2024 Player Rankings Update: Centers

In a world that is changing ever so quickly, everyone is starting to say that the sport of basketball is "positional-less" but I happen to disagree. There is still true positions on the floor and there is still certain players who can only play that one position because of their skill set. Are prospects in today's game more skilled then ever? Of course but two spots on the floor that will forever be permeant are the Point Guard and Center. A true Point Guard now a days and a real Center is a CLEAR advantage at the high school levels.   In this article we list all of the ranked Center's of the 2024 Class from our recent Update, while highlighting a handful of them who had some really nice seasons as a whole!   Thanks for tuning in and enjoy!    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">- Statement Makers -</h2>   [player_tooltip player_id='246148' first='Kendall' last='McDaniel'] - 6'0 - Valley High School - Grand View College Commit   McDaniel came into a new system this year with her transfer at Valley. She had to relearn how to work with a new group, while trying to produce at a steady rate. When you take into consideration that she was behind to a D1 talent in [player_tooltip player_id='246134' first='Elise' last='Jaeger'], her production starts to make sense. In almost any other Varsity system throughout the state, McDaniels would have transferred in and started but not here. The coaching staff understood that she could be a weapon coming off the bench and that's how she was used. She did well enough that she has committed to stay in Des Moines and compete these next fews years at the collegiate level, which will be exciting to see!   [player_tooltip player_id='675300' first='Desta' last='Hoogendoorn'] - 6'1 - Central Lyon High School -   Over the past 4 years, Desta Hoodendoorn has proven that she is one of the most productive and dominate Center's throughout this 2024 Class. She always shows up, she always can make a play, and she has natural size. If you account for these factors and her skill-set, you understand why she has been do good. Most of the time she is sitting back, blocking shot attempts and making effort plays that would impress you. She demonstrates discipline on both sides of the basketball and is especially good on the defensive side on things as it pertains to getting a stop or big time block against an opponent. I'm not sure where she is lined up to compete after this high school season or if it's even on the basketball court but you can't teach this type of size so I'm sure if she wanted too, she would have a home with some program.   [player_tooltip player_id='675304' first='Valerie' last='Pruess'] - 6'0 - North Cedar High School -   We didn't hear too much about the North Cedar Knights this winter but whenever they did have success, [player_tooltip player_id='675304' first='Valerie' last='Pruess'] was a big part of it. Pruess stands at 6'0 and she plays aggressively. She is a prospect that understands her size compared to others and she is always willing to take on a challenge when it comes to a matchup. This team played against a lot of zone this past season so they had to be creative and make the most of their opportunities. Which is what they did. Pruess was a force in the middle, while being a solid defender. All in all, this is a prospect and group that has my respect. They should keep their heads held high and be proud of what they put together these past 3-4 months.   [player_tooltip player_id='640805' first='Missy' last='Evezic'] - 6'3/4 - St. Alberts High School -   [player_tooltip player_id='640805' first='Missy' last='Evezic'] might of truly been the tallest player throughout all of Iowa this year and she moves really well for her size. I had a chance to see Evezic take on Nodaway Valley this Winter and she was impressive. She held her own in the post, cleaned up messes on both sides of the floor, and she never took a play off. Her coaches understand when she needed to be pulled off the floor and that wasn't too often. Whenever she had a chance with her back to the basket in 1v1 situations, she made the most her opponents pay. I haven't seen a commitment out of Evezic up until this point and that really surprised me. Like I said above, this is a talented big and you can't teach this size. If she works hard and wanted to be playing next Winter, she could in my opinion.

In a world that is changing ever so quickly, everyone is starting to say that the sport of basketball is "positional-less" but I happen to disagree. There is still true positions on the floor and there is still certain players who can only play that one position because of their skill set. Are prospects in today's game more skilled then ever? Of course but two spots on the floor that will forever be permeant are the Point Guard and Center. A true Point Guard now a days and a real Center is a CLEAR advantage at the high school levels.