An Updated Look at Available 2020 Post Players

Following the end of the 2020 season signings of players from the 2020 class have continued. Unfortunately the Covid-19 pandemic prompted the NCAA to initially set a recruiting dead period to mid-April. The recent extension of the dead period to the end of May has made competing for players and filling out rosters substantively more difficult. This article provides a look at the pool of notable Kansas post players still available. Do note that A spring re-ranking of the 2020 class has not been released. Other than the not-ranked, which would likely find those players entering the ranks this spring, player with ranks are where they are as of the last publicly released ranking or where they might be expected to be found in an updated ranking. [caption id="attachment_136829" align="alignleft" width="180"] Olathe East’s [player_tooltip player_id="121725" first="Molly" last="Kaemmer"]. Image cropped from team picture.[/caption]#25 [player_tooltip player_id="121725" first="Molly" last="Kaemmer"], 6’0", F, Olathe East, Precision Athletics -- Kaemmer accolades include be 2020 Kansas Basketball Coaches Association (KBCA) 6A second team, KBCA 6A honorable mention in 2019, and 2020 Sunflower League first team. She lead the league in rebounding averaging 11.4 after finishing 2019 averagingd 11.7 points and 9.6 rebounds. PGH’s Mason Asher reported from Be The Best tournament "[player_tooltip player_id="121725" first="Molly" last="Kaemmer"] playing tough inside the paint. Not afraid of contact and has the ability to score a ton inside. Mobile player wants the ball all the time in the post and when she gets, she’s probably going to score. Solid rebounding player too." #41 [player_tooltip player_id="23398" first="Mia" last="Vallery"], 5’11", PF, Gardner-Edgerton, Pride Elite -- Vallery averaged 6.4 points and 4.6 rebounds in 2019. Solid post on both ends of the floor. 10’-12’ range with ability to play back-to-basket, runs well and can finish in transition, shot blocking ability. Solid build, walls up well, drivers bounce off on contact. Some handles to take the ball up the floor with speed off the rebound. [caption id="attachment_135547" align="alignleft" width="181"] Columbus’ [player_tooltip player_id="121748" first="Karsyn" last="Youngblood"] shoots a perimeter jumper against Cheney during the 3A state tournament at the Hutchinson Sports Arena, March 2019. Photo by Robert Kelly[/caption]#114 [player_tooltip player_id="121748" first="Karsyn" last="Youngblood"], 5’11", PF, Columbus -- Two time CNC League first team. Averaged 12.1 points, shooting 71% from the field and 87.8 from the line, and 12.6 rebounds. Lead the state in 2019 with 14.3 rebounds while averaging 15.7 points. Good ball handling ability to help guards in the backcourt against pressure. Showed face-up and back-to-basket game. Improvement in following her shot off 10’ jumper, quickness, transition speed, and vertical leap were needed heading into 2020 season. #115 [player_tooltip player_id="121749" first="Lauren" last="Matthews"], 6’1", C, Trinity Academy -- Matthews has good size, length, and transition speed. Keeps the ball high when working inside. Uses one dribble power move effectively. Has three point range. Average athleticism. #76[player_tooltip player_id="45777" first="Maddie" last="Garretson"], 5’10", F, Blue Valley Southwest -- Garretson is a 2020 KBCA 5A honorable mention. PGH’s Israel Potoczny wrote in June that she is "an athletic power forward who looks to contribute across the boards in every way she can. She can score well around the basket and is good at cleaning up plays in transition. She is also a fundamentally sound defender and can block shots and user speed to jump passing lanes and finish plays on the other side." #107 Jaden Boden, 5’11", F, Thunder Ridge -- 2020 Sports In Kansas 1A state all-tournament team. 2020 Northern Plains League first team, second team in 2019. #108 Braden Hanf, 5’11", PF, Paola, Pride Elite -- 2019 Frontier League honorable mention. Averaged 14ppp, 6 rpg. Good size and strength, not someone who can be easily moved, opponents avoid stepping in. Off-ball anticipation awareness. Ability to go end-to-end with the ball. Good quickness in back-to-basket game. Sees the floor well. Solid passing ability. Very quick on the perimeter shot and is a three point threat. Ability to shoot the off the step-back and as a jump shooter. Shot blocker. Can finish through contact and uses a variety of shots to score around the basket. #111 [player_tooltip player_id="121728" first="Sharifa" last="Love"], 5’10", SF/PF, Wichita East -- 2x Greater Wichita League honorable mention. Quick first step with use of paired head and shoulder fake but needs improved footwork. Has three point range and good 10’ jumper. Elevates well, very fast in transition. Propensity to stand around at the high post waiting for the ball. Right hand tendency on the drive. #118 Madeline "Madie" McCoy, 5’11", F, Wellsville, SHOtime -- 2019 KBCA 3A honorable mention all-state and two time Pioneer League first team. Averaged 11.7 points and 4.4 rebounds per game in 2019. Strong spot-up three point shooter with 20’+ range, she passes well to get her teammates involved. Solidly built, she showed good defensive court awareness and interior competitiveness. She needs to improve her vertical to strengthen her jump shot and ability to rebound. #126 [player_tooltip player_id="121759" first="Jenna" last="Pfau"], 5’11", PG/F, Oskaloosa -- 2020 Northeast Kansas League second team. Averages 8.5 points, 14.8 rebounds, 4.8 assists with 1.7 assists to turnovers ratio, and 2.3 blocked shots. #128 [player_tooltip player_id="121761" first="Ally" last="Hoban"], 6’0", C, Blue Valley North, Precision Athletics -- High motor backup post player on a deep team. Quick feet, good transition speed, can leave who she is guarding for to help, and gets on the floor for loose balls. #129 [player_tooltip player_id="121762" first="Jane" last="Ryan"], 6’0", C, Blue Valley, Precision Athletics -- 2020 Eastern Kansas League honorable mention. Good skills, can use either hand around the basket, shoot the three, plays hard, and has solid handles. #134 Sarah Yutzy, 5’11", C, Haven -- 2020 KBCA 3A honorable mention. Good physical size with some shot blocking ability. Some back-to-basket scoring ability. Never on the perimeter. Solid hands. NR Emma Elder, 5’10", Nemaha Central -- 2020 Big Seven League first team. State tournament versus Osage City - Elder played with strength and physicality in the Thunder’s win over Osage City. While she struggled a bit making entry passes she showed good ability to get to the basket, including by going baseline from the corner, using strong ball fakes. Strong on the boards, not only were half of her rebounds on the offensive end but those five were nearly half of the number the Thunder gathered as a team. NR Ashlyn Bledsoe, 5’10, F, Chapman -- 2020 KBCA 4A honorable mention. [caption id="attachment_160356" align="alignleft" width="150"] Lyons Power Forward Kristina Head calls for the ball on an in-bounds play. Photo by Robert Kelly.[/caption] NR Kristina Head, 6’0", F, Lyons -- 2020 Central Kansas League second team. NR Kennedy Becker, 5’10, F, Centralia -- 2020 KBCA 1A honorable mention and Twin Valley League second team. Able to go end to end off the rebound...and beat people down the floor while doing so. Shot blocking sense. Good build and strength. Featured image: Nemaha Central 2020 forward Emma Elder rises to score over Osage City Defenders during their 2020 Class 3A quarterfinal state tournament game. Photo by Robert Kelly. * Note: article edited to remove a player as new information was learned of a player commitment.