The 2025 Rankings: The Debuts

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Today we'll take a look at some of the players who are making their debuts on the rankings with this iteration. It may have taken a while, but these players definitely were not gonna be overlooked much longer. In most cases, they are already getting the attention of college coaches. If they aren't, they will be very soon. This junior year will be a big one for every player on this list and I can't wait to get out there on the road and see them play!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["801993"],"_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":"Jada is a really likeable young lady whom you can't help but to pull for. She has dealt with some injuries since entering high school, but when you get the chance to see her on the court with Classen SAS, it is clear that she has Division-I talent. She is a big, strong guard who can shoot the lights out and when healthy, Jada is an all-conference performer for the Comets. Our job as scouts is to project talent and Jada has the talent. She is a gifted basketball player. When she is healthy and things are going right, she can shoot the lights out and is going to really impress some college coaches.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["801995"],"_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":"Amaria transferred into Bixby when her mom got the head coaching job at Oral Roberts and was able to step in and get minutes on a team with three Division-I players in the starting line-up that had been to back-to-back State Championships. That's not any easy task. Then again, neither is playing high school basketball in the city where your mom is a college coach. But, Amaria is just built different. She is a small forward who is long, tall, and dedicated on the defensive end. It leads to plenty of transition buckets where her speed helps her to be first down the court almost every time. She is a great shooter and has shown the ability to create her shot when faced with a defender one-on-one.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["801996"],"_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":"I always reach out to coaches from around the state when it's rankings time to get input from people that I trust. I also send out tweets to make sure nobody that needs to be recognized gets overlooked. I honestly can't remember in all of my years doing this, having one players name come up so many times when it comes to who has been overlooked in previous rankings. Ainslee will not be overlooked again. She is a baller, y'all. She debuts at No. 26 due to her ability to hit shots from just about anywhere. She is also a heady player who reads offenses like a book and racks up the steals. She is a star for AmPo and plenty of people wanted me to know... and they want you college coaches to know, as well!","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["801998"],"_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":"Mercades is another player who vaulted her way onto the rankings after a tremendous sophomore season saw her average over 20 points per game to go along with 7.5 rebounds and 4.3 assists. As Idabel continues to make run after run to the state tournament, Mercades just gains more and more experience as a team leader. She is a defensive beast who suffocates opponents with her effort and a floor general who makes the machine run for Head Coach Kayla Denton. Lopez is one of my favorite type of players who brings the softball mentality to the hardwood and if we can keep her in basketball at the next level, she will do big, big things.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["802000"],"_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":"We've written a lot about Makayia here at PGH with her playing for [program_tooltip program_id='716211' first='Team' last='Griffin'] and we've covered her with Holland Hall. Somehow, this is her first time to appear on the loaded 2025 rankings. Any time you read about Makayia or see her play, her defense is going to jump out at you. In fact, I dare say her defense is going to get her to college. You just don't see that kind of effort out of most players. It's the main reason she debuts so high on the rankings. She has active hands, she moves very well laterally, and fights hard through screens. She is a worker and she never slows or gives up. It's got to be awful for the opposing team. That's not to say she can't score. She can. Especially with a great dribble-drive. But, defense is Makayia's calling card, for sure.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":5,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-654a719695fab"} /-->