Who I’ve Seen : Summer Ball All-Kansas 2021 Team
With the 2023 and 2022 teams already revealed, we now take a look at my summer ball, all-Kansas, 2021 team. There are many talented players at all positions. As with the previous lists, the players included were viewed from the…
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Continue ReadingWith the 2023 and 2022 teams already revealed, we now take a look at my summer ball, all-Kansas, 2021 team. There are many talented players at all positions. As with the previous lists, the players included were viewed from the drop of the flag in mid- to late-May to the Gameball camp in Garden City to MAYB Reign the Plains Exposure event on July 21. Enjoy learning about the baker’s dozen included in this all-Kansas team.
Point Guards
Reese Althouse Reese Althouse 5'5" | PG Shawnee Mission East | 2021 State KS , 5’5″, PG, Shawnee Mission East, Kansas Elite 17U Novicoff — Seeing Althouse at MAYB Reign the Plains in July confirmed my awareness of her being one of the toughest, complete point guards in the state. At the tournament she showed her headiness and speed with the ball in transition. Althouse can finish with contact or quickly pull-up to can a 10′ jumper. She boxed well and was unafraid to step in to draw the charge. Althouse was one of my 2021 defensive monster selections in 2019.
Alissa Heskamp Alissa Heskamp 5'5" | PG Spearville | 2021 State KS , 5’8″, PG, Spearville, Wheat State Elite 2021 Stewart — I was able to see Heskamp at MAYB Summer Kickoff in June. While her quickness, speed with the ball, and ability to finish with speed were strong what really caught my eye was how well she sees the ball. Her sense to anticipate where she needs to be to catch on a kick-out, where the ball swings to on the perimeter, or in a press breaker situation is very keen. Notable also is her athleticism to finish off unorthodox shots.
Madison Skelton Madison Skelton 5'8" | PG St. Thomas Aquinas | 2021 State KS , 5’8″, PG, St. Thomas Aquinas, Next Level Eclipse 17U Bluestar — I was able to see Skelton at a July 11 MAYB Tournament. It was the first time since seeing her at the Des Moines, Iowa, PGH 250 Exposure event this past October. Physically, Skelton was noticeably stronger. The increased strength has made her faster, more able to finish with contact, and nimbler when splitting defenders off the bounce. Defensively, she did not give up anything easy. Having gained additional quickness due to her strength, she was always in front of the ball, challenging shots, boxing out, and disrupting passing lanes. Easily one of the top point guards in the state.
Shooting Guards
Lauryn Dubbert Lauryn Dubbert 5'7" | CG Beloit/St. John's-Tipton | 2021 State KS , 5’7″, SG, St. John’s-Tipton, Twin Lakes Stars & Wheat State Elite Ferguson — I got an extended look at Dubbert at the MAYB scrimmage in mid-May. Playing with the Twin Lakes Stars she showed the ability to cause match-up problems. With her speed, strength, and scoring ability bigger players struggled to stay with her while similar and smaller players struggled with her strength. Not a good idea to foul her, she shot 86% from the line in 2020. Dubbert is a Newman University signee.
Grace Pyle Grace Pyle 5'10" | SG McPherson | 2021 State KS , 5’10”, SG, McPherson, Next Level Eclipse Holmes — I have seen Pyle play several times in the past two years, most recently at the July 11 MAYB Tournament. Pyle can be found playing and defending multiple positions due to having solid handles, being a perimeter shooting threat, getting to the basket off the bounce, and having a well rounded post game. One of her abilities that makes her so difficult to handle on both ends is her ability to elevate well on shots. Pyle has committed to play at Pittsburg State.
Kylee Scheer Kylee Scheer 5'8" | CG Cheney | 2021 State KS , 5’8″, SG, Cheney, Wheat State Elite Ferguson — A Emporia State University commit, Scheer is absolute money from the perimeter. Slightly built with a terrific vertical on her shot, Scheer’s other abilities are often overlooked. She is a quick defender with good off-ball anticipation, dishes and finishes well off dribble drive, and is very fast with the ball in transition.
Wings & Small Forwards
Sydney Holmes Sydney Holmes 5'9" | CG Maize | 2021 State KS , 5’9″, W/SF, Maize, Next Level Eclipse Holmes – I was able to see Holmes play a couple times over the summer. While she is a known perimeter threat who can also get into the lane, what she showed off was her motor and defensive smarts. Holmes just flat hustles and will do defensive dirty work. She rebounds with strength, boxes well on teammate’s shots, and drops well to help from the weakside. Holmes is a Pittsburg State University commit.
Austin Broadie
Austin
Broadie
6'2" | SF
Wichita Trinity Academy | 2021
State
KS
, 6’1″, W/SF, Trinity Academy, Wheat State Elite Ferguson — Broadie has always had the ability to play multiple positions and be a nightmare to defend because of it. At the MAYB Summer Kickoff in June she showed off her ability to go end-to-end with speed and finish. What I enjoyed seeing was improved strength and back-to-basket development. One instance where both were on display was on a solid up and under block move. Strength and quickness also showed on her repeatedly helping on basket attacks from the weak side. Broadie is committed to play basketball and volleyball at Washburn University.
Jaden Newfarmer
Jaden
Newfarmer
5'9" | CG
Andover Central | 2021
State
KS
, 5’9″, SF, Andover Central, Wheat State Elite 2021 Crain — Newfarmer has a solid build and a solid mid-range game off the drive. What stood out at the MAYB Summer Kickoff was her athleticism around the basket. Washburn University picked up the state’s leader in assists (140) and assists to turnover ratio (4.24) in 2020.
Power Forwards & Centers
Ella Anciaux
Ella
Anciaux
6'4" | C
Kapaun Mt. Carmel | 2021
State
KS
, 6’4″, C, Kapaun Mt. Carmel,
Next Level Eclipse
17U Bluestar — This Wichita State University commit was recently selected as a pool A 17U all star at the US Junior Nationals Battle at the Border. At the July 11 MAYB Tournament I got a glimpse of why. Blessed with great size, she has good quicks to help from the weak side on drives. She also has great hands.
Karenna Gerber
Karenna
Gerber
6'0" | PF
Halstead | 2021
State
KS
, 6’0″, PF, Halstead,
Next Level Eclipse
Holmes — Gerber is arguably one of the most improved players in the class. Seeing her at MAYB Get Back on the Court in June for the first time since Halstead’s double overtime win in the class 3A state tournament quarterfinals, Gerber picked up where she left off. Having a strong build with good length, Gerber showed the ability to score in a variety of ways, using her strength and aggression well. She also would gather a rebound and go end-to-end with speed, turning her work into an advantage break. Gerber is another Pittsburg State University commit.
Jae’Mya Lyons
Jae’Mya
Lyons
6'0" | PF
Topeka | 2021
State
KS
, 6’0″, PF, Topeka, Wheat State Elite Ferguson — At MAYB Summer Kickoff Lyons surprised by showing elements of her game I had not seen in the past. Not only did she show good hands and quick hops, she lays wood on players attempting to post up. Lyons does not make posting up easy. Off the rebound, Lyons has good vision down the floor and passing ability to get the ball out on the run-out. She has a solid defensive IQ to read plays, anticipate, and help on drives. With a developing perimeter, she can hit the 15′ jumper. I would like to see her improve her speed, end changing ability, and stamina in transition.
Aubrey Warden
Aubrey
Warden
5'10" | PF
Liberal | 2021
State
KS
, 5’10”, PF, Liberal, GameBall Basketball — I have been able to see Warden play frequently over the summer. The Newman University commit is a strong rebounder, has quickness and speed off the bounce, can finish with length and elevation, and uses her body well to gain position in the post. Warden is also a serious three point threat, able to hit off the catch and as a jump shooter. Warden is a recent US Junior Nationals Battle at the Border pool K 16U all star.