17U MAYB Hall of Fame Showcase Strong Performances, Part 2

As I said in <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/2023/04/17u-mayb-hall-of-fame-showcase-strong-performances-part-1/">part 1</a>, the 2023 edition of the <a href="https://mayb.com/">MAYB</a> Hall of Fame Showcase held at the Wichita Sports Forum was a strong event that was a blast to cover. Adding to the six players discussed in it I give you the rest of Big 12 Division standouts.   [player_tooltip player_id='621235' first='Kat' last='Ball'], 5'3", PG, Manhattan, SSA 17U, 2026 - Playing substantially on varsity as a freshman, Ball was an early, if not the first, sub for the Indians. Playing in the freer-wheeling club ball environment her defensive quickness, transition speed, and offensive abilities were really able to stand out. One of small skills she does well is denying passing lanes to the player she is defending.   <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-thumbnail is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/04/Oen-Deters-Centralia-SSA-Gameball-Ingram-2025-e1680650792590.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1" alt="" class="wp-image-630678" width="145" height="145" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Centralia 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='349457' first='Oen' last='Deters']. Photo: Robert Kelly.</figcaption></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='349457' first='Oen' last='Deters'], 5'6", SG, Centralia, SSA 17U, 2024 - Deters has always had a mature, heady game. And she is well known as a dangerous shooter. She showed that and more all weekend. Deters is solidly built and uses her lower body strength well when double-teaming on the perimeter and when splitting one when she has the ball. A part of her game most guards do not have is the ability to work her pivot foot. She will put together multiple post moves to create shots within 10" of the hoop. She finishes at speed well and with either hand. One other thing to know, Deters does not back down against physical defenders in the open court, always looking for opportunities to use that aggression against them.   [player_tooltip player_id='192789' first='Hattie' last='Gros'], 5'8", SG, Frankfort, SSA 17U, 2024 - When I just ignored the numbers worn by the SSA 17U guards and just watch there was always one player who made play after play with speed and quickness. Refocusing on numbers, that was Gros's doing. Whether being disruptive defensively, sprinting down the floor, rebounding, and making plays with the ball she was strong. Using her quickness, she repeatedly got the better of her defenders to get a step off the bounce. Gros showed she is an athletic finisher as well.   [player_tooltip player_id='649340' first='Cinae' last='Hadley'], 5'6", SG, Wichita East, [program_tooltip program_id='715643' first='Kansas' last='Elite'] Heat 17U, 2025 - It may have taken until the end of the second day for me to catch Hadley on the court for an extended length of time but when I did she was impressive. She has solid quickness and transition speed to go with length that had me convinced she was a couple inches taller than she is listed. On a left wing defended drive through the mid-lane area Hadley showed a great first step, handles with quickness, and surprising explosiveness. Yes she scored, very athletically and with elevation. Very few players have a talent for elevating strongly with timing to catch an offensive board and get the put back before coming back down. A lock to appear in the next rankings update.   [player_tooltip player_id='416009' first='Kailyn' last='Hanni'], 5'6", PG, Silver Lake, Gameball Fusion NXT, 2026 - Many teams Hanni played against where loaded at the guard position with fast, quick, athletic guards who could put pressure on strongly in the back court. Hanni showed a consistent ability to handle that pressure. Always with her head up looking to create, she handles with controlled speed. It enabled her to see the court well and use her sense of where to go with the ball. Driving and pulling up, making a crisp pass to the wing and then moving into space away from the ball, and accelerating to dive to the basket and get a return pass were common sights. She uses her length well defensively to disrupt as well.   [player_tooltip player_id='532208' first='Ma'Khiyah' last='Jones'], 5'8", CG/SF, Wichita Southeast, [program_tooltip program_id='715643' first='Kansas' last='Elite'] Heat 17U, 2024 - Jones had a terrific high school season that culminated in a 6A state tournament experience. While it took her some time to find a groove over the weekend what she showed was a solid ability to change ends. Not just about speed and quickness, but a mindset that enables her to switch from offense to defense that shaves up to four extra steps time-wise. Jones showed solid handles, strength to wrestle the ball away from two defenders, almost casual scoring ability around the basket. What I would like to see is growth in tactics to create space from stickier defenders in the mid-range to perimeter area.   [player_tooltip player_id='335962' first='Jalyiah' last='Manuel'], 6'1", PF/C, Wichita East, [program_tooltip program_id='715643' first='Kansas' last='Elite'] Heat 17U, 2024 - When she is feeling it, look out. It took a game or two but by the second day she showed what she is capable of doing game-in, game-out. Physically Manuel is a terrific combination of solid size and terrific length. Her feet can be especially quick on both ends of the floor, enabling her to defend well on the perimeter and work well inside. She is also very athletic, has finishing ability with both hands through contact and at speed. Manual is also very physical. She will take a shot as well as administer one. I am excited to see how she matures over the summer because she could be very, very dominant. Picture Andover Central's Maddie Amekporfor but bigger, just as fast, and stronger. Pass the popcorn.   [player_tooltip player_id='459216' first='Katie' last='Linenberger'], 5'11", PF/C, Hays, SSA 17U, 2025 - I enjoy watching Linenberger player because she is physical, tough, and continuously improves. While her post up skills will continue to grow in terms of different methods of doing so in relation to where the ball is and how she calls for the ball, what is unquestioned is that defenders best be ready for her to put a body on you. Long and angular, Linenberger takes up space and uses her lower body well to gain position. She also is improving in her ability to anticipate the post moves of her defenders. Hustle, kicking the ball out to shooters, and strongly rebounding are also part of her game. Did I mention her toughness? Always seems to take the most big hits from opponents, hits the floor even, and just gets back into the game.   [player_tooltip player_id='350246' first='Molly' last='Martin'], 5'7", PG, Hays, SSA 17U, 2025 - Martin is a smooth player that sometimes you forget she is on the floor. She does not disappear. Rather she is a consistently solid presence on the floor you almost are surprised when she shows a "wow" kind of moment. Often those moments are quick, rangy, all-net perimeter shots. Others are sweet steals she turns into finishes at speed. What really impressed me though was her workmanlike stickiness defensively on some stronger players. She just does not go away. Most players cannot out run her due to her speed. Her lateral quickness and ability to work around screens and through traffic make her hard to shake.   [player_tooltip player_id='192792' first='Sara' last='Springer'], 5'5", PG/SG, Wamego, SSA 17U, 2024 - It took me a while to realize the player I saw this weekend is a far cry from what I have seen over the previous couple of years. As players grow and mature looks and abilities can change dramatically. Springer has grown a little but her speed and game have grown dramatically. Case in point, A transition play where she found herself driving full speed into a one-on-two. She slowed, drop-stepped around one defender and scored with a little seven-footer. She has always had smart handles and a ability to take care of the ball. She players quick, fast, and shows more athleticism and scoring ability than ever. A nice place to be heading into her senior season.

As I said in part 1, the 2023 edition of the MAYB Hall of Fame Showcase held at the Wichita Sports Forum was a strong event that was a blast to cover. Adding to the six players discussed in it I give you the rest of Big 12 Division standouts.