Rankings Review: 2021 Power Forwards
In this article:
The featured image is of Bridget Dunn Bridget Dunn 6'3" | PF Carmel | 2021 State IN (in white on right) of Carmel High School. The last semester for the Class of 2021 is starting to wind down, and with…
Access all of Prep Girls Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingThe featured image is of Bridget Dunn Bridget Dunn 6'3" | PF Carmel | 2021 State IN (in white on right) of Carmel High School.
The last semester for the Class of 2021 is starting to wind down, and with that said, the Spring rankings updates serve as our final look at the class as a whole. Our Top-250 is now home to 55 power forward prospects, and there are still a handful of quality prospects who remain uncommitted at this time. There are long athletes, strong, physical prospects, plus skillful scorers, and rebounders/defenders. Below is a look at those 55 prospects, as well as some added information and analysis on a handful of uncommitted girls from this position group. Surely between now and graduation, a few colleges will benefit from commitments by some of them.
Top Uncommitted Power Forwards
1. TiAuna White TiAuna White 5'9" | PF Fort Wayne Northrop | 2021 State IN , Fort Wayne Northrop H.S. – TiAuna is a really nice, versatile ’tweener who does a little of everything at all three levels. She has some physicality and toughness, and she can play around the block, score, rebound, and defend. She’s comfortable around the perimeter as well, where she can attack or knock down the occasional ’3’. But I think she’s a real problem in the mid-post, where she can get to the rim and finish in one dribble or knock down that 15-footer consistently.
2. Natalie Howard Natalie Howard 6'0" | PF Ben Davis | 2021 State IN , Ben Davis H.S. – Natalie has had an outstanding six months. When I first saw her during the Spring of 2019, her physical talent was obvious. But this year she is showing so much more skill, body control, and finishing ability. She led the Giants in scoring on one of the toughest schedules in the state, and she often played against Division-I prospects. At the Top-60 Senior Showcase a few weeks ago, she played with a great motor and did a nice job communicating with teammates.
3. Sydnee Hughes Sydnee Hughes 5'11" | PF Lawrence North | 2021 State IN , Lawrence North H.S. – Sydnee transferred in a year ago, and she has done nothing but give the Wildcats good, sound defense, and a strong presence on the glass. She is a strong, physical, and fairly athletic kid who is most comfortable around the paint. She has a solid face-up game in the mid-post, and I think she’ll be an even more effective scorer at the next level with continued skill development. She plays with a nice motor and a sense of urgency at both ends of the floor.
4. Layne Burke Layne Burke 5'11" | PF New Albany | 2021 State IN , New Albany H.S. – Layne doesn’t quite get the publicity she deserves because of her location down by the Ohio River, plus she opted not to play during the Summer/Fall of 2020. But she is a nice athlete, with wiry strength, and she is versatile offensively. She can play comfortably around the perimeter, handle it a little, and knock down an open rhythm jumper, but I think she is a matchup problem in the mid-post. She can attack and shoot like a small forward from there, or play physically.
5. Madison Gray Madison Gray 5'10" | PF Union County | 2021 State IN , Union County H.S. – I’ve said it before, but Madi is the ultimate do-everything forward that small colleges crave. She plays with a great motor, a quiet toughness, and she’ll rebound and defend inside, plus she finishes with a variety of moves. She’s good facing the basket in the mid-post as well, but she’s also solid around the perimeter in pick-and-pop situations, or acting as just a motion ’4’. I think she’s a really nice plug-and-play kid who fits in a variety of lineups/systems because of her versatility.
Additional Uncommitted Power Forwards Who Stand Out
Remi Jordan Remi Jordan 5'11" | PF Knox | 2021 State IN , Knox H.S. – Remi is one of the most successful, winningest players in the Class of 2021. She is a high-motor, tough, physical kid who is always dialed in. She can rebound by boxing out or pursuing boards, and she can finish around the rim. She has nice touch in the mid-post as well, and she is a nice high-post passer. I think she could be a nice late ’get’ for a small college.
Kaylee Kear Kaylee Kear 5'10" | PF Cowan | 2021 State IN , Cowan H.S. – Kaylee has never been a big grassroots participant, so I finally got to see her for the first time this Winter, and I’m glad I did. She is a strong, tough, physical forward, but she has really good balance and quickness, and she plays with an outstanding motor. She has nice touch to about 15-feet, and she has good hands and can finish in a variety of ways around the rim.
Olivia Labus Olivia Labus 5'9" | PF Guerin Catholic | 2021 State IN , Guerin Catholic H.S. – Each time I’ve seen Olivia play, she is one of the hardest workers on the floor. She is a fairly strong, reasonably athletic kid who simply outworks her matchup each game. She has some skill for all areas of the floor, she’ll actively rebound, and she’s somewhat versatile defensively as well. She is really effective just about anywhere inside of 15-feet.
Lauren Sandrock Lauren Sandrock 5'11" | PF Franklin Community | 2021 State IN , Franklin Community H.S. – I really like Lauren’s upside/potential, and I have said a few times that I think her best days are ahead of her and she’ll make for a better college player than high school player. Part of the reason is, she is still gaining strength. She is extremely long, fluid, and smooth as an athlete. She plays with a motor, she can finish inside, and she has some touch to 17-feet.
Allison Shaffer Allison Shaffer 6'1" | PF Brownsburg | 2021 State IN , Brownsburg H.S. – Allison has always been incredibly intriguing, because she has great length, she’s a fluid kid, and she has skill facing the basket to near the perimeter. She still needs to get much stronger, but I also feel like she has played different roles between grassroots basketball and high school basketball. Once she gets to the next level, I think settling into a single role could really help.