7 2024 Major Movers Outside the Top 20
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With any rankings update there will be players who make some major moves upward. Often moves can be a result of fresh viewings or just more complete information than was previously known. Seven players have made significant moves, some of…
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Continue ReadingWith any rankings update there will be players who make some major moves upward. Often moves can be a result of fresh viewings or just more complete information than was previously known. Seven players have made significant moves, some of which are large. All were factors in their team’s appearance in their sub-state finals. A few are continuing to play at the State Tournament. The highlighted players are shown in rank order.
Easha Potts Easha Potts 5'10" | PF Dodge City | 2024 State KS , 6’0″, PF, Dodge City – The strong, hard working post player climbed 16 spots to #95. Potts is well known to be strong around the basket and on the boards. She has quickness to defend effectively on the perimeter and match with her strength to be a force inside. What I saw recently was a maturity to her decision making. She puts herself into great position and finishes well. But in situations where she cannot make a quality scoring play she calmly gathers herself and kicks the ball out.
Keegan Yarick Keegan Yarick 5'8" | SG Fort Scott | 2024 State KS , 5’8″, SG/PG, Fort Scott – Yarrick is known to be a rangy shooter with a quick release who is especially good when she catches in flow. What she is also really good at is handling the ball in transition and against back court pressure. Yarick climbed 56 spots to #89.
Haven Deckinger Haven Deckinger 5'3" | SG Andover Central | 2024 State KS , 5’6″, Andover Central – What I have been impressed with this season is how Deckinger has ramped up role as the floor leader. Up 28 spots to #76, she is a very good, quick, and makes good decisions. A good mid-range shooter, she also is a credible perimeter threat. She moves well off the ball and finishes well off the cut and catch.
Jalyiah Manual Jalyiah Manual 6'0" | SF East | 2024 State KS , 6’0″, SF/PF, Wichita East – I have watched Manuel’s game grow by leaps and bounds over the past couple of years and I never cease to be amazed at what she shows. Long-limbed with a strong build, Manual has shown terrific transition speed to go with athleticism to finish with either hand well. I really like her quickness but I hope to see more consistency catching in various situations. Manual climbed 26 spots to #63.
Ma’Khiyah Jones Ma’Khiyah Jones 5'8" | CG Wichita Southeast | 2024 State KS , 5’8″, CG, Wichita Southeast – Jones shot up 68 spots to #57 due in major part to her being difficult to handle by opponents on both ends of the floor. She is tricky smart. On one end, because she has serious hops and strong scoring ability around the basket, defenders have difficulty deciding what she is going to do with the ball. On the other, one moment she will out defending on perimeter and the next muscling inside. She is one of the very, very few players I have seen who will use an offensive post-player’s positioning against them. Pressure, release. Pressure, release. Jones can make the post lose their balance. If that is not enough Jones has solid handles and is a good creator with the ball.
Lauren Sandstrom Lauren Sandstrom 6'1" | CG Hayden | 2024 State KS , 5’9″, CG/SF, Hayden – Sandstrum reached #56 after moving up #13 spots. With good size, a strong build, and physicality to her game Sandstrom also transitions with speed. A mature post game is complemented by her speed with the ball and quick release on her perimeter shooting. With her good hands she catches and finishes on the fly well. As shown against Eudora in a late season win, hanging 19 points on a quality team shows her scoring ability.
Lily Brown Lily Brown 6'3" | C St. Mary's Colgan | 2024 State KS , 6’0″, C, St. Mary’s Colgan – The recent 1,000 point scorer climbed 39 spots to #34. Brown is a key component for the undefeated Panthers as they roll into the state 2A tournament as the top seed for the second straight season. With her size, length, transition speed, interior quickness, and hops she has been a difficult handle for opponents on both ends. Brown has been tearing up the statistics board for three seasons. The last two she has averaged 22.1 points and 10.5 to 11 rebounds per game. This season she has added 3 steals per game as well.