The Wichita Area’s Top 10 2024s
As the class of 2024 dives headlong into the second half of their high school hooping careers Prep Girls Hoops Kansas takes a look at the top 10 Wichita area prospects. This refresh also taps into a defined set of…
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Continue ReadingAs the class of 2024 dives headlong into the second half of their high school hooping careers Prep Girls Hoops Kansas takes a look at the top 10 Wichita area prospects. This refresh also taps into a defined set of 24 schools introduced in a previous article.
#1 Brooke Walker Brooke Walker 5'8" | CG Andover | 2024 State KS , 5’7″, SG, Andover, Kansas United 2024 – Walker is the #2 ranked player in the class for good reason. Often found playing out of position running the point due to a teammate’s transfer out, she has great handles to get to the hole, finishes athletically, and has a wide repertoire of shots to score with. She also is a good offensive rebounder. Her quick feet are readily noticed defensively. Long for her size, she also elevates well and challenges/blocks shots without fouling. A high IQ player. Walker wrapped up 2022 with selections to the Kansas Basketball Coaches Association second team and Ark Valley Chisholm Trail League Div II first team.
#2
Elizabeth Tjaden
Elizabeth
Tjaden
5'9" | SG
Clearwater | 2024
State
KS
, 5’9″, SG, Clearwater, Southwest Elite 2024 – Currently ranked #7 in the class, Tjaden is a two-time AVCTL Div IV first team selection and, after being selected honorable mention a season ago, a KBCA 4A second team selection. Tjaden runs the floor well in the transition game and has good vision and passing ability. She has a diverse range of abilities and defends solidly but what really stands out is that she plays within the flow of the offense and will take what a defender gives her.
#3 Zion Butler Zion Butler 5'8" | PG Wichita South | 2024 State KS , 5’7″, PG, Wichita South, Missouri Phenom – Currently ranked #11, Butler was selected to the Greater Wichita League second team after earning honorable mention honors a season ago. Butler is a strong three point shooter with deep range, works in control in transition yet is fast with the ball, and continues to add strength to her solid frame. Has terrific quickness on both ends of the floor. .
#4 Alana Shetlar Alana Shetlar 6'1" | PF Andover | 2024 State KS , 6’2″, PF, Andover, Kansas United 2024 – When the next rankings update is release within the next six to eight weeks expect to find Shetlar ranked higher than her current #27. She is arguably the top mid-range shooter in the state. And at her height, with her length, with her hops, and with her release…forget about blocking her shot. Defenders, if you anticipate her shot, she will pull it down and take you off the dribble…and you won’t block that shot either. Shelter will also punish you from beyond the arc and from the line. She is also a terrific rebounder who gets the ball out quickly or will go end-to-end. With her quick hands and feet on the defensive end she is not far from being “all there.” The key for her will be to gain strength. She continues her work I fully expect her to be one of the top ten prospects in the class by her senior season.
#5 Destiny Smith Destiny Smith 5'7" | CG Derby | 2024 State KS , 5’6″, PG, Derby, Southwest Elite 2023 – I am enjoying watching Smith’s game maturing. What has long been there is her quickness, handles, and ability to get to the basket and finish. The work she has put in on her perimeter game has turned her into a consistent perimeter threat, which makes her off-the-bounce game that much stronger. My colleague Simmie Colson has commented on how well she attacks closeouts. Smith has quick hands, quick feet, and is disruptive defensively. Very good speed in transition with the ball. Smith has picked up and offer from the University of Southern Illinois for good reason despite not even being selected honorable mention AVCTL Div I.
#6 Elizabeth Romer Elizabeth Romer 5'10" | SF Kapaun Mt. Carmel | 2024 State KS , 5’10”, SF, Kapaun Mt. Carmel, Kansas United 2024 – Romer earned second team Greater Wichita League in 2022 Romer but something just seemed off about her game the entire season. While it is early in the summer club season, Romer appears to be working to make up for it. With a long and athletic frame, Romer drew a great deal of attention as a freshman with her perimeter shooting and the ability to get to the hoop with a quick first step and solid handles. That game is back, she’s defending with energy, and otherwise playing faster and with more aggression. My colleague Simmie Colson selected her to the 2022 Border War Big 12 first team
#7 Jaden Wilson Jaden Wilson 5'11" | PF Derby | 2024 State KS , 5’10”, SF/PF, Derby, SSA Gameball Basketball 16U – Wilson is nice combination of solid frame, length, hops, and transition speed. The ability to effectively drive the baseline, pull up off the bounce, and move without the ball has been there for as long as I have been watching her. What she adding to her game is the ability to put together multiple post moves from back-to-the-basket, offensive rebounding and shot blocking ability, and a consistent perimeter shot. Buried on the bench this past season, Wilson is putting together an argument to start at the 3 or 4 spot for the Panthers this fall.
#8 Amani Lipscomb Amani Lipscomb 5'2" | PG Houston | 2024 State TN , 5’2″, PG, Maize South, Oklahoma Swift Mathurin 17U – Currently #28 in the class, Lipscomb bounced back late last summer from an injury that caused her to miss her entire freshman year. Once healthy, she uncorked her complete game at the Kansas City Prep Girls Hoops Top 250 Expo last October. Scout Phillipe McCree said “At 5’2, Lipscomb was one of the smaller players at the Expo, but one of the biggest hearts. She has elite speed with the ball in her hands. A very good on the ball defender. As smaller guard, Lipscomb has a variety of finishes around the basket.” Lipscomb has strong handles, elite speed and quickness, and is a terrific on-ball and off-the-ball defender. Her perimeter shot is improving in consistency but her shot selection is excellent. Other notes, she runs the break well; makes solid entry passes with either hand; and clears the ball well off rebounds.
#9 RaMya Kennedy RaMya Kennedy 5'8" | SF Wichita South | 2024 State KS , 5’10”, SG, Wichita Southeast, Missouri Phenom – Kennedy, currently ranked #40 in the class, is a player I am looking forward to seeing this summer. Last July Simmie Colson wrote, after seeing her at the PBR Super 64, about her impressive upside especially when factoring in her size. He was impressed with her ability to create her own shot as well as score at all three levels. I have liked her speed with handles, athleticism, and use of her three ball to extend the defense.
#10 Hayden Snodgrass Hayden Snodgrass 5'9" | CG Andover Central | 2024 State KS , 5’8″, CG, Andover Central – Another player that should start next season, Snodgrass was also buried in a deep roster. When I first saw her two summers ago I readily noted how well she created her shot, understood where and when to shoot it, and attack the basket with confidence. She had a scorer’s mentality with handles to go with it. Fast forward late this past season, Adrian Maloney wrote about her size; versatility; and desire to get to the rim when talking about class 5A post-season x-factors.
Others with a shot to crack the top 10 in the future include:
Jasani Jackson
Jasani
Jackson
5'7" | SG
Heights | 2024
KS
, Wichita Heights
Ava Howie
Ava
Howie
5'11" | PF
Maize South | 2024
State
KS
, Maize South
Laila Christmon
Laila
Christmon
6'0" | PF
Wichita Heights | 2024
KS
, Wichita Heights
Mya Mayberry
Mya
Mayberry
5'4" | PG
Heights | 2024
State
KS
, Wichita Heights
Carly Dameron
Carly
Dameron
6'2" | C
Eisenhower | 2024
State
KS
, Eisenhower
Featured image: Andover 2024 Brooke Walker Brooke Walker 5'8" | CG Andover | 2024 State KS ,. Photo: Robert Kelly.