Rankings Update: Class Of 2024 – Top 5
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Aili Tanke IA #1 SG #1 HEIGHT 6'0" POS SG CLASS 2024 View Profile Aili Tanke State: Iowa School: Johnston Club: All Iowa Attack Aili Tanke Aili Tanke 6’0″ | SG Johnston | 2024 State IA returns to the class…
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Continue ReadingAili Tanke Aili Tanke 6’0″ | SG Johnston | 2024 State IA returns to the class of 2024 rankings in the top spot overall to start the 2022-2023 season at Johnston High School. Tanke, the Iowa State women basketball commit, is an efficient and diverse combo forward with an extremely high ceiling. She can play inside to out and score from all three levels. At the high school level she can guard all positions depending on the teams opponent. She does a great job of defending the screen and roll while always helping her teammates call out future screens that she see’s coming. She did a little bit of everything a year ago for the Dragons on their way to an undefeated season at 26-0 while winning a state championship. This upcoming season will be a big test of where she stands compared to the rest of her class as many experienced seniors have graduated from last year, giving Tanke a chance to take control as the leader of this team. The Dragons will have reinforcements stepping into the spot light in the form of freshman Jenica Lewis, one of the top players in the 2026 class throughout the entire nation. If Tanke can show this winter that she will be consistent and efficient shooting the ball again while underclassman step up, it’ll be another good season ending in a state championship for the Dragons.
Callie Levin Callie Levin 5’10” | PG Solon | 2024 State IA steps into the role of alpha once again for her Solon Spartans High School team as she returns at the #2 spot in our rankings update. Levin is an all around playmaker. She is a quick guard with a great handle and shifty movement. She moves off the ball well and can shoot it even better. While she is working in the offseason she works on coming down the floor, making a solid pass, and quickly spotting up for a jump shot behind the three point arc somewhere. This has faired well for herself as she see this situation happen a lot with herself in high school ball, kinda becoming her “signature” thing to do. The coordination/balance she displays while in a live game is impressive to say the least, helping her make shots at a high rate consistently. The Iowa women’s basketball commit has had a solid season every high school year and I anticipate the same thing occurring this winter as she will attempt to lead the Spartans to a conference championship. In the future I could see her potentially bringing the ball up the floor for the Hawkeyes with the ability to move to the shooting guard spot at the same time if necessary.
Highlights
Kendall McDaniel Kendall McDaniel 6’0″ | C Valley | 2024 State IA slips into the #3 spot in this rankings update for the class of 2024 while coming in at the #1 spot for her position at center. McDaniel also comes in as the 2nd best center in the entire state behind Iowa State commit, Audi Crooks Audi Crooks 6’3″ | C Bishop Garrigan | 2023 State #42 Nation IA , of the 2023 class. Coming off of another productive season for Indianola High School and Pure Prep AAU, she has received a good amount of high level college interest for her skillset and production in the paint. Receiving a visit from Iowa State and other alike colleges as she tries to figure out where she would like to take her talents for her college career. In high school competition she dominates down low and controls the paint. She is a big, strong, athletic center with good movement and footwork. She can spin off the defense going toward either side of the hoop, can score going over either shoulder, and can finish with either hand. After Crooks graduates this season she will take over as the #1 center in the state for her senior year, showing how good she really is. It’ll be interesting to see where she ends up playing college ball but wherever it is, they are getting a hell of a player.
Highlights
Brooklyn Stanley Brooklyn Stanley 5’8″ | PG Bishop Heelan | 2024 State IA finds herself in the top 5 of this rankings update coming in at the #4 spot. Stanley, a high motor point guard, has shown over this past season why she is deserving of this ranking. Being an unquestionable leader who can do it all for her team while defending at a high level. The thing that most impresses me about her game is her ability to guard and defend the entire length of the floor, for the entire game. At a good size at 5’8 with great agility, she is built to keep going and get stronger as the game goes on. When you add this skill and physical ability together, you get a very solid player that can impact the game at a higher college level from the start. This winter Stanley will keep the same energy she has been the past few seasons in hope of leading her team to a successful year while bring in more and more college interest as time goes on.
Rounding off the top 5 players in the class of 2024 at the #5 spot is Vanessa Bickford Vanessa Bickford 5’9″ | PG Dallas Center-Grimes | 2024 State IA . Bickford has already registered one game on the varsity level this season for DCG High School, scoring 10 points on 66% shooting from three while also recording a few rebounds and assists. I would describe Bickford as having a underrated ceiling coming into her junior year in this spot. She has every tool to be an overall great player who makes a real difference in a program at the college level somewhere. In her first game this year it really showed to everyone that she is going to have to become ultra-aggressive on both ends of the floor for her team to find success as they lost by 8 points while three players combined to score 83% of their total points. This season will be a big breakout year for Bickford as she will have a chance to really show what she can do while she has control of this team and how far they go this season. I anticipate the work that she has put in during the offseason will show more prominently as time progresses and the playoffs approach. Once she see’s first hand that she can be the best player on the floor each night, it’ll be hard stopping her.