W.Va. Thunder 2024 Select 40 Spring Standouts

[player_tooltip player_id='375427' first='Sophie' last='Nichols'], Ripley, W, 5-11, Sr. - Sophie really morphed herself into a legitimate Division I prospect over the month of May. Is she going to UConn? Not exactly. But, she's gone from the kid who may be a D-I kid to a definite D-I kid who can contribute wherever she chooses to go. The knock on her earlier in the year was her defense, but she really made big leaps starting in the sectional championship and those improvements have continued into the spring. Sophie looks really good. Where does she look the best? Well, she was already a great on ball defender but now she's shown an improved understanding on the back end and tracking her defender off the ball. It was only a matter of time. Someone possessing length like hers was always going to look better everywhere when she fully understood her assignment. Her defense stacks on top of everything else she does well, including her anywhere-in-the-gym shooting. Start your offers now, coaches.   [player_tooltip player_id='231466' first='Bella' last='Quinn'], Russell, PG, 5-6, Sr. - I love great point guards. And [player_tooltip player_id='231466' first='Bella' last='Quinn'] is a great point guard. She is a kid who if she were 3 inches taller she would be a massive Division I prospect. Yes, whoever lands this kid will be lucky. She does so many things well. She has great handles when she gets in traffic, which allows her to get out of trouble and fire off some great passes. Once she penetrates, the defense has a choice - do you let her give into her pick-and-roll skills or do you stop her and risk leaving a teammate, she is surely going to find, open for an open shot. One coach won't have to find out the answer to that question, but everyone else sure will find out.   Kyra Parnell, Virginia Episcopal, W, 6-3, Sr. - If you are a coach in the market for a great 6-foot-3 post who handles the ball on the perimeter, scores both inside and outside, and defends the ball, take a flier out on Parnell. For Real. If there are 10 players on the floor, there will only be one kid similar to her. She stands out. She does so many things well that she brings to mind Cameron Brink. She is a matchup nightmare for players on offense and defense as she can guard positions 1-5. More often than not, players simply won't be able to guard her. She can make plays on the perimeter and has plenty of options to score.   <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2022/03/Amara-Jackson-scaled.jpg?w=988" alt="" class="wp-image-398993" width="138" height="143" /></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='385771' first='Amara' last='Jackson'], Huntington, W, 5-11, Sr. - [player_tooltip player_id='385771' first='Amara' last='Jackson'] may be the most underrated senior in the Mountain State. Not only does she possess an insanely high basketball IQ, but she shoots the ball well and shoots with confidence. In fact, she shoots the ball so well her Thunder coaches want her to shoot more. One shot can quickly tumble into a succession of makes. Though it doesn't happen often, when you combine her shot making with her great athleticism and ability to be the toughest hombre on the floor at a moments notice, well, there is no reason this young lady shouldn't have a college home by the time the high school season rolls around in November.   [player_tooltip player_id='467609' first='Jaidyn' last='Gulley'], Ashland, W, 5-10, Sr. - If you thought I liked [player_tooltip player_id='231466' first='Bella' last='Quinn'] or [player_tooltip player_id='375427' first='Sophie' last='Nichols'], I really like Gulley as a player on the basketball court. She may be behind the recruiting 8-ball with injuries, but that development hardly matters. The Kittens with the 'fro is confident, she has swagger, and she's an exceptional athlete. Not necessarily in that order. Any and all of these traits can come out on any given night. She handles the ball well. She plays the perimeter and rebounds the ball well. Mismatches are a regular thing when you get her against a smaller guard. Many smaller guards won't handle her post up ability well. Then there's her defense, she's a strong on- and off-the ball defender, she just needs to be seen more.

Sophie Nichols Sophie Nichols 5'11" | SG Ripley | 2024 State WV , Ripley, W, 5-11, Sr. - Sophie really morphed herself into a legitimate Division I prospect over the month of May. Is she going to UConn? Not exactly. But, she's gone from the kid who may be a D-I kid to a definite D-I kid who can contribute wherever she chooses to go. The knock on her earlier in the year was her defense, but she really made big leaps starting in the sectional championship and those improvements have continued into the spring. Sophie looks really good. Where does she look the best? Well, she was already a great on ball defender but now she's shown an improved understanding on the back end and tracking her defender off the ball. It was only a matter of time. Someone possessing length like hers was always going to look better everywhere when she fully understood her assignment. Her defense stacks on top of everything else she does well, including her anywhere-in-the-gym shooting. Start your offers now, coaches.