Team Preview, MoKan Girls 15U Elite

Spring and summer club basketball season is starting to pick up steam. As part of my previews of some teams I now share a look at MoKan Girls 15U Elite.   [player_tooltip player_id='779243' first='Leah' last='Askins-Dieterich'], 5'7”, CG, Ottawa, 2027 - Askins-Dieterich had a big freshman season that led to a 4A state tournament appearance. She not only was named to the Frontier League first team but also several all-state teams: KBCA and Sports In Kansas and KSHSAA third team. Askins-Dieterich is fast, has great hands, finishes at speed and shows control dribbling in transition. Scrappy defensively, she hustles and gets on the floor after loose balls.   [player_tooltip player_id='791747' first='Bella' last='Bouddhara'], 5'7”, SG, Andover, 2027 - Bouddhara stepped into a loaded Trojan team that stood atop the 5A class rankings a substantial part of the season and ultimately took third at the state tournament. Her play earned her a Ark Valley Chisholm Trail League Division II Honorable Mention nod. My colleague Jeremy Deckard wrote in February how he like her speed, grittiness, how she protects the ball and that he expected her to "score a bunch of points and distribute lots of assists by the time her high school career is over." Her club coach, Craig Nicholson, describes her as a two way player who creates for her teammates and guards the ball at a high level.    [player_tooltip player_id='779208' first='Zoey' last='Buckner-Franklin'], 5'6”, PG, The Independent School, 2027 - How Buckner-Franklin can top her freshman season will be something to find out. The Central Plains League player-of-the-year led her Panthers to the 2A state title by taking out the #2, #3 and #5 seeds in succession. For her play Buckner-Franklin was named the 2A state tournament MVP. She may not be the fastest player on the floor but she has great handles, a quick first step with the ball and is crafty and shifty. Her ability to consistently shoot with range, read the floor and anticipate action and score nearly at will against the best teams in the class was something to watch. Buckner-Franklin is also very smart defensively. Defensively she challenges ball handlers and shots without fouling. Buckner-Franklin was named to the KBCA, KSHSAA and Sports In Kansas first teams.   [player_tooltip player_id='794164' first='Brynn' last='Detering'], 5'6”, PG, Eudora, 2027 - Detering had a strong freshman season with the Cardinals that not only ended with a Frontier League first team nod but also 4A honorable mention selections by KBCA, KSHSAA and Sports In Kansas. A floor leading point guard she is quick, fast, directs traffic, exploits gaps and is an effective off-ball defender. Athletic around the basket she can finish reverse layups at speed.   [player_tooltip player_id='839425' first='Harper' last='Dunn'], 6'6”, C, Corona/Vaughn (NM), 2027 - Dunn was selected as New Mexico's <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/harper-dunn/">breakout</a> freshman as she led the Cardinals to a quarterfinal finish in the 1A state tournament. In her second season playing varsity ball she followed up a eighth grade campaign where she averaged 15 points, 14.8 rebounds and 5.6 blocks with a freshman season of 21.4 points, 17.6 rebounds, and 8.9 blocks. Dunn set the state record for blocks in a season (191) and racked up the first and and second highest, single-game rebounding total (31 in one game, 29 in another). She was named to the NMHSCA 1A second team. Having already received a offers from D I colleges Dunn has Transitions with good speed for her size and shows solid lateral quickness while having her head on a swivel defensively. Very long wingspan.   [player_tooltip player_id='779249' first='Lily' last='Edwards'], 5'10”, F, Clay Center, 2027 - Edwards is a terrific, high ceiling impact player who is the younger sister of former all-state Tiger center Clara Edwards (2021). She brings nice length, perimeter shooting and overall scoring ability to the table. As she grows into her frame I fully expect her to not just repeat as a North Central Kansas League first teamer but also repeat on all-state teams even higher than what she was selected to this season. Edwards made KBCA's 4A third team and KSHSAA and Sports In Kansas honorable mention.   [player_tooltip player_id='635331' first='Finley' last='LeMay'], 5'10”, G, Bishop Miege, 2027 - 2024 Eastern Kansas League HM. Terrific shooter with good range. Long with good athleticism and reactiveness in the transition game. Handles well at speed. Starter on BlueStar 2027 team. 10.14.23 - A 5'9 forward who did a nice job playing up with a 16U team. She catches the ball well in traffic with good strength. It was the same on rebounds. She also had a soft touch on a runner in the lane.   Destiny Manyawu, 6'3”, PF, Staley (MO), 2027 - Manyawu is regarded as one of the top young players in Kansas City area. A strong interior presence, she enjoyed a trip to the Class 6 state quarterfinals. PGH scouts Earl Austin and Sean West like her length, athleticism, coordination and effective use of post moves over the season. They also felt she transitioned well and does a good job of blocking and altering shots. West commented that she "has all the traits to develop into a dominant post player in the state of Missouri."   Brielle Mays, 5'10”, CG, Staley (MO), 2027 - Mays had a big season while enjoying a trip to the Class 6 state quarterfinals. team. My PGH colleague Sean West wrote in February - "She plays with a maturity level well beyond her years. A strong shooter who can score at all of the levels. Her range and touch gives this team a spark." My colleague Earl Austin described her as a "...lefty combo guard who has made a big immediate impact...." and that "she does an excellent job slashing into the lane for buckets and she can hit the open 3-pointer."   [player_tooltip player_id='779223' first='Destiny' last='Maze'], 5'8”, CG, Wichita Heights, 2027 - Maze is a Greater Wichita Athletic League honorable mention selection who showed a great deal of versatility in the Falcons' 6A quarterfinal loss to eventual state runner-up Washburn Rural. She was especially impactful defensively picking up Junior Blue stand-out point guard [player_tooltip player_id='616734' first='Kate' last='Hinck'] as well as defending Rural's strong 6'1" PF [player_tooltip player_id='671505' first='Maddie' last='Vickery']. Having the quickness, length and intuitiveness to defend the stronger players in different positions is impressive. Her athleticism, IQ, speed and scoring ability at all three levels makes her a difficult, overall matchup. Maze shoots the perimeter shot with quickness and flow. She also was named Sports In Kansas Honorable Mention.

Spring and summer club basketball season is starting to pick up steam. As part of my previews of some teams I now share a look at MoKan Girls 15U Elite.