Uncommitted 2023 Cs in the Top-100
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The featured image is of Mackenzie Thomas Mackenzie Thomas 6'1" | C Carmel | 2023 IN (2023) of Carmel High School. The Class of 2023 as a whole has been quick to either narrow down their lists of colleges, or…
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Continue ReadingThe featured image is of Mackenzie Thomas Mackenzie Thomas 6'1" | C Carmel | 2023 IN (2023) of Carmel High School.
The Class of 2023 as a whole has been quick to either narrow down their lists of colleges, or even choose their Fall of 2023 destinations. A lot of this can be attributed to a group of prospects and parents who has seen the aftermath of COVID-19, the additional fifth year for college players, and the effects the transfer portal has caused throughout all of college basketball, not just the NCAA Division-1 level. This is the seventh of several articles I will be writing pointing out some of the state’s uncommitted prospects in the 2023 class. If you see someone below you believe has already made their college decision, please let us know so we can continue to update these reports. The following ladies are listed as centers in our current 2023 rankings, all fall between #26 and #100, and all are uncommitted to the best of our knowledge.
Ashlee has tremendous skill at her size, and she’s probably the best back-to-the-basket offensive post in the state right now. She has great hands, solid footwork and balance, and the ability to finish with a variety of post-moves over either shoulder. She also has touch to near the 3-point line and is a career 75% free throw shooter, knocking down 79% of her attempts each of the last two seasons. Defensively, she’s a presence, rotating from help-side and blocking/altering shots. She’s also a very good rebounder with a nose for the ball.
Mackenzie is another strong, almost powerful post player, with a physical frame. When she wants, she can go to the low-block, carve out space, and finish at the basket. At the same time, she has a soft touch to the 3-point line, and she actually prefers to face the basket. She isn’t overly dynamic off the bounce, but she is effective in pick-and-pop situations. Defensively, she’s willing to be physical, she’ll “root out” opponents, and she is a solid box-out type of rebounder. She could have a big year statistically for Carmel this season.
Brooklyn has come a very long way throughout the course of her high school career. She has always had height on her peers, but she grew quickly, and over the last couple of years she really found her coordination, fluid athleticism, and some bounce. She has a long, wiry-strong frame, and she continues to look more and more physical. She has built a nice skillset and is finishing much better inside, plus she can create problems at the defensive end of the floor with her length. She can block/alter shots, and she pursues rebounds.
Lila is a European post player who came to La Lumiere last Fall. She has a solid to strong frame, really nice length, and she runs the floor North/South with great effort. She’s capable of being physical and playing on the low-block, she has solid hands, and she can finish inside. But she also has some touch and likes to face the basket in the mid-post, occasionally attempting a 3-pointer here and there. Defensively, she mostly patrols the paint and is a solid box-out rebounder. I would like to see her come out on the floor and defend ball-screens a bit better, though.
Highlights
Shabrea is a big, strong, overwhelmingly powerful post. She has broad shoulders, solid length, and she buries defenders on the block and just finishes through them. She does have soft hands, and if she can be a little more consistent from 15-feet, I think it would help. Defensively, she uses much of the same approach, enforcing her will and absorbing their energy when they attack. She is a great position rebounder, and she doesn’t let many guards who penetrate get to the basket. She could stand to defend ball-screens a little better.
Skyla is a bit of an underappreciated post prospect, because she doesn’t put up gaudy scoring numbers. It isn’t for lack of skill either. She has nice touch, and to near the 3-point line. She has back-to-the-basket post-moves, and she can put it on the floor a couple of dribbles and productively attack the basket. But she’s terribly unselfish, is a good passer, and likes to facilitate or screen teammates open. Defensively, she’s great on the back end, rotating to “help” well, and providing assistance to teammates, whether it be blocking or altering shots.
Campbell is another under-the-radar post prospect who I think can really help many of the Midwestern small colleges. She has a very strong frame, she’s willing to be physical and actually seeks contact, and she has worked hard over the years at developing a nice offensive skillset around the basket. Her post-moves are more instinctual than in the past, and she’s absorbing contact and drawing more and-1s than before. I also like how, defensively, she meets her matchup at the free throw line with an armbar, and doesn’t allow them easy position.