’23 & ’24 Stock Risers From the Wichita I-35 Showcase

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Approximately 90 players from three states filled out 10 teams this past Sunday. In front of coaches from more than two dozen NCAA Div II, NAIA, Juco, and NCCAA programs players worked through an hour of station work. Following station work the teams squared off for three back-to-back-back games. Below is look at a few down-the-ranks players from the 2023 and 2024 classes who had strong days.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='476364' first='Abby' last='Buller'], 5'9", SG/SF, Turpin (OK), Western [program_tooltip program_id='715643' first='Kansas' last='Elite'], 2024 - Buller did a consistently solid job of transitioning both ways and catching and finish on the fly. What especially caught my eye was how she punished opponents who did not find her well on the perimeter. On a teammate's shot Buller often left the weak boxer out on a limb while she crashed the offensive glass to get a put-back. Would like to see her get a half step quicker. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"left","id":335603,"sizeSlug":"thumbnail","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-thumbnail"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/10/59-Carli-Carlson-150x150.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-335603"/><figcaption>Clearwater 2023 [player_tooltip player_id='94955' first='Carli' last='Carlson']. Photo: Prep Girls Hoops.</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='94955' first='Carli' last='Carlson'], 5'8", CG, Clearwater (KS), [program_tooltip program_id='713378' first='Southwest' last='Elite'], 2023 - Carlson was one of the 16 or so players I happened to not get a look at. Club and college coaches both noted that what Carlson did especially well was shoot. That is big. I also saw Carlson at the Mid America Classic and all of her scoring was off the bounce, in transition, or off interior and mid-range jumpers. On the perimeter, opponents just let her shoot. Indications are Carlson has put in the work to make herself a more diverse threat.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='227682' first='Addison' last='Denney'], 5'9", SF, Wamego (KS), [program_tooltip program_id='712615' first='Lady' last='Prospects'], 2023 - Denney has been working back into playing shape in all aspects of the game after missing a chunk of the summer due to injury. Denney is still rusty but I saw flashes of really terrific ability. During the skills session she showed an especially quick release off the move and catch perimeter shot. She also showed jump shooting ability. Denney ran, saw the floor in the half court, and defended well. Her block defensive was very good. Denney has a terrific frame, good length, and stays on the floor well. She just plays bigger than she is and she is good sized. Offensive players had major difficulty creating space around the basket and frequently took bad shots if they did not pass the ball out. Yes Denney can score at all three levels and can finish with athleticism with either hand. But she is also moves well into space and is a solid passer. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='265116' first='Kyla' last='Herfkens'], 5'9", CG, Emporia (KS), [program_tooltip program_id='713034' first='Wheat' last='State Elite'], 2024 - Herfkens has good speed and solid handles but she did a few often unnoticed things very well. After setting good, high screens Herfkens moves well. Does not rush her rolling or slipping either. Additionally, working particularly from the off-side block she posts strongly and calls for the ball where she wants to catch it. If the ball handlers on her team had taken more time to look Herfkens had ample opportunities to punish poor defenders.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='265114' first='Elizabeth' last='Tjaden'], 5'9", SG, Clearwater (KS), [program_tooltip program_id='713378' first='Southwest' last='Elite'], 2024 - For starters, this is not the same player I saw at the late January Mid America Classic in McPherson. Tjaden is not just bigger, faster, stronger, more aggressive, and quicker with the ball but has built a game that has turned her into a legitimate triple threat. She will still hit the quick release 25' bombs. But all day long she was beating defenders off the bounce, showed quickness and strength rebounding, and was making good decision and strong moves out of her face-up and back-to-basket post games. She was a walking mismatch. Really watching to see what happens defensively as Tjaden gets laterally quicker.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Featured image: Clearwater 2024 [player_tooltip player_id='265114' first='Elizabeth' last='Tjaden']. Photo: Robert Kelly.</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->