Updated Rankings - '24 Power Forwards part 2

Part two of the rundown or ranked Power Forwards in the class of ’24 continues below. [player_tooltip player_id="304630" first="Payton" last="Acey"] 6’1" Southwestern Ky Dream Acey is a highly versatile player that reminds me of an under-sized Larry Bird-type, minus the permanent scowl and a chip on her shoulder. She is a great shooter from any range, with excellent post-up moves and rebounding instincts. Her Southwestern team was the talk of the Sweet 16 last season, advancing to the Semi-Finals and Acey was a returning key factor. She averaged 10 points, and 5.7 rebounds per game with a 16-point, 9 rebound performance in the 1st Round. It was good to see her from courtside recently after seeing her from the worst possible seats in the house at the Sweet 16, where she appeared to be about 2 inches tall. Her listed height has gone up a couple of inches and appears to be accurate since I am roughly the same height. This is a player that can be a star in the right situation and a useful role player everywhere else on the next level. [player_tooltip player_id="398020" first="Destiny" last="Jones"] 5’11" Central I was very high on Jones last season, but the way she has improved since then has me raving about her to anyone that will listen. It is altogether possible we have her Ranked too low despite moving her up several spots. She may be the best Frontcourt Player in the Commonwealth right now, I would just like to see her do it against better competition than I saw her against this Summer. Jones is as fast, athletic, and imposing as any player I have seen. She is a nightmare to keep off the boards, running the floor, hustling, and playing suffocating defense for opponents. That makes her a coach’s dream to have on the team. I do know that she can shoot from the outside but I’m not sure how good. But that is primarily because she is undeniable in catching or driving the ball into the paint for better shots. This is a must-have player on a College Coaches Watchlist for 2024. [player_tooltip player_id="374120" first="Ellie" last="Cheatam"] 5’11" Adair County Cheatam is a long, versatile post player that makes good cuts to get open and can knock down the open shot. After only seeing her play once last season I made a mental note to make certain to increase that frequency over the next two years. She has a smoothness to her movement along with a nice bounce to her when handling the ball. Her game is already quite mature with two years left to work on it. I can only hope she is putting in time during April through July to play for a team, but I am unaware of such involvement. [player_tooltip player_id="398030" first="Rylee" last="Theiss"] 5’10" Pikeville Theiss is a strong athlete with great stamina that plays with a desire to win and is willing to do the "dirty work" it takes to win games. She hustles, sets screens, boxes out, dives after loose balls, and takes charges. This is the kind of player every great team needs on the court giving everything she has to get it done. I can’t say that she has a ton of skill. She doesn’t get a ton of touches and when she does have the ball she is usually getting it to other teammates who have tons of it. But if I were a small school coach in the region I would definitely be trying to develop a relationship with this player. I would want her somewhere on my roster and not on someone else’s.

Part two of the rundown or ranked Power Forwards in the class of ’24 continues below.

Payton Acey Payton Acey 6'1" | PF Southwestern | 2024 State KY 6’1" Southwestern Ky Dream

Acey is a highly versatile player that reminds me of an under-sized Larry Bird-type, minus the permanent scowl and a chip on her shoulder. She is a great shooter from any range, with excellent post-up moves and rebounding instincts.

Her Southwestern team was the talk of the Sweet 16 last season, advancing to the Semi-Finals and Acey was a returning key factor. She averaged 10 points, and 5.7 rebounds per game with a 16-point, 9 rebound performance in the 1st Round.

It was good to see her from courtside recently after seeing her from the worst possible seats in the house at the Sweet 16, where she appeared to be about 2 inches tall. Her listed height has gone up a couple of inches and appears to be accurate since I am roughly the same height. This is a player that can be a star in the right situation and a useful role player everywhere else on the next level.

Destiny Jones Destiny Jones 5'11" | PF Central | 2024 State KY 5’11" Central

I was very high on Jones last season, but the way she has improved since then has me raving about her to anyone that will listen. It is altogether possible we have her Ranked too low despite moving her up several spots. She may be the best Frontcourt Player in the Commonwealth right now, I would just like to see her do it against better competition than I saw her against this Summer.

Jones is as fast, athletic, and imposing as any player I have seen. She is a nightmare to keep off the boards, running the floor, hustling, and playing suffocating defense for opponents. That makes her a coach’s dream to have on the team.

I do know that she can shoot from the outside but I’m not sure how good. But that is primarily because she is undeniable in catching or driving the ball into the paint for better shots. This is a must-have player on a College Coaches Watchlist for 2024.

Ellie Cheatham Ellie Cheatham 5'11" | PF Adair County | 2024 State KY 5’11" Adair County

Cheatam is a long, versatile post player that makes good cuts to get open and can knock down the open shot. After only seeing her play once last season I made a mental note to make certain to increase that frequency over the next two years.

She has a smoothness to her movement along with a nice bounce to her when handling the ball. Her game is already quite mature with two years left to work on it. I can only hope she is putting in time during April through July to play for a team, but I am unaware of such involvement.

Rylee Theiss Rylee Theiss 5'10" | PF Pikeville | 2024 State KY 5’10" Pikeville

Theiss is a strong athlete with great stamina that plays with a desire to win and is willing to do the "dirty work" it takes to win games. She hustles, sets screens, boxes out, dives after loose balls, and takes charges. This is the kind of player every great team needs on the court giving everything she has to get it done.

I can’t say that she has a ton of skill. She doesn’t get a ton of touches and when she does have the ball she is usually getting it to other teammates who have tons of it. But if I were a small school coach in the region I would definitely be trying to develop a relationship with this player. I would want her somewhere on my roster and not on someone else’s.