Updated Rankings – ’24 Power Forwards
In this article:
The class of ’24 has some excellent Power Forwards. After a summer of seeing several of them play we have updated our Rankings. What follows is the first of a two-part rundown on these players. Mariah Knight Mariah Knight 6'1"…
Access all of Prep Girls Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingThe class of ’24 has some excellent Power Forwards. After a summer of seeing several of them play we have updated our Rankings. What follows is the first of a two-part rundown on these players.
Mariah Knight Mariah Knight 6'1" | PF Butler | 2024 State KY 6’1″ CAL Ky Premier EYBL
Knight has put in some serious work since the last time I saw her play. She seems faster, stronger, and slimmed down and it is paying dividends in her game. A player that was already versatile and athletic is set to have a great season.
She has an advanced post-up game in the Low and High Post and can play on the outside. She is a reliable mid-range shooter from 10 to 15 feet from numerous spots. She can put the ball on the floor to get to the hole and if stopped can make the pull-up or turn her back to the hoop to use her post moves.
Knight has the strength needed to seal off her opponent for in-zone rebounding and the length and athleticism needed for out-of-zone rebounding. She is a good shot blocker, tough defender, and a reliable distributor.
Quinn Eubank Quinn Eubank 5'11" | PF Ryle | 2024 State KY 6’1″ Ryle Cincy Angels
Eubank is a rim runner with a long body, great straight-ahead speed, and excellent leaping ability. I haven’t seen it, but I have heard she can dunk a volleyball and I don’t doubt it. She gets so high to grab rebounds I am sure she could do it in practice if not in a game environment.
I suppose it is not surprising to learn that she is a shot blocker and rim protector after the previous paragraph. She has good hands not only for catching passes but she puts them to great use pulling down rebounds with both hands.
Her team is loaded with scoring talent so I don’t have a great feel on what she can contribute offensively. But if your lineup is lacking in frontcourt speed and leaping ability Eubank is your solution in that regard. Anything else she can do is gravy.
Sha"ron Tidwell 5’10″ John Hardin Team Firstep
Tidwell is still developing her skills but her heart and the desire that she plays with cannot be taught. She is a hustle machine that will have her hands in passing lanes. loose balls and rebounds all over the court. I don’t think opponents can prepare for the type of chaos she is going to wreak on the game plan.
She has an extra gear in her motor and wonderful balance. She plays on what looks like the edge of falling down she is moving so fast from play to play but finds a way to stay up. From what I have seen there is no other player like her in the Commonwealth.
Perhaps Tidwell is the kind of player that ought to attend a Junior College in hopes of gaining the skills she needs to move on to the D1 level. But I think if she were to receive an offer from a smaller school that her sense of loyalty could translate into a long affinity with the right program.
Delaney Cooper Delaney Cooper 6'0" | PF Owensboro Catholic | 2024 State KY 5’11″ Assumption Lady Trojans
Cooper put on a display this past week that has elevated my already high opinion of her while facing the increased ball pressure and physicality of summer basketball. She established herself as a shooter early so the defense tried to her off the line. She proved more than capable of driving through rough contact to score from short range.
That toughness is not something I am likely to see during the high school season where the whistle is a little tighter necessitating less defensive contact. Proving how crucial it is to get into summer ball for a player to make their mark.
Cooper is primarily a Stretch Player on a team running a 5 Out Offense. If she can translate those scoring drives into her High School environment her stock for playing on the next level will improve and her stat sheet will swell.