caption] [player_tooltip player_id="264333" first="Cecilia" last="Kay"]|MA Huskies|6’2’’|PF Kay showed her value to a Huskies team by demonstrating the ability to stretch the floor and open up the lane for the numerous slashing guards on the team. Around the basket, Kay was also effective because of her finishing ability and how many second and third scoring opportunities she gave the Huskies. Kay’s length and first and second jump aided her in being a big factor on the offensive glass.   #21 <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-446667" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/05/4BF26220-B612-433A-A51B-6804FF449327-crop-1280x841-1655401886-300x197.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /> [player_tooltip player_id="299221" first="Nia" last="Edens"]|CT Starters|5’10’’|CG Edens was the talk of the town for most of the spring, and she was a standout player every time I saw her. She is unique because Edens is built like a wing but has a point guard’s IQ and decision-making. When isolated, Edens can break down and score on just about anyone and proved that at the NYG Super 64 Camp. No matter who was in front of her, Edens found a way to get a bucket. Her size, upper body strength, and footwork are a lethal combination and make her a matchup nightmare.   #38 <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-446666" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2022/06/8E300D61-0D03-492B-9C29-E599B1E4CD46-crop-1516x996-1655401846-300x197.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /> [player_tooltip player_id="407562" first="Elyse" last="Macdonough"]|Lone Wolf|5’8’’|PG I watched MacDonough a handful of times this spring, and I like how she can run her team’s offense, but I also appreciate her off-ball work. MacDonough showed that she could be a high-impact player even when her responsibility isn’t being the primary playmaker. In transition is where I noticed this mostly. She runs the floor hard, fills lanes correctly, and is a dynamic scorer on the break. MacDonough’s offensive versatility is what elevated her to top 40 status, and she is also a good tone-setter on both sides of the ball.   #42 [player_tooltip player_id="269132" first="Mary" last="Gibbons"]|Bay State Jaguars|5’7’’|CG I watched Gibbons a few times this spring, and she continues to prove that she is one of the best scorers at her position in her class. She heats up quickly from the perimeter and, in the blink of an eye, can shift a game’s momentum in her team’s favor with her three-point shooting. When run off the three-point line, Gibbons has the offensive arsenal to score from short-mid range and do so efficiently. Whenever Gibbons has the ball in her hands, she is a major threat to put points on the board.