9 Returning Southeast 2023s to Know

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With the 2022 summer club season wound down players have been hitting individual camps and have their eye on a few upcoming exposure camps including Prep Girls Hoops Top 250 Exposure events in the region. The high school season is not too far off either to start looking at returning players, in this case returning seniors. Enjoy this quick look at nine notable returning 2023 college prospects.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='450393' first='Sophia' last='Albertini'], 5'5", SG, St. Paul - New to me, I was fortunate to see this Three Rivers League honorable mention at the mid-June MAYB Summer Kickoff 6.11.22. She runs the floor and passes the ball ahead well to get transition looks. She also proved herself to be a legitimate three point threat.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='94957' first='Rebecca' last='Hajdukovich'], 5'9", SF, Douglass - It has been a while since I have watched Hajdukovich in person but the two-time Central Plains League second team selection has consistently shown herself to be a solidly built all-around player with a quick perimeter shot and an ability to score and compete inside. She also has solid hops. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='450352' first='Brooklyn' last='Jones'], 5'7", CG, Lebo - Jones elevated herself to Lyon County League first team a season ago after making second team in 2021. Known for being able to put points on the board.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='192844' first='Nevaeh' last='Jones'], 5'7", SG, Labette County, 2024 - I finally got to see Jones play at the June 11 MAYB Summer Kickoff where she played with Team Prodigy. She shoots her three point shot with her feet together. Was the team's best all around player (mostly St. Paul players). Small forward material, Jones has good quickness and handles. Lengthy, she can go end-to-end with her head up and can finish on both sides of the basket with either hand. Makes good use of ball fakes to create perimeter a jumper or get to basket. She also can pull up off the bounce. I really like her quick three point release off the catch. https://www.ncsasports.org/womens-basketball-recruiting/kansas/erie/erie-high-school3/nevaeh-jones3</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='156316' first='Yolaine' last='Luthi'], 6'0", PF, Madison/Hamilton - Luthi has progressively climbed up the Lyon County League steps of honors to reach first team in 2022. She earned honorable mention in 2020 and second team in 2021. Luthi is an active rebounder and scorer around the basket, averaging close to double digits in points and rebounds. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='191494' first='Molly' last='McClendon'], 5'10", CG/SF, West Elk - McClendon is a two-time South Central Border League first team selection who averaged 9.8 points, 4.9 rebounds, 2.3 steals, and 2.1 assists. McClendon has good length and is a consistent scoring threat whenever she touches the ball, especially from beyond the arc. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='191489' first='Hattie' last='Pyle'], 5'8", CG/SF, Frontenac - I have been following Pyle since I saw her start for the Raiders as a freshman at Kansas's Class 3A state tournament. She remained a starter in two subsequent trips. I list her as a combo guard/small forward because that is the most probable position she will play at the collegiate level given her height. However, she often draws the opposing team's best post player to defend. She is athletic, strong, and elevates well on the score and on the rebound. Pyle is also very solid defensive player who can defend at least four positions. Pyle can play, is a leader, and just makes everyone better around her because she is on the floor. Getting to see her at our October 2021 PGH Top 250 Expo Kansas City event gave my colleague Phillipe McCree and I a great opportunity to see her game.  Pyle can score at all three levels.  McCree liked how low to the ground she plays and how well she handles the ball.  Pyle is a very in-control player who plays with her head up looking for her teammates.  Where Pyle stands out among her peers is in with her IQ and in her ability to anticipate what the offensive player is going to do. I have some anecdotes I could share but using that combination enables her to frustrate her opponents inside because she beats them to the spot consistently. Pyle is a two-time CNC League first team selection and was a KBCA 3A honorable mention selection in 2021. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"left","id":191831,"width":200,"height":207,"sizeSlug":"full","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-full is-resized"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2020/07/Mia-Sarwinski-Galena-Wheat-State-Elite-Childs-2023.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-191831" width="200" height="207"/><figcaption>Galena 2023 [player_tooltip player_id='191471' first='Mia' last='Sarwinski']. Photo: Robert Kelly.</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='191471' first='Mia' last='Sarwinski'], 5'5", PG, Galena - A season ago Sarwinski averaged 18.6 poings, 4.2 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 3.5 steals with a .94 assists to turnover ratio. While she only shot 26% from three, Sarwinski buried 71% of her 133 attempts from the line. The 2022 CNC League first team and KBCA 3A second team selection has terrific quickness with the ball. She will pull up for the quick jumper, drop the soft dime, or finish with elevation at any time. She also has a quick perimeter release. Running the floor she has solid hands to catch and finish on the fly. Has the handles to play fast. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='261949' first='Lauren' last='Torrance'], 6'1", C, St. Mary's-Colgan - Torrance oddly is a two-time KBCA 2A first team selection but only earned second team CNC League honors after making first team in 2021. Torrance is a brings a nice mix of good transition speed, quick hops on rebounds, and elevation and athleticism on interior scoring opportunities. Can play the top of the press. Keeps the ball up high on the catch in the pick and roll game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='156321' first='Abby' last='Veile'], 5'8", CG, Independence - Viele climbed from honorable mention honors in 2021 to reach the Southeast Kansas League first team this past season. She has solid transition speed with the ball, good length, and good game IQ. She runs the point for the Bulldogs but I would like to see a bit more quickness, speed, and floor generalship to be a PG in college. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Featured image: Frontenac 2023 [player_tooltip player_id='191489' first='Hattie' last='Pyle']. Photo: Prep Girls Hoops.</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Writer's note. Portions have been cleaned up and edited for readability, including correcting a name misspelling. A prospect was also accidentally included that was not a 2023 but hey, nothing wrong with getting extra exposure. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->