Mid-Summer Look at 2025 Bigs

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As Kansas club ball pauses in June for high school teams to put in work I am taking a look at players I have seen so far this summer that have caught my attention. Numerous <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/2023/05/mid-summer-look-at-2024s/">2024s</a> are off to good starts. Now I turn to look at the newest upperclassmen, the 2025s. First off, some bigs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='616729' first='Miracle' last='Akpotayobo'], 6'3", C, Life Prep - Without question the biggest, strongest big on the floor. Has defensive quickness but not consistent energy. Sets great screens. Very strong and quick around the hoop especially off the whirl. A very solid free throw shooter. A raw talent with plenty of time to improve, her ceiling is high and is beginning to gather serious college interest. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='616755' first='Elsie' last='Boughfman'], 5'10", CG/PF, Little River, KS Dream Team - To my surprise, given that she plays with a strong; all-state point guard, early this summer I found Boughfman running the point for her team as well as play on the wing and the center positions. She showed good handles, speed, quickness, scoring ability, and strength. A 1A player to watch.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='398382' first='Heaven' last='Gilbert'], 5'10", PF, Wichita Heights, B2B [program_tooltip program_id='712424' first='Kansas' last='Bluejays'] - Gilbert is big, strong, and has really good hands. She has scoring ability within 10' and is difficult to work around defensively. She has plenty of upside and I look forward to watching her increase her speed, quickness, and game on both ends of the floor.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='349458' first='Aliyah' last='Green'], 6'1", PF, Hutchinson, Kansas United - Green has been one of the top power forwards in the class and only gets better. Fast and athletic, she is always a threat to go end to end off the rebound. A three level scorer, Green will pull up on the perimeter and knock them down off the catch as well. Defenders best have lateral quickness or they will not stay with her. She has a quick step, a big stride, terrific hops, and score around the basket in a variety of ways. Defensively, she defends with physicality. I would like to see her sharpen her ability and technique to defend the true centers she runs into on occasion.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='459216' first='Katie' last='Linenberger'], 5'11", PF, Hays, SSA - A rising player, Linenberger had a terrific sophomore season. This summer with SSA, and guesting with Western [program_tooltip program_id='715643' first='Kansas' last='Elite'], she continued to show improving fluidness offensively. She puts together a couple moves to create a good shot and is among the toughest players I have watched. She takes shots, hits the floor, and just keeps on competing. Being able to bang and having such length, players get on the receiving end of incidental forearms and elbows as well. Linenberger runs well, is always looking for the ball, finishes on the fly, and can just score quickly. I really like how she has improved clearing the ball off rebounds. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->