2021 Rankings Update: Top Wings

Donovan Finan

October 16, 2020 @ 02:30 PM

This is an absolutely loaded position group for the class of 2021, with 3 of the top 5 players in the overall rankings being best classified as wings. The phrase "do-it-all" appears often in these descriptions because all of these players possess the variety of skills required of top wings, with scoring coming first but accompanied by passing, rebounding, and defensive ability as well. This plethora of skills is what makes these players such elite prospects. [player_tooltip player_id="31853" first="Macey" last="Blevins"], Wayne County- Fitting the do-it-all mentality of a wing perfectly, Blevins fills all the roles one could expect from an elite wing. She is a top scorer, maybe the best in the state, with no real weaknesses in that part of her game. She is also a great rebounder, a strong passer, and can be a lockdown defender. [player_tooltip player_id="31850" first="Harley" last="Paynter"], Boyd County- Another do-it-all player, Paynter is all over the place for Boyd County. She runs the offense as both a scorer and a playmaker, while also excelling as a rebounder and defender of multiple positions. She has as complete an all-around game as anyone in the state. [player_tooltip player_id="88421" first="Brie" last="Crittendon"], Ryle- After years as a great sidekick for an elite Ryle team, this season is Crittendon’s chance to cement herself as the Lady Raiders’ next star. She has certainly shown flashes, taking over the offense at times last season even while playing alongside Miss Basketball [player_tooltip player_id="31803" first="Maddie" last="Scherr"]. She has shown plenty of passing, rebounding, and defensive ability for this position, the only question that remains is how well she will handle the burden as the consistent top scoring threat for her team. [player_tooltip player_id="88415" first="Jacqueline" last="Jackson"], Greenwood- While she hasn’t gotten as much attention as the top players on this list thanks to a knee injury eliminating her junior season, Jackson has the ability to be counted right among the state’s best players when healthy. She has outstanding scoring ability and is a great rebounder for her position. If she can show the same explosiveness she had before her injury, expect Jackson to get plenty of attention this year. [player_tooltip player_id="31854" first="Presley" last="Partin"], Knox Central- Fulfilling the scoring part of a wing’s job description extremely well, Partin has a claim to be the top outside shooter in the state. More than just a spot-up shooter, Partin can frequently create her own shot from beyond the arc, and shot better than 40% from deep last year despite the fact that her shooting was the defensive focus of every team she played. She is also a strong rebounder, proving she is more than just a shooter.