2025 Player Rankings Update: Top 5

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This 2025 Player Rankings Update for Nebraska is different to most Player Rankings Update that you will see published out there. Prior to this update, there was only a small "Watch List" provided for this class throughout the state which means a few things... </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>There is some catching up to do. At each update I try to add 25 players per class. At this point, I would have 125 players listed already going into the school year so that's just what I did. There are 125 players listed that either put up big numbers in high school last season or showed some impressive gameplay over this past AAU campaign. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>I have only ranked the Top 10 players until our next update in December. I am confident that these 10 players are all individuals who could play basketball at the next level, no questions asked. The biggest determining factor being how they expand their games and physically grow over the next few high school seasons. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>In the Top 10 that I have listed for this class, there were a handful of situations where a player could have been a spot above or a spot below of where they were placed. I could truly justify either position to you in the end.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>(In General) </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Some small things on how understand the rankings:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>The position that the player is labeled at currently is where they are seen as a college prospect.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Each player will have a position rank associated with their name in this first update, please understand two things about that ranking. 1 - Only the Top 10 players positional ranking is accurate. The others on the WL are just how players were mentioned in the PGH system in the past. 2 - Those are subject to change over-time as a player COULD end up changing their position for any given reason as they get older. (Growth spurt, Skill-set evolves, Ect.) </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Some small things to please remember from an outside perspective:&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Just because a players name is not added on this list, does not mean they aren't a good player. It simply means I haven't seen them compete YET or consider them as a CURRENT player who will see significant varsity minutes as a sophomore this winter at their high school.&nbsp;</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>With younger classes, there can be some major movements as to where a player is from update to update. It's crucial to understand that when a player moves down in the rankings, it's usually not because they played bad or haven't been doing well. It's because more players are being added to the rankings and those players skill-set maybe evolving to a higher level as they get older.&nbsp;</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>A Players Ranking is an opinion. Nothing more, nothing less. My advice is that you can use it to motivate you or you should move on. There is no reason to feel hurt or slighted as it is never personal. It's just a different point of view. Remember, opinions change.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In the article below I will be unveiling our 2025 - Top 5 Players list. This Top 5 list was determined by a few factors such as a players "feel" for the game, their body of work last high school/AAU season, their natural athleticism &amp; skill-set, their motor, and much more. Every player that I will list here is a college level competitor, who could one day play for a successful D1 program once their high school careers come to an end. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Thanks for tuning in and enjoy!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["316682"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='342207' first='Maya' last='Dolliver'] starters off our Top 5 countdown for the 2025 class in the state of Nebraska. Dolliver is a 5'7 point guard that is extremely skilled. I would consider her a u0022pass firstu0022 type player, who can score whenever she needs to in big moments. You can tell by the effortless way she moves down the court that she is a hooper. Defensively, she uses her speed and change of direction to impact her opponents throughout an entire contest, usually giving her a steal or three before things are said and done. Dolliver has a real feel for the game of basketball and it's noticeable. A player who helped lead her team to a state title last season, is a very interesting prospect with a bright future ahead of herself on the court. If she stays motivated and keeps on working on her game in the off-season, the sky is the limit. ","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["766585"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"I'm not going to lie to you. I still have a good amount of questions for [player_tooltip player_id='766585' first='JJ' last='Black'] and her overall game but from what I've seen thus far, it's very hard for people to stop Black from being dominate underneath the basket. Black stands right around 6'2 and is an enforcer in the middle. She rebounds at a high rate, moves well down the floor, and has a quick second jump for put-back's on missed shot attempts. Defensively, she is someone that other teams need to worry about. She gets her hands on a lot of shots inside the paint because players seem to under-play her length. Black starts off these rankings at #4 but she can't stay complacent. There are several other players right behind her gunning to move up come our December Update. Like all players near this ranking, she will need to continue her effective production if she wants to stay in Top 5 moving forward. Something that is more than doable for a player like Black but she still had to make it happen.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["276516"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"There are only 3-5 players in entire state of Nebraska that I would say are debatably more skilled than [player_tooltip player_id='276516' first='Molly' last='Ladwig'] and that speaks volumes. Ladwig is your definition of a Division-1 guard. She plays with intent and determination each contest, scores from all three levels at a high and efficient rate, out rebounds most players alike to her in size, can pass and create for others off of the catch or dribble, and understands the game of basketball strategically. When she is on the floor, you know it. She may only stand at around 5'9 but I would take her in most 1V1 matchups that arise throughout a contest. She is just so skilled, that if an opponent cuts her off, she has several counter moves she will pull out to get an easy bucket or assist. Ladwig is special and you can tell by watching her compete for 5 minutes out there. I'm not sure where she will end up for her college career but as for now, she comes in at #3 on this 2025 Player Rankings Update.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["315778"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"With the next two players there is going to be some debate and I understand why. There is really no solidified answer in my opinion as to who should be #1 and who should be #2 in this conversation, it's really whatever the college coach is looking for more in that moment, a point guard or a shooting guard. So at #2 we have [player_tooltip player_id='315778' first='Neleigh' last='Gessert']. Neleigh is a 6'0 Ft shooting guard that is extremely talented. She moves off of the ball well and always understands her spacing as to when she can let a shot go from deep. If an opponent puts their hand down or happens to play off, that shot is going up and it's most likely going to be good, if not close. If an opponent decides to overplay the shot, then she will drive by them for a finish close to the basket or an assist. Neleigh really embodies what it means to be a shooting guard and that was on full display this past few years at Millard West high school. Currently, Neleigh sits with a good amount of Division 1 offers while looking toward the future. Schools such as Creighton, Iowa state, Drake, ECT.. Where will she actually end up though? I do have a good idea but we will just have to wait and find out. ","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["315777"],"_player_evaluations_4_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"And the #1 player for this 2025 Player Rankings Update in the state of Nebraska is [player_tooltip player_id='315777' first='Norah' last='Gessert'], identical twin sister of [player_tooltip player_id='315778' first='Neleigh' last='Gessert']. Norah is also a 6'0 FT guard but instead she runs the point position for her teams. Like I said above, this #1 or #2 spot is really u0022fluidu0022 at the moment, depending on what the team recruiting needs on the floor for their upcoming seasons. Norah is a pass first point guard that is very skilled coming down the floor with the ball in her hands. She can attack going either way, she distributes at a high rate all over the floor consistently, she gets her teammates in the right spots for whatever her team is running, she can score from all three levels, and she is a scrappy defender who can pick up in the full court for an entire game if need be. Last season for Millard West, the Gessert twins were fantastic. Norah was the PG who averaged 11 PPG, 5.2 RGP, 3 APG, and 1 SPG. Neleigh was the SG who averaged 12.7 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 2 APG, and 1 BPG. So when you really break down their numbers, it's very similar with the statistical differences being because of their natural positions on the court. As for offers, it seems like the twins are being offered together. Whatever one has, the other does as well. Which is honestly pretty cool! I'm not sure what this season will hold or what's going to happen in the future but for now, you can't go wrong with any one of these players on this Top 5 list.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":5,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-650b0b8cae596"} /-->