2024 Player Rankings Update: New Additions
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The 2024 Player Rankings Update for the state of Nebraska is different. There hasn’t been an update for this class in over 2 years and that is going to cause a lot of changes in this process. Usually with senior…
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Continue ReadingThe 2024 Player Rankings Update for the state of Nebraska is different. There hasn’t been an update for this class in over 2 years and that is going to cause a lot of changes in this process. Usually with senior classes in high school, at this point I would have 150-200 kids listed, who have competed over their past 4 years on the court. In this specific update we will have right around a total of 175, with the Top 50 being ranked.
Somethings I would like everyone to understand when reading these rankings:
- With having no ranking changes in over 2 years, there is a lot that has happened. Some players found other passions, some committed to colleges for other athletics, some grew in the game of basketball and absolutely dominate it right now, it doesn’t matter why but what does matter is that the Ranking the player may have had prior to this update, should be ignored if their new ranking is being seen as a negative, from their point of view. It’s an opinion and opinions change every day.
- If you aren’t ranked in the Top 50, don’t worry about your position rank. When a player is WL, their position rank does not truly reflect their positional ranking in my eyes. That number is just how the system sees the players being added in the past.
- If a player isn’t ranked or listed, that you think should be, there is a good change that I simply did not see that individual compete or see them put up big numbers on the high school floor these past few seasons. It happens. There is another Rankings Update coming out in December, just shoot me a message and let me know about the player, we can go from there.
- I am one person and I am human. I really refuse to rank anyone if I can’t see them play. Wether it be in person OR on film. So I would advise everyone to film their children’s contests because it matters to get noticed in the long run and not just by me but by college recruiters as well.
- Only the Top 50 are ranked because that is all I am comfortable ranking at this time. It would have been unfair to others if I just randomly put individuals in a spot without knowing their true ability. To know that ability, I need to see the player compete several times, not just on a highlight mixtape, once.
In all honesty. when you look at this restricted rankings, there is some much different that I could consider every player listed as a “Stock-Riser” or “New Addition” but in this article I tried to stick with mostly players that were not listed prior to this Update. The 5 players I have below are all individuals who WILL make a difference to their perspective varsity team this winter in one way or another.
Thanks for tuning in and enjoy!
Peyton Tritz Peyton Tritz 5’6″ | PG Waverly | 2024 State NE may not be new to the basketball scene in the state of Nebraska but she has recently committed to play at the college level and is gearing up for an important Senior season ahead. If you have seen Tritz play for more than 5 minutes, you can tell that she is a game manager out there on the floor. She orchestrates her teams offense every possession, while playing with good pace and tempo individually. When it comes to her defense, she is pretty active. She usually guards the other teams fastest guard and does a good job of keeping them in check. This winter is going to be interesting for myself as I really dive into the girls high school game in Nebraska. From what I’m seeing so far, there is a plethora of high-level talent ranging across the state, Tritz currently being in that conversation.
Another Point Guard that is extremely fast with the ball in her hands coming down the floor is Kara Strickland Kara Strickland PG Bellevue East | 2024 NE . Strickland is a shifty and creative guard. She isn’t the tallest but she makes up for that in her ability to create off of the dribble for either herself or a teammates. Offensively, Strickland can shoot the ball. Helping her against the bigger guards she usually has to match-up across from, throughout a game. Defensively she works hard and tries to beat her opponents to their spots on a regular basis. It doesn’t always happen but you can always tell that there is maximum effort occurring on her part. Coming into the list for the first time at #26 is something to be proud of. If she keeps working and does well to start this winter season, she could be moving up those rankings before you know it.
Peyton Cox Peyton Cox 5’11” | PF Wauneta-Palisade | 2024 State NE was one of the players that had the most double-double’s last season in Nebraska high school basketball. Cox is a 5’11 Forward, that plays more of the Power position in the high school realm but in college, would be a Small Forward instead. Cox moves well and is a multi-sport athlete with a good amount of natural bounce. She used her positioning and knowledge of where the ball is going to come off the rim, to rebound at a high rate and she is strong enough to finish through contact once she does that. I hope that Cox’s domination near the basket can continue this year and I can see it in person. From what I’ve seen glimpses of so far, there are a lot of positives to like here.
I had the opportunity to see Dru Zoucha Dru Zoucha 5’5″ | PG Papillion-LaVista | 2024 State NE play this spring at a PGH event and she did not disappoint. Zoucha is a smaller point guard that is quick off the dribble, good at finishing near the basket over bigger defenders, efficient shooting the ball from deep, and a scrappy defender. I think in most situations that Zoucha would be counted as a Shooting Guard as her natural position but I’m still hesitant on that. She runs the show too well on offense to not have the ball in her hands a majority of the time, producing for her team in some major way. It doesn’t really matter as Zoucha is already college committed for her basketball career and she is sure to make a difference, no matter where she is placed on the court.
I have seen a lot of good things on the court from Madison Stover Madison Stover 5’9″ | SG Marian | 2024 State NE in this process of figuring out the state of Nebraska. Stover was a role player last year on her high school team but she is ready to step up this winter for a bigger part. She is a 5’8 SG, that plays off of the ball well. I would say that in general she is a hustle player that makes good things happen because of her hard work. She never quits on a play and is usually the first one in the stands, diving for a loose ball. This winter is going to open the eyes of a lot of potential recruiters now that there is more covering happening throughout this state. If Madison can pick and choose her spots, she is sure to have some more success this season. She just has to keep grinding and stay locked in these next few months.