Spring Rankings: Class of 2024 Stockrisers

<figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2022/09/24-Ella-Simpson-scaled.jpg?w=683" alt="" class="wp-image-504234" width="127" height="190" /></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='379499' first='Ella' last='Simpson'], University, PF, 6-0, Jr. (13 to 5) - Back when University began the season, [player_tooltip player_id='379499' first='Ella' last='Simpson'] was expected to be a big part of the Hawks' offensive attack. Scouts said her game and confidence had visibly grown over the summer, and that the opportunity was there for her to make a big splash. "She made that big splash," said a scout. In little time, Simpson helped University race out to wins against teams like Parkersburg South and Wheeling Park, and she assisted her teams' climb in the AP Poll. They went unranked in the first AP Poll only to being included in the final six polls. Something funny happened, though, along the way. Simpson started climbing up, even more. She took on the bulk of the scoring in many games, and her effort became a consistent highlight. By the end of the season, she was firmly the leader of a Class AAAA team that should definitely have Charleston Dreams this entire summer and into fall practice.   <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2022/09/27-Ashlyn-Riley-scaled.jpg?w=683" alt="" class="wp-image-504237" width="143" height="214" /></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='379503' first='Ashlyn' last='Riley'], Lincoln, SG, 5-8, Jr. (25 to 10) - You just knew it was going to happen sooner rather than later. Eventually, this reporter would get to see [player_tooltip player_id='379503' first='Ashlyn' last='Riley'] in person, and I would leave impressed. It happened. I saw her play several times this season and was impressed with her composure on the floor. You didn't hear her scream. You didn't hear her jaw. You didn't watch her cause trouble. You simply observed her playing basketball. Really good basketball, at that. As the year went along, she raised her game more and more and more. At one point, there was a real threat of Lincoln possibly stealing a spot in the state tournament, in a loaded Big Ten. Yet, it never came to fruition. Still, Riley kept grinding away. Shots. Rebounds. Fast Breaks. Leadership. Being another coach. Her assignments really never ended. But again, she didn't really seem to mind. She kept adjusting her play to the needs of her team - that is why she rose up in the rankings - she seems to be finding that feeling for what she needs to be every night.   <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2021/10/30-Alilyonna-Jordan-scaled.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-341211" width="129" height="194" /></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='342235' first='Lily' last='Jordan'], Morgantown, W, 6-1, Jr. (3 to 2) - It really was a remarkable year for Morgantown and standout player [player_tooltip player_id='342235' first='Lily' last='Jordan']. Even before the Mohigans went on to win the state championship, the group experienced a remarkable journey of growth along the way. In just the opening games alone, new head coach Doug Goodwin found out [player_tooltip player_id='391459' first='Lindsey' last='Bechtel'] was still going to be a strong No. 3 to go along with [player_tooltip player_id='342214' first='Sofia' last='Wassick'] and Jordan. Then, somewhere around the third Wheeling Park game, Mia Henkins caught fire. Nights only got better from there on out. Those four stayed strong the rest of the season, with Lily being a bigger and bigger part of the game plan. Thanks to her abilities to drive and handle the ball on the block, she became one of the rarer unstoppable weapons in the classification right up there with [player_tooltip player_id='342221' first='Alexis' last='Bordas']. She carried this distinction all the way to and through the title game. Late in the fourth quarter of the title game, she really showed just how appropriate it was. With her team locked in a battle with Wheeling Park, she jumped into action. She scored, rebounded, and finally made several of the defensive stops that one Morgantown a championship. Her year and growth around the basket as a post player really shoved her above Van Tassell, at least in my mind.   <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2022/09/23-Corin-Edsell-scaled.jpg?w=683" alt="" class="wp-image-504233" width="143" height="214" /></figure>   Corrin Edsall, Spring Mills, SG, 5-10. Jr. (17 to 12) - Corrin Edsall held herself to a high standard at the beginning of the high school season. She didn't take long going about meeting those expectations. From the start of Spring Mills' undefeated run to a Class AAAA state semifinal, Edsall poured in hours of hard work in to her primary role as a primary scorer for the Cardinals. Alongside [player_tooltip player_id='342234' first='Olivia' last='Bolduc'], [player_tooltip player_id='384008' first='Kilah' last='Dandridge'] and sister Regan, she tallied the points that aided the Eastern Panhandle school during its rise from the others receiving votes section to the Top 10 and eventually top 5 of the Associated Press polls. She didn't complain. She didn't disturb the peace. She just went about scoring, game in and game out. This often overlooked ability, the ability to do your job and block out everything else, made her an ideal candidate for a move up in the rankings. Any time a player moves past the me-phase and into the all-about-team phase, it is nearly impossible not to move her closer to being ready for college. And so, she rose five spots in the rankings.   [player_tooltip player_id='382604' first='Hadleigh' last='McGoskey'], Ravenswood, SG, 5-5, Jr. (33 to 24) - [player_tooltip player_id='382604' first='Hadleigh' last='McGoskey'] knew Ravenswood needed an offensive leader at the beginning of the season. Turns out, she filled in the role just fine. Macie Mossor defended. Emily Wratchford ran point, and McGoskey kept doing what she does best. She scored. A lot. During a season where the Red Devilettes returned to the state tournament, McGoskey averaged 23 points per contest. In many ways, her performance matched exactly what many fans have come to expect from her during her three-years as a Devilette. She executed exactly how she planned it, according to herself. "We struggle sometimes offensively, and I thought it was important to bring energy and enthusiasm. I told the girls to keep shooting and stay involved," she said. There was little question she accomplished her mission and in the process, she earned herself a raise up the rankings.