2023 Centers: Final Ranking

This year has flown past and I am going to miss seeing these players on the court next season. And while a few of these Centers in the Class of 2023 have landing places on the next level I know several of them are still trying to figure it out. There is no doubt in my mind that each of these girls can find a home in women's basketball and if you are a Coach out there in need of someone to hold it down in the paint this list should be the first place you look. I have had the pleasure of meeting so many of them at least once and seeing them play in person against good competition. Of course, some of them are not complete players yet. They still need Coaching and will have to adjust to the College Game. But isn't that the nature of this Position? You can't Coach Height and Size. And so many players that would be Natural Centers are being lost to Volleyball every season. This is the position where you find your projects and players that need to be developed to be assets down the road. The thing about Centers is there never are enough of them. Don't be caught without somebody you can put in the game to defend the top-flight Centers on other teams. None of these players would be on this list if I didn't think they could play.     [player_tooltip player_id='257280' first='Emma' last='Filiatreau']   Filiatreau is our Top Center in our Rankings. She is a basketball causality, lost to the sport to something other than Volleyball. She is going to Oklahoma State next year as an Equestrian, which is not the usual path. I have to imagine that the Cowboys have worked out some way to get some extra talent onto the basketball roster, but I don't have any inside information there. I just know that any team could use a player with her great size, athleticism, ball handling, and outside shooting ability.     [player_tooltip player_id='164389' first='Xaviara' last='Smalley']   Smalley surfaced this year at John Hardin and averaged just under 18 points and 11.4 rebounds a game. She displayed her talents around the rim, but from what I saw she wasn't able to demonstrate her step-away game as much. I don't know where she will lad in college but she had several D1 offers to consider before last season and I have to assume someone will have her talent available on their roster this fall. She is a talented shot blocker, makes her free throws (69.1%), and is a reliable post-scoring threat (57.4%).     [player_tooltip player_id='284105' first='Jhaven' last='Meade']   Meade has put in a ton of work on improving her physical shape and getting stronger. I hear from reliable sources that she is in the gym working out every morning. Her large frame gives her D1 size and she has been playing in practice against other talented Bigs her whole career. The type of player she could develop into with a College Weights and Nutrition Program. and a dedicated Training Program for Bigs would be a great asset to any team. One thing you can be certain of is nobody is going to push her off the Blocks once she is established in the lane.     [player_tooltip player_id='393701' first='Kenady' last='Ward']   Ward is another very large player with a ton of upside for a program that can develop players with size. She is such a smart player and a great passer, but her lack of speed is an issue that hurts her recruiting. But make no mistake that she can play and that in the right situation can be an immense asset for the right time that is willing to develop her. She is capable in the High Post and Low Post. Has the kind of power that makes it impossible to move her out of position once she establishes it. I get the feeling she is going to end up playing on a level below where she should be recruited because midway through her Junior season no one was talking to her and coaches in her area had not heard of her. Make no mistake that this is a player that should be involved in the game for years to come. Coach, you have to take a look.       [player_tooltip player_id='329425' first='Emily' last='Estes']   Estes is an excellent option for the Small College game at the 4 or 5 (depending on the system). She is strong, has good agility, and is fundamentally sound in all of the ways you would want your Center to be. She has a college-ready game, but will probably need some time to grow into the increased speed of the next level. Not to say that she will not need to continue to develop, just that she has mastered all of the basics needed to be ready to receive College Coaching. This is a player I would like to have seen more often than I did because I really appreciate the fundamentals of interior basketball.     [player_tooltip player_id='502117' first='Elizabeth' last='Boyd']   Boyd is still unsigned as of a week ago. I know she has had some interest from a few programs, but she is still looking for something more. She will be playing travel basketball with Kentucky ICE this Spring as an Unsigned Senior until somebody wises up and signs her. She is a very athletic and strong player with great interior defensive training. She knows how to eat space in the middle and fill up the lane with her defensive presence. She is also a versatile post scorer that can put the ball on the floor when needed and moves well without the ball. She transferred to Kentucky last season after attending a school out-of-state that did not keep stats. At North Oldham, she averaged a Double-Double (12.6 points, 10.6 rebounds, 52.8% Field Goals) and was one rebound shy of a Double-Double (14 points, 9 Rebounds) in perhaps the biggest upset of the Regionals this postseason.     [player_tooltip player_id='609890' first='Morgan' last='Wells']   Wells is an excellent High Post Big with good ball handling, passing, and shooting skills. She played for a small school in the foothills of the mountains. I do not know if she has received the kind of exposure needed to get her onto the radar of enough College Coaches. Those that are in on her now probably don't want me to dive this deep into our Rankings. But Coaches that don't know her from the Small programs need to take a look. She is well-coached and fundamentally sound and could probably play the 4 or 5 with a little work.     [player_tooltip player_id='502126' first='Kambree' last='Lathery']   Lathery needs to work on her agility and increase her mobility. But if she wants it I believe she will make a fine addition to a Small College Roster. From the way I have seen her improve over the last two years, I think she wants the chance to keep playing. She has the physical tools to be an asset if you have the staff to bring it out of her Coach. Give her a look and put her to work.

This year has flown past and I am going to miss seeing these players on the court next season. And while a few of these Centers in the Class of 2023 have landing places on the next level I know several of them are still trying to figure it out. There is no doubt in my mind that each of these girls can find a home in women's basketball and if you are a Coach out there in need of someone to hold it down in the paint this list should be the first place you look. I have had the pleasure of meeting so many of them at least once and seeing them play in person against good competition.
Of course, some of them are not complete players yet. They still need Coaching and will have to adjust to the College Game. But isn't that the nature of this Position? You can't Coach Height and Size. And so many players that would be Natural Centers are being lost to Volleyball every season. This is the position where you find your projects and players that need to be developed to be assets down the road. The thing about Centers is there never are enough of them. Don't be caught without somebody you can put in the game to defend the top-flight Centers on other teams. None of these players would be on this list if I didn't think they could play.