2025 Rankings Update – Power Forwards (part 1)

2025 Rankings Update &#8211; Power Forwards (part 1)

Joshua Mercer

March 27, 2022 @ 11:09 PM

Before the season began there were only two names on this Power Forwards list. We have since added eight new names and moved one of the original two into the Small Forwards category. The three players discussed in this article are surefire D1 prospects. They bring great size and skill to the game and have been important team leaders on their respective rosters.   [player_tooltip player_id="254279" first="Leah" last="Macy"] - 6’2" - Mercy Academy Typically, when I want to find the stats of a KHSAA player I turn to the Riherds.com KHSAA Scoreboard but for Macy, I went straight to the Stats Leaders page on the KHSAA website. She averaged 20.1 points per game for 22nd in KHSAA on 62.3% field goals shooting (6th in the Commonwealth), pulled in 12.3 rebounds per game for 6th among all Kentucky players, and made 79.4% of her free throws (28th). The only stat I couldn't find among the state's leaders was her very respectable 31.5% shooting from three-point range. If that doesn't give you an idea of how phenomenal Macy is as a player perhaps I can tell you about the 20+ Division 1 scholarship offers she had received before her Freshman year began. Or I can tell you about a D1 Scout I spoke to that was sure Macy would not attend her school but would be willing to have her on the team "right now" if only it were possible. What I can tell you, Coach is that if you do not have a D1 scholarship to offer you don't need to spend any time watching her play for work. You may however want to spend some time watching her play for enjoyment. She is special. Some believe we should have her ranked #1 in her class (and in the State) instead of #2. I don't think it matters. But the debate has merit.   [player_tooltip player_id="403464" first="Grace" last="Mbugua"] - 6’4" - Danville Christian I only had the pleasure of seeing Mbugua play once and I knew going in about her size and KHSAA leading rebounding average of 14.9 rebounds per game (2 more than the player in 2nd). But she was not what I expected and if you haven't seen her play yet I suggest you do. Her 16.9 points per game come from all over the court and in a variety of ways. Her body is strong and fluid, her movements quick and athletic. She can put the ball on the floor or pull it out of the sky and return it to the rim for points. Perhaps, I did not make my opinion clear enough while we discussed rankings this past week. Or perhaps my counterparts have not yet seen her play. But we have vastly under-ranked her at 9th in the class of '25. I say that with tons of respect for the players ranked ahead of her. This class is loaded with talent.   [player_tooltip player_id="403465" first="Abby" last="Gilbert"] - 6’2" - Jackson County Gilbert is a D1 prospect averaging 14 points, on 61.2% field goals shooting, and ranks 31st in the KHSAA with 10.2 rebounds per game. She is a highly skilled interior player already that I expect to see grow exponentially next season. Her team has a solid frontcourt but must replace most of the backcourt that helped lead them to the quarterfinals of All "A" Classic and the semifinals of the 13th Region. I believe this change in personnel will lead to more time away from the paint developing the ball skills Gilbert has already displayed which will only increase her prospects on the next level. It could also lead us to move her to the Small Forward category at some point.