Sophomores to Watch Going Into the 2022-23 Season
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With the high school season quickly approaching, I’d like to go back to highlighting some intriguing returners in the 2025 class. There are plenty of kids in that class with loads of talent, but today I want to talk about…
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Continue ReadingWith the high school season quickly approaching, I’d like to go back to highlighting some intriguing returners in the 2025 class. There are plenty of kids in that class with loads of talent, but today I want to talk about four. In the future, I’ll continue to highlight other prospects in the 25 class.
Amani Jenkins Amani Jenkins 6'2" | C Johnston | 2025 State IA
There are kids every year at Jenkins’ position who go to college, and the coaching staff is hoping to get them comfortable scoring with their back to the basket by the time their juniors. However, Jenkins is already more than comfortable scoring over both shoulders as a sophomore in high school. What stands out about Jenkins’ game to me is her discipline. I love how well she defends without fouling around the basket. She uses her length to alter shots around the rim, and her ability to do so without fouling is invaluable.
Savannah Gage Savannah Gage 5'10" | SG Ankeny | 2025 State IA
After watching Gage over the summer a few times, it’s clear that Gage is an excellent athlete who knows how to use her athleticism to excel on the basketball court. I thought she did a solid job beating her initial defender off the dribble and finished well when she got around the basket. She’s also an accomplished defender and did an excellent job staying in front of some of the most talented guards and wings in her class in July.
Alyssa Bartlett Alyssa Bartlett 5'7" | PG Southeast Polk | 2025 State IA
There weren’t many players I enjoyed watching more than Bartlett in the final live period in July. She had a confidence about her that was undeniable and understandably so. The Southeast Polk guard picked apart defenses of some of the best programs in the region and made it look simple. Bartlett made the right pass, drew defenders, made her shots, and created for others at a high level. When some players are on a roll, especially at a high level, there isn’t much even the most talented teams can do about it, and that was the kind of rhythm Bartlett had.
Divine Bourrage Divine Bourrage 6'0" | CG Davenport North | 2025 State IA
The Davenport guard keeps things simple and can help her team win in a few possessions. For instance, when going against a zone, she usually isn’t a lead guard, so she’ll float around the perimeter and search for a gap to exploit. When she gets the ball in space against a zone, Bourrage can shoot them out of it quickly. It’s also beneficial that the now sophomore can defend talented guards and wings on the other end.