What Waller is not on the floor is demonstrative. Her mature game speaks for itself. Long, fast and physical she showed a diversified game that will continue to make her problem match-up in the years ahead. Skills are one thing, having her game with her length was another. On 50% shooting, including 2/3 from three-point land with great range, she poured in a team high 17 points in the Falcon’s loss to Blue Valley Northwest. She played all but 11 seconds of the game and only churned out 1 turnover versus picking up 3 assists, 2 steals and a blocked shot.

Game ball goes to Aaliyah! Freshman who led the team in scoring against KMC, but more importantly, led in impact in crucial moments of the game that turned the tide in favor of her Falcons. Her on-ball defense was suffocating, and her full-court pressure picked up as the game waned. She was constantly in the passing lanes and reaching in for steals, never giving up on broken plays. In fact, her biggest moments in this game were on broken plays and loose balls. She plays with really good energy, and it’s infectious throughout her team. For as good a defender as she is and with really good arm length, none of it seems to take away from her effectiveness as a shooter, either.

This was my first time seeing Waller. Ahead of the first release of the 2029 class rankings I can easily state she is one of the top 15 prospects in the class right now. Her length, athleticism and skill set are easy to see but what also sets her apart is how well she mixes into team play on both ends. In transition with the ball Eisenhower could not slow her from scoring. Defensively she is solidly played within scheme. There were mistakes due to youth but those little miscues will get farther and farther in between as her depth of game savvy grows. This newcomer is a major contributor to the Falcons’ return run to the 6A state tournament.