Day 1 16U Sunflower Showdown Standouts

The 16U pool was stocked with high caliber players from several states including Michigan. While I did not get to see every team I did gather a group of players who stood out day one at the last [program_tooltip program_id='716194' first='[program_tooltip program_id='714510' first='[program_tooltip program_id='713097' first='Dynasty' last='']' last='']' last=''] Circuit stop of the summer, the Sunflower Showdown.   [player_tooltip player_id='719101' first='Macayla' last='Askew'], 5'11", SF/PF, Derby (KS), 2026, [program_tooltip program_id='716118' first='Next' last='Level Eclipse'] Carbonell 2025 - Athletic with good quickness Askew has a diverse skill set to get a bucket. Finishing with elevation going left, the short jumper in the lane, off the catch in transtition, and working just inside the arc are just a number of them. Using her wingspan Askew also gets her share of boards out-jumping the crowd.   Noelani Brooks, 5'6", Denver Christian (CO), Lady RoughRiders 2025-1 - Brooks has a solid lower body that she uses well. Coupled with good strength and handling ability she was able to defend and work with the ball from strength. She also showed a solid ability to hit cutters with strong, catchable bounce passes from the short wing area.   Lynique Cunningham, 2025/PG, Harbor Impact 2025 - Among the better shooters with range Cunningham also showed herself to be an especially tough scorer from the wing.   Aniya Hicks-Robinson, 5'5", SG/PG, Lincoln (NE), 2025, Capitol City Lady Panthers 2025 - Hicks-Robinson has quality game smarts, a smooth perimeter release with good three point range, As fast and quick as she is she also manages to keep it under control, including gathering herself to get a bucket after shaking a chaser in transition.   Kennedy Johnson, 5'9", CG, Lincoln (NE), 2025, Capitol City Lady Panthers 2025 - Johnson has a stout build, good speed, and solid handles that enable her to rotate between the 2 and 4 spots. Athletic, fast, a match-up problem for a lot of teams.   [player_tooltip player_id='329397' first='Caroline' last='Kron'], 5'8", SF, Mead (CO), 2025, [program_tooltip program_id='712718' first='NOCO' last='Triple Threat'] 2025 - Kron uses her transition speed and hops to create many opportunities for her team. An early touch off a rebound and she got the team moving.   Aenaya Lucius, 5'3", PG, Lincoln (NE), 2027, Capitol City Lady Panthers 2025 - Going to the wayback the quickness, athleticism, handles to get to the hoop, hops to get HER shot off, and love of the little tear drop floater with a little range to it brought thoughts of Seattle SuperSonics great<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GI-JHulgLJo" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Lucius Allen</a> to mind.   [player_tooltip player_id='1263308' first='Alyssa' last='McCauley'], 5'9". SF/PF, Great Bend (KS), 2026, KS Dream Team 2025 - McCauley competed in her first club tournament of the summer and stepped into the physical, fast environment without batting an eye.   [player_tooltip player_id='716834' first='Kaila' last='Patterson'], 5'4", SG, Longmont (CO), [program_tooltip program_id='712718' first='NOCO' last='Triple Threat'] 2025 - Patterson was often the beneficiary of her point guards ability to kick in the transition game and to find the shooter in the half court. Teams must find her or she will light up the nets beyond the arc.   [player_tooltip player_id='720543' first='Annabelle' last='Rakers'], 5'7", Flatiron Academy (CO), Lady RoughRiders 2025-1 - From the wing position Rakers was effective on both ends of the floor. Her reach, transition speed, and finishing ability at speed and with elevation were eye-catching.   Larken Rummell, 5'8", SG, Erie (CO), Lady RoughRiders 2025-2 - I really like Rummell's potential as a knock down shooter. She consistently showed the ability to light up the nets when she was able to catch and shoot in flow , especially in the corner to short wing areas   [player_tooltip player_id='510713' first='Gracie' last='Ward'], 5'8", Holy Family (CO), Lady RoughRiders 2025-1 - Ward was among the quickest and fastest at the point guard spot. She got the team out quickly by pushing the ball down the floor with the pass. In the half court she did a terrific job making the defense move with her passing.   [player_tooltip player_id='881014' first='Joanna' last='Ross'], 5'7", CG, Wichita North (KS), 2026, [program_tooltip program_id='716194' first='[program_tooltip program_id='714510' first='[program_tooltip program_id='713097' first='Dynasty' last='']' last='']' last=''] 2025 - Ross has a ways to go in areas, like consistently boxing out on the perimeter, but the foundation is there. She runs and competes well and just has some underlying, overall talent. She flashed scoring ability and physicality on both ends. Definitely one to wathc.   Kiliesha Shelton, 5'10", SF, Wichita North (KS), 2026, [program_tooltip program_id='716194' first='[program_tooltip program_id='714510' first='[program_tooltip program_id='713097' first='Dynasty' last='']' last='']' last=''] 2025 - Another raw talent Shelton showed rebounding ability, speed, athleticism and strength. Good underlying talent that really caught my eye, she has an affinity to working the 8' area around the hoop to get scores.   [player_tooltip player_id='424572' first='Megan' last='Wurster'], 5'9", PG, Lakeshore (MI), Harbor Impact, 2025 - A "hold on to your hat" speedy point guard especially shows athleticism on the slash across the lane to catch and finish. She really gets in the air on her jumper and boxes well from any position.

The 16U pool was stocked with high caliber players from several states including Michigan. While I did not get to see every team I did gather a group of players who stood out day one at the last Dynasty (KS) ' last='']' last=''] Circuit stop of the summer, the Sunflower Showdown.