Intriguing Starts For Players in 5A

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Today, we'll look at some 5A players who've burst out of the gates this season. Some of the top players in the state have dominated early on in the season. However, I'll look at some of the players who don't immediately jump to mind as one the top players in the state.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='342210' first='Emma' last='Slings']</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Slings was one of my favorite players to watch play over the summer throughout the midwest for a few reasons. The McKendree commit is one of the most aggressive wings and makes things happen on both ends of the floor. She leads the J-Hawks in every main statistical category except blocks, which doesn't surprise me. Slings does everything in her power to give her team a chance to win, even sacrificing her body and attempting to earn an extra possession.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='314126' first='Camdyn' last='Kay']</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The junior has led the Mustangs in every statistical category this season. Kay has been a solid scorer, even against some of the best teams in Iowa. Even though the Mustangs have struggled early this season against some talented competition, Kay is liable to score 30 on any given night, and defenses have to account for her, or they run the risk of Kay carrying the offensive load and making the game competitive. Her jumper will translate to the next level.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='63027' first='Emma' last='Hampton']</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Johnston senior has a role on one of, if not the, most talented high school groups in Iowa. She's an athletic kid who can defend on the perimeter. If she's forgotten can hurt teams on the offensive end. Against Dowling Catholic, Hampton scored 23 points and grabbed seven rebounds in the Dragons' win over the No. 6 school in the state. Hampton may not be the most notable kid the Dragons roll out, and that's ok because she makes them better every time she steps on the floor. Don't be surprised to see the senior make a significant impact late in the postseason.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='311394' first='Alyssa' last='Bartlett']</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of my favorite kinds of players plays hard every second they're on the floor and has no idea how to slow their motor down, and that is Bartlett to a tee. The sophomore even had a game where she didn't score but still found ways to help her team win. The Southeast Polk guard is the definition of a winner, she battles regardless of what the scoreboard says, and you can tell she loves being on the floor, which means something.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->