Top Power Forwards of the 6th Region
In this article:
Continuing this series on the top players in the 6th Region we now move on to the Power Forwards. This article may not come with as many surprises as the previous article but there is one unranked player included below.…
Access all of Prep Girls Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingContinuing this series on the top players in the 6th Region we now move on to the Power Forwards. This article may not come with as many surprises as the previous article but there is one unranked player included below. Unranked because I screwed up and did not remember to put her name in to be Ranked when we were working on it a few months ago. You will just have to read the article to find out who I am talking about.
I am sure seeing Macy at the top of this list is no surprise to anyone following Kentucky High School Basketball. She is so talented that I would expect to see her mentioned in every article of this type for the next three years before moves on to College. The real challenge in covering her is to not invade her personal life too much. So I avoid contact unless it is necessary, like when I will need to get a new photo sometime next season. rnWhat is there to say about this player that isn’t known? She is easily one of the best prospects to ever come out of the Commonwealth. Before I ever saw her play many opposing Coach I spoke to about her said something like “she killed us”. You could move her to whoever the worst team in the state was last season and make them an instant contender. rnTo all the readers you have to see her play. If she comes into your area, record whatever you were going to see on TV, and go to the game. She isn’t flashy even though she does make some great plays. She doesn’t necessarily make the kind of plays that would be musts on a Sportscenter Highlight reel… but she makes so many plays over and over in each game that she would never be left out of a game recap.
After the recent announcement of her commitment to play for Ohio next season, Barnett is back and poised for a big season. I would like to talk with her for a bit when I see her next about how they intend to use her talents with the Bobcats. I have been talking about her value as a Stretch player that can also play in the Interior on both ends of the court since the first time I saw her. rnAveraging 11.1 points and 6.1 rebounds last season and shooting 33.9% from three-point range while having the length needed to get your shot off over just about any defender tends to draw college coaches like flies. When that player can also Block shots and play solid defense inside and out, projecting her as a player on the next level is a no brainer. Knowing she puts up those kinds of numbers while playing with a fairly talented frontcourt teammate (cough, scroll up) makes those numbers even more impressive.
Having to change phones shortly after last season means Smith’s profile pic continues to be a team photo and not an individual picture. I mean um, I am using this team photo instead of an individual picture because Smith is such a team player. Yeah, that’s the ticket. All bad jokes aside Smith is a great teammate and several coaches have taken notice. rnShe has been one of the leading Rebounders in the Commonwealth for the past two seasons and is poised for her Sophomore campaign after playing up all summer on 2023 and 2024 teams on the PGH Circuit. Where she has shown a developing accumen as a ballhandler and scorer. She has continued to display her excellent defensive prowess, outstanding athleticism and excellent teamwork. rnI often compare her to Dennis Rodman, minus all of the outlandish antics, but this summer she started reminding more me of the University of Louisville’s Mykasa Robinson, a player of similar height with the ability to handle the ball and defend every position on the court. rnAll comparison’s aside, Smith is the kind of player every team needs. That “glue gal” that gets it done in ways that don’t always show up in the stats. If you aren’t in the Lousiville area you might want to find her at the All “A” Classic again this season.
Highlights
Jones’ mother and I have been acquantainces in the past while she was Coaching her daughters Middle School Softball teams and I was poorly Umpiring their games. (I was new I got better) So we usually chat for a bit when I see her. That is how I know Jones is the youngest of several young adults who have all moved on to play in one sport or another on the College level. rnThe addition of a player mentioned in the article on Centers should be great for Jones giving her the ability to play her position instead out of position against the better teams. Her season stats of 11.4 points, 6.4 rebounds could increase due to having more oppotunites to play away from the rim. She made 80.3% of her Free Throws, shot 49% from the Field and made 41.5% of her three-point attempts. rnI would expect Jones to continue in that family tradition as well the only question being which sport. It could certainly be basketball. I don’t have the background to really know where she stands among her peers in other sports. I am thinking that sport is likely to be Basketball.
Highlights
Jennae Bolin
Jennae Bolin
Finally the payoff teased in the opening paragraph. Bolin is the player that slipped my mind when we were discussing Rankings on this site. I honestly thought she was already Ranked and was shocked to find out she wasn’t. I expect people that know her were shocked to see she still wasn’t Ranked after our last release. rnShe would have been Ranked too low if we had Ranked her because it wasn’t until after they were posted that I got to see her put on a disply of hustle and hard work she is known for with outstanding results. After seeing her this summer she would be 10 to 20 spots higher than where she would have been Ranked otherwise. rnLast season, Bolin made 57.6% of her field goals while averaging 12.4 points and 7.2 rebounds. Numbers that could improve when playing with a Center Transfer that can keep other Bigs off of the boards and allow her to play against a smaller defender. A hustle player like this can really benefit from the increased freedom of movement.
Alexander has a very strong body and good speed that she will be able to showcase for more minutes after her teams starting Center has moved on to the next level. She is great at sealing off her side of the lane for rebounds or to receive the post entry pass. But also has the ability to play away from the hoop on the offensive end. rnPlaying for a fairly loaded team with a crowed frontcourt last season I doubt I would even be aware of Alexander if I hadn’t attended an early practice before the games began. That gave me a chance to get ahead of the curve on scouting this player who will surely energe this year as a player everyone is going to know about. She will be featured in every scouting report written on Butler for the next three years. rnI, for one, really look forward to seeing what she can do with the extra minutes.