Players Rankings Update: 2023 – Stock Risers (Pt. 2)
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Soccer Emma Hampton IA #52 SG #12 HEIGHT 5'10" POS SG CLASS 2023 View Profile Emma Hampton State: Iowa School: Johnston Club: Kingdom Hoops Emma Hampton Emma Hampton 5’10” | SG Johnston | 2023 State IA had a nice senior…
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Continue ReadingEmma Hampton Emma Hampton 5’10” | SG Johnston | 2023 State IA had a nice senior season for the Johnston Dragons as a starter, something that is a big honor within a program with a bunch of college commits and athletes spreading across a number of sports. Hampton is a nicely sized forward who is quick and agile with the ability to get to the hoop in a number of ways. She keeps great pace and always has energy when on the floor. On defense she was a nice piece to have as she moved well off of the ball and was usually in a the right position to square up with her opponent or make it over on help side defense in time to take a charge. At the college level Hampton is committed to Iowa to play soccer. Not surprising seeing the type of athlete she was on the basketball court. She should be proud of the high school basketball career she had, with some big things ahead of her on the pitch for the Hawkeyes.
Makenna Clark Makenna Clark 5’7″ | PG Ankeny Centennial | 2023 State IA let her name be known during her teams state play-off run this post season, leading her team past #2 Waterloo West with a team high 20 points and into the semi-finals games. Sadly, they would fall just short in the semi’s to the Johnston Dragons by a final of 42-35. Clark is a guard who moves around and does a lot of nice work on the offensive side of the ball. She is a player who can fit in a lot of systems as the 2 or 3 guard and even play the 1 in a bigger lineup. I would say her natural position is a combo guard in general because of her versatility but it all depends upon what system she is trying to fit into. The Ankeny Centennial Jaguars had a nice run this year and left it all on the floor, they should be proud, Clark included. She was a real leader and difference maker in all of her teams games this season.
Willow Bleeker Willow Bleeker 5’8″ | CG Sioux Center | 2023 State IA is a player not everyone knew going into this season but everyone is sure to remember without a doubt after this season. Bleeker played almost every position for her Sioux Center team this season except the 5, on their way to becoming the 3A state champions. She led her team in all categories throughout the year with 12.8 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 3.4 and she didn’t let up during the playoffs. In the championship game she lead her team with 17 points on 4/9 shooting and dished out 3 assists, a nice stat line when it helps you bring home a state title. Next season Bleeker will be playing for the Dordt University Defenders. The Defenders are getting a steal here as Willow is the type of player who can really impact a game in a lot of positive ways, you just have to give her a chance and let her work her magic.
The ELC Midgets didn’t bring home the state title this year but that shouldn’t overshadow the type of season they put together. The Midgets ended their season at 24-1 with their only loss coming at the state tournament to a buzz-saw of a team in Vinton-Shellsburg. The two leading scorer for the Midgets over this season and the past few are Hayley and Jordyn Stokes Jordyn Stokes 5’5″ | PG Estherville Lincoln Central | 2023 State IA . Jordyn for her senior year averaged 14.4 PPG on 42% shooting from the field, including 82% from the line and 40% from behind the arc. This was a big part to the Midgets success this past year as teams would hone in and try to stop one of the Stokes sisters each and every game. In the state tournament both sisters showed what they could do and left it all out on the floor. I’m not sure if Jordyn is committed to playing at the next level or not but if she were there is definitely a team out there who could use her talents on both ends of the floor. She just has to find the right fit for herself.
Meena Tate Meena Tate 5’11” | SG Iowa City West | 2023 State IA and the Iowa City West Trojans didn’t have the finish they would have liked to their season, falling just short of the state tournament. Nevertheless though, Tate is committed to play for Dartmouth next season and I can’t wait to see how she does. Tate is a solid talent. Good length accompanied with speed and skill. On defense she does a great job of staying down on her defend and working through screens wether it becomes a switch or a hard-hedge situation. She is going to be a player that is smart enough to come into the Dartmouth program and work their tails off to see minutes their freshman year. I think her skill and dedication speak for themselves and always have. This season she really showed that she is a team leader, through it all, win or lose. She is going to be a player that brings great energy at the college level with a positive attitude, someone every coach would love to have in their program.