Junior Power Forwards Under the Radar for 2024

Introduction: There are a number of outstanding junior power forwards in the class of 2024. Here's a profile of five of them.     [player_tooltip player_id='556578' first='AJ' last='LUAL'] - is a 6-5 junior power forward who plays for Southern Arizona Prep. She was nominated as a potential Player of the Week in late January of this past season by AZCentral. Her Lady Vols finished last season with an overall 14-4 record. One scout said, "They have a deep team that can score at any time. Paired with size and speed, Southern Arizona Prep will be very difficult for their opponents this upcoming season." In her first game this past November, AJ had a double-double - 10 points and 10 rebounds - in a 66-57 win over Bella Vista. She is an outstanding defensive player with good hands and a long wingspan. She also is an intimidating defender and improves daily as an all-around offensive player.   EVALUATION: Southern Arizona Prep is loaded with talented players and should go far in the AIA State Tournament in 2023 come February. AJ is a gritty defender with great hands. She is also a strong rebounder at both ends of the floor. Her offensive game has improved every year of her high school career and she should be able to play at the next level come 2024-2025.     [player_tooltip player_id='263397' first='BELINDA' last='GRADIAS'] is a junior 5-11 power forward for Yuma High School as well as GBL Cobra Venom, her club team. She is currently averaging 7.0 points per game, 9.5 rebounds, and 4.0 steals. Belinda was voted Player of the Game as a sophomore for her performance against Youngker High School. One scout commented: "She did a great job in a road conference game. She controlled the boards at both ends of the court. Against Cibola High School, Estrella Foothills, and Yuma Catholic, she was also named Player of the Game. Belinda has become a double-double machine. In two varsity seasons, a total of 40 games, she averaged 9.0 points, 11.3 rebounds, 3.7 steals, and 3.1 blocks per game. She shot 49% from the floor as a sophomore. Belinda was selected as Player of the Game a total of eight times over her first two years at Yuma. One scout commented: "As a freshman, she made a name for herself with 35 blocks. Although the Lady Criminals had a challenging season, Belinda was always there to pick up the pieces. She plays with a certain toughness and grit that a lot of older, more experienced players, do not even possess. She is a high-energy competitor with natural leadership ability."   EVALUATION: Belinda is a double-double machine who specializes in both rebounding and blocking shots. She is the true definition of a rim protector and is intimidating to opponents as a defender. She also possesses strong leadership ability both on and off the court. Her game has improved every year and she should have outstanding seasons as a junior and senior.     [player_tooltip player_id='339059' first='Kaleigh' last='Toenjes'] - is a 5-8 junior power forward for Dream City Christian as well as Kazen, her club team. She transferred from Perry High School where she averaged 2.9 points and 1.3 rebounds as a sophomore, She was selected by Max Preps as Player of the Game last January. While she was at Perry, her team finished as state runner-up in 6A, losing the State Championship to Valley Vista High School. One scout commented on her game: "She is an athletic wing prospect. Kaleigh plays for an extremely talented Dream City Christian team that is loaded with Division I talent. Going up against the very best will only improve her game."   EVALUATION: Kaleigh is a tremendous defender with both quick hands and quick feet. Her transfer to Dream City Christian will help improve her overall game, both offensively and defensively. DCC plays a national schedule and should go far in 2023. Kaleigh needs to work on her offensive game, primarily on her shooting technique and developing her ball-handling skills.     [player_tooltip player_id='205666' first='KATE' last='LARNEY'] - is a 5-9 junior power forward who plays for Desert Vista High School in Phoenix and her club team, NWT. DVHS lost to State Champion Valley Vista in last winter's AIA state playoffs. In two varsity seasons, Kate has played in 36 games, averaging 4.1 points per game and 2.8 rebounds. She averaged 5.5 points as a freshman but only 3.1 as a sophomore. As a sophomore, she hit on 52% of her two-point field goal attempts. The Lady Thunder are coached by David Williams and play in the always competitive 6A Central Division. Her sister, Breanna, is two years ahead of Kate and is an outstanding basketball and softball player. Kate recently played in a HOOPS tournament in Oklahoma that honored Native Americans and was hosted by the group, Elevate Your Game. After the tournament, she was selected to the All-Star Gold Division team.   EVALUATION: Kate is a vocal leader for the Lady Thunder and is always hustling in and around the ball. She has improved her game offensively and her confidence has grown as well. Defensively, she shows grit and determination and often guards her opponent's best player. She should be ready for an outstanding junior season.     [player_tooltip player_id='530984' first='Gloria' last='Hines'] - is a 5-10 junior power forward who plays for Mountain Ridge High School as well as her club team, Tom Walker's Elite. She specializes in blocks and steals and limited turnovers. She had five steals in a game against Liberty High School last January Over a two-year period she is only averaging 1.5 points and 2.4 rebounds per game. As a freshman, she played for Deer Valley before transferring to Mountain Ridge. Gloria played in the 'For the Love of the Game' tournament last April in Las Vegas which included 180 teams. One scout had this to say: "Gloria is a lanky guard who is very athletic getting to the rim, shoots the ball, and takes charge of her team on the floor. She was a wonder to watch, made the team go, and I noticed her from the start of the game. She used her size well and could go up and down the floor with ease. She ran to spots and was able to seal and finish in the paint as well as getting some transition baskets. I was impressed by her talent."   EVALUATION: - Gloria is a work in progress who continues to improve her overall game every day. She is very athletic, runs the floor extremely well, and is an improved defensive player. Her leadership and confidence have improved dramatically over the last year and she should be ready for a productive junior and senior season.

Introduction: There are a number of outstanding junior power forwards in the class of 2024. Here's a profile of five of them.