A Quick View of the 2024 Class Top 20, nos. 1-10

The 2024 class top 20 is loaded with returning all-state honorees. A few have verbally committed to play college basketball and other sports. All are working to improve their game to help their high school team compete for championships. Enjoy this quick view of the top ten.   [player_tooltip player_id='198386' first='Jadyn' last='Wooten'], 5'6", PG, Blue Valley, Missouri Phenom - Way back in October 2019 at PGH's very first Top 250 event, which I made sure to attend, Wooten turned heads immediately. My friend and former colleague Mason Asher wrote, "Wooten was among the youngest players in the event and she was among the most talented. All day long she was making plays with the ball in her hands and getting to the rim. Wooten really set a tone on the offensive end but showcased her defensive intensity as well. Wooten is going to be one of the top Kansas 2024s." The two-time KBCA and Varsity Kansas 6A and Eastern Kansas League first team selection will now be taking her game to Oklahoma State following her senior year. Two game winning or tying shots in the 6A state tournaments for the past two years exemplify her ability to thrive under pressure. Wooten is a extremely athletic, complete and tough player on both ends of floor. And she has been to top player in the class for a long time. Possessing a great motor, speed with the ball, terrific quickness, hops, and scoring ability with both hands Wooten creates well for teammates.   [player_tooltip player_id='197235' first='Camryn' last='Smith'], 5'8", PG/SG, Shawnee Mission South, Della Lamb - Smith has been a lock in the top five for a long time and her honors reflect it. The two-time Sunflower League first team selection also earned 2023 KBCA 6A first team (honorable mention in 2022) and Varsity Kansas second team selections. One of the leaders on a team that ran the table in 2023 before falling in overtime to Blue Valley at the state tournament, Smith is well known for her ball skills; aggressiveness; and creativity. Her hops and length to challenge shots can surprise opponents but her motor; finishing skills with either hand; and strong ability to jump passing lanes puts opponents on their heals quickly. Her defense is not to be underestimated. She is heady and can take a team's top guard out of the game. Smith is uncommitted.   <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2022/05/Brooke-Walker-2024-Andover-Kansas-United-2024.jpg?w=453" alt="" class="wp-image-426453" width="113" height="106" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Andover 2024 [player_tooltip player_id='231259' first='Brooke' last='Walker']. Photo: Robert Kelly.</figcaption></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='231259' first='Brooke' last='Walker'], 5'8", SG, Andover, Kansas United - Walker has been ranked in the top five for a long time. She has stayed there because she just keeps getting better. A two-time Ark Valley Chisholm Trail League Div II first team selection, she also earned KBCA 5A first team honors in 2023 after receiving second team honors in 2022. Walker is also a 2023 Varsity Kansas 5A first team selection. A high IQ player, Walker is a all-around player who is a terrific shooter and scorer. She shoots nearly 40% from beyond the arc, over 80% from the line. She has averaged greater than 17 points per game for the past two seasons. Not only is Walker a terrific shooter but also has great scoring ability in all situations. A solid ball handler, she finishes challenged shots with athleticism. Waker makes her teammates better around her too, dishing out 3.5 assists per game with a assists-to-turnovers ration greater than 2. Defensively, she is not to be underestimated. She is a very good defender with quick feet and a penchant to generating turnovers, averaging more than 4.2 steals per game. While uncommitted, Walker is generating substantial NCAA division 1 interest.   [player_tooltip player_id='192777' first='Abigail' last='Long'], 5'8", CG, Shawnee Mission East, Missouri Phenom - The Yale commit has been the Sunflower League's leading scorer two seasons running. A three-time all-league selection, she made first team in 2023. Long also was selected to the KBCA and Varsity Kansas second team. She handles the ball well, creates her own shot, and is a high IQ player with solid court vision. Long scores on the perimeter with range and has jump shooting ability. On finishes she alters her body well to get shots off. With her athleticism and length she is adept at disrupting passing lanes.   [player_tooltip player_id='192821' first='Zoe' last='Canfield'], 5'10", CG, Washburn Rural, Missouri Phenom - Entering 2023 Canfield was coming off a 6A state championship. She repeated as Centennial League second team and was selected to KBCA honorable mention. Canfield was well into another strong season when she went down with a ACL injury in mid-January. The Kansas commit is expected to be back to form come the start of her senior year. Long, fast, and athletic Canfield was among the state's best three point (47.5%) and free throw shooters (84.8%). While she shoots with range and finishes well with both hands, Canfield is also a terrific defender. Long and quick, she is disruptive of passing lanes and can alter shots.   [player_tooltip player_id='192842' first='Skylar' last='Pierce'], 6'0", PF, Olathe Northwest - The two-time Sunflower League second team and 2023 defensive player of the year also earned KBCA honorable mention honors. Long, fast, and athletic the Nebraska volleyball commit has serious hops and gets up quickly to rebound. Very quick with her first step off the bounce the lefty finishes with speed with either hand. Pierce has good transition speed, hands, and vision. She is also a quality shot blocker.   [player_tooltip player_id='231282' first='Lainie' last='Douglas'], 6'1", PF, Blue Valley Northwest, [program_tooltip program_id='715643' first='Kansas' last='Elite']? - After missing the 2022 season with a knee injury Douglas returned and had a strong 2023. She earned Varsity Kansas 6A honorable mention and Eastern Kansas League third team. Douglas also recently committed to Missouri State University. A long, athletic player she is effective working around the high elbow to hit the mid-range jumper or getting to the glass off the bounce. Douglas has mature back-to-basket and face-up games and has a strong ability to find perimeter shooters off interior pressure.   <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2022/05/C5230830-9CD7-4700-ADBE-AC1E4A60C55C-scaled-e1683218852520.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-430288" width="165" height="148" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Shawnee Mission South 2024 [player_tooltip player_id='430812' first='Azailah' last='Funches']. Photo: Prep Girls Hoops.</figcaption></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='430812' first='Azailah' last='Funches'], 6'0", SF, Shawnee Mission South, Della Lamb - In her first year with the Raiders the versatile Funches made an immediate impact. She brought athleticism, length, hops on the boards, handles in traffic, and three point shooting and helped the team run the table before falling to Blue Valley in the 6A state tournament in overtime. A solid shot blocker, her post-season honors include Sunflower League second team and Varsity Kansas honorable mention. She is uncommitted.   <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/05/Alana-Shetlar-2024-Andover-jumper.jpg?w=441" alt="" class="wp-image-650134" width="174" height="168" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Andover 2024 [player_tooltip player_id='396405' first='Alana' last='Shetlar']. Photo: Robert Kelly</figcaption></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='396405' first='Alana' last='Shetlar'], 6'2", PF, Andover, Kansas United '- Shetlar's game really started to come together during the 2022 season, earning her Ark Valley Chisholm Trail League second team honors. Already arguably the top mid-range shooter in the state and a strong three point threat, her game leaped another couple of levels early last summer. Shetlar vaulted up the ranks accordingly. She was one of the team leaders for the Trojans' run to the 5A state tournament where the team eventually finished in fourth place. Heading into her senior season Shetlar has picked up division I and II offers. Shetlar is long, strong, and elevates terrifically on rebounds and her jumpers. Not only because of accuracy, because of her size and how she elevates her mid-range shot is practically unblockable at the high school level. Shetlar is physical on both ends of the floor, has quickness and handles to beat defenders off the dribble. Lean and fast too. Her 2023 honors reflect her improvement over the year: First team AVCTL Div II, KBCA and Varsity Kansas honorable mention.   [player_tooltip player_id='231289' first='Taylin' last='Stallbaumer'], 5'7", PG, Seaman, Southwest Elite - Stallbaumer can flat play. She initially caught my eye in 2021 as she ran the show in a 5A quarterfinal loss at Salina Central. Fast, quick, poised, and just dangerous. A season later she earned modest accolades, a Centennial League second team selection. Heading into her junior year Top Sports News identified her as a player to watch in the Topeka area saying, "Stallbaumer averaged 11 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.4 steals and 2.0 assists for the 16-6 Vikings as a sophomore while connecting on 43 3-pointers." After Seaman joined the United Kansas League ahead of the 2023 season she finally received well deserved honors after leading her team to the 5A state tournament. She earned selections to the UKL first team and to Varsity Kansas honorable mention's list. She is uncommitted.

The 2024 class top 20 is loaded with returning all-state honorees. A few have verbally committed to play college basketball and other sports. All are working to improve their game to help their high school team compete for championships. Enjoy this quick view of the top ten.