Who I’ve Seen Part 2 : 2022 Summer Ball All-Kansas 2024 Team
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This second part of two articles sharing my 2022 summer ball all-Kansas 2024 team continues my reflection on players on players I have seen in person from April through July. Part one of the 2024 covered point and shooting guards.…
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Continue ReadingThis second part of two articles sharing my 2022 summer ball all-Kansas 2024 team continues my reflection on players on players I have seen in person from April through July. Part one of the 2024 covered point and shooting guards. This segment covers combo guards/small forwards and bigs. My look at the all-2023 team was similarly broken up into two segments. Again, all teams are composed of players that I have seen play in person. My stops to see action in person included the MAYB Hall of Fame Exposure and Summer Kickoff events Wichita, the Hutchinson Community College team camp, and the three wildly successful Prep Girls Hoops Circuit events in Kansas City, MO, and Wichita. I also specifically scouted 16U teams at a PGH Circuit stop in Edmund, OK. A limitation on inclusiveness of players and clubs is readily apparent. More than even last summer, many clubs and players chose to compete primarily outside the state. Some who did compete in state but I did not happen to be where they were playing. Other players did attend events where I was but, unfortunately, I did not get as quality look at them as I would have liked.
Combo Guards & Wings
Cyrenity Hardy Cyrenity Hardy 5'8" | CG Lawrence | 2024 State KS , 5’8″, CG, Lawrence, Royalty Basketball – Hardy debuted in the class rankings in the last release. I was able to catch her with her club team at a Circuit event and enjoyed seeing what she brought to the table and with energy. “Tank,” as she is affectionly called, is a quiet presence on the floor. Over the couple years I have been following her Hardy has shown the ability to get out in transition including after a rebound outlet, fill lanes, and do so with speed. She also has good length and is a consistent and physically strong on-ball defender. She takes good mid-range and perimeter shots and finishes with elevation and athleticism. Once she gains confidence in perimeter shot, look out.
Adrian Hazelwood Adrian Hazelwood 5'8" | PG Smoky Valley | 2024 State KS , 5’8″, CG, Smoky Valley, Wheat State Elite – I enjoyed a good look at Hazelwood at the PGH Dynasty (KS) ‘ last=”]’ last=”]’ last=”] Battle in the Sunflower event in July. Fellow scout Brett Gunderson nailed exactly what I saw and have seen from her in the past. Hazelwood scores well at all three levels and attacks the basket with confidence and quickness. A strong, physical player she finishes with strength and uses that same strength to compete inside for rebounds. The Central Kansas League first teamer has a nice step back shot and can pull up in transition and off the bounce well.
Madison Moors Madison Moors 5'7" | CG McPherson | 2024 State KS , 5’7″, SF, McPherson, Wheat State Elite – Moors played with her high school team and her club team in the instances I saw her. Undersized for a small forward, she defends opponents (including bigs), with physicality and energy. She runs well, is strong and athletic, and has a nice runner off the bounce. She will can the occasional three so defenders must play consistently wherever she is in the half court.
Megan Ricke Megan Ricke 5'8" | SG Wichita County Highschool | 2024 State KS , 5’8″, CG, Wichita County, Magic Basketball – I had the opportunity to see Ricke play at a MAYB and a PGH event this summer. The Hi-Plains League second team selection not only caught my attention but also that of colleague Matthew Martinez at the May PGH Dynasty (KS) ‘ last=”]’ last=”]’ last=”] Circuit event in Denver, Rocky Mountain Mayhem. Ricke has a solid release on her perimeter shot and has the ability to hurt teams in streaks with her three point shooting. She also can get into the lane and finish smartly. Martinez really liked her “tear drop” floater.
Jaden Wilson Jaden Wilson 5'11" | PF Derby | 2024 State KS , 5’10”, SF, Derby, SSA Gameball Basketball – How hard has Wilson worked this summer? Let me just say that if she is not a starter at the 3 or 4 spot with the Panthers this season there is something wrong. Her game has exploded over the summer. She not only is a perimeter threat but has quickness and length to work people over on the baseline drive for a score and to use either hand in the face-up and back-to-basket game. I have been following Wilson since sbefore she transferred from Dodge City and Wilson has always been able to play. She made a great case this summer proving it.
Power Forwards & Centers
Ava Howie Ava Howie 5'11" | PF Maize South | 2024 State KS , 5’10”, PF, Maize South, SSA Gameball Basketball – I had the opportunity to see the Ark Valley Chisholm Trail League Division I second teamer play with her club in April and with her fellow Mavericks at the Summer Kickoff. Howie has a solid frame, long limbs, and she transitions well. She can guard multiple positions and stretch the floor with her perimeter shooting. She has been putting a great deal of work in on her face-up and back-to-basket game as well. In addition to her quick catch and release what I also really like are her hands. Howie works very well off entry pass and the high-low game. I also like her touch-pass ability.
Ryan Peak Ryan Peak 5'10" | PF Emporia | 2024 State KS , 5’10”, PF, Emporia – Playing with her fellow Spartans at the Summer Kickoff Peak was willing to do the dirty work inside offensively, rebounding, and defending. She played with strength and speed. I look forward to seeing more of her in the near future.
Stephie-Safi Salumu Stephie-Safi Salumu 6'0" | SF The Independent | 2024 State KS , 6’0″, SF/PF, Wichita Independent, KS Bluejays – I saw Salumu play a few times this summer with her club and she is going to present huge problems for her Central Plains League opponents. She is also going to present problems for her teammates because there may be doink records set due to not having hands ready to catch her no-look passes at all times. Strong and fast, Salumu is very quick with the ball in transition, off the bounce, and especially off her post game. A big match-up problem, she has strength to battle the bigger bigs I saw tangle with and overpower physically weaker opponents.
Alana Shetlar Alana Shetlar 6'1" | PF Andover | 2024 State KS , 6’2″, PF, Andover, Kansas United – The 2022 AVCTL second team selection broke into the top 5 in the class rankings with something extra I saw from her in early April. I became convinced last season that she is arguably the best mid-range shooter in the state. Not just accurate, but she shoots with elevation and a high release point. Pretty much unblockable at the high school level. She runs well, is fast, rebounds well and keeps the ball up, finishes through contact with either hand, is a legitimate three point threat especially off the catch, and is a very solid defender. What I saw in April for the first time was the consistent ability to beat people off the dribble from the wing with either hand, get to the rack with speed, and pretty much is automatic in scoring it. Shetlar has been gathering D II offers and as she gets physically stronger over the next two years she is going to be among the top prospects in the state regardless of class.
Ashley VanElders Ashley VanElders 6'3" | SF Shawnee Mission South | 2024 State KS , 6’3″ PF/SF, Shawnee Mission South, Kansas Elite – The Sunflower League is without any doubt the toughest large school league in the state. Earning 2022 Sunflower League honorable mention as a sophomore is huge feat because of it. VanElders has a good, long, athletic frame and the quickness needed that enables her to play on the wing. Being a streaky three point shooter helps also. A USJN Battle at the Border Pool N all-star continued to show the game I saw at the 2022 Mid America Classic in McPherson when her club team competed at a Kansas City PGH tournament in May. She runs well, can alter and block shots without fouling, and plays inside and out on both ends. As she gets physically stronger and grows her range of ball skills with quickness, she will be a top prospect in the state.
Featured image: Andover 2024 Alana Shetlar Alana Shetlar 6'1" | PF Andover | 2024 State KS , right, eyes an offensive rebound chance. Photo: Robert Kelly.