Players Rankings Update: 2023 – Top 5

<!-- wp:heading --> <h2>#5. [player_tooltip player_id='63032' first='Kelsey' last='Joens'] - West Liberty High School </h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["63032"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"The West Liberty Comets made a good run this season, stringing together an impressive amount of wins while falling just short of a state appearance with a loss to the Benton Wildcats, a team who would make it all the way to the 3A championship in the end. The Comets were a diverse team that had a lot of playmakers across the board at a decent amount of the positions of the floor, the biggest playmaker being Iowa State commit [player_tooltip player_id='63032' first='Kelsey' last='Joens']. Kelsey is one of the top shooters and scorers in the senior class and she has proved it on every level of her career thus far. She has a nice handle with the knowledge to use her skill and speed to her advantage against slower opponents. On the defensive side of things she does a good job handling the assignment give to her while forcing a good amount of tips and deflections. I'm interested in how the Cyclones will use her, if she is put in the right situations she is a player who can get hot on the offense end really quick from deep. Something that is truly amazing when you see it live. ","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64224cde3774d"} /--> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>#4. [player_tooltip player_id='545645' first='Halle' last='Vice'] - Pleasant Valley High School</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["545645"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='545645' first='Halle' last='Vice'] ended her high school career like anyone would dream of. An undefeated regular and post season, conference champions, and most importantly the 5A state champions. Vice is a dominate talent at the high school level equipped with great size. She is the type of player that you can put in really any spot except the 1 on a high school floor and she will be ultra-successful. During her teams state run she showed great versatility on both sides of the floor. She scored from all three levels, rebounded with the biggest players on the floor while held her own, and made some big plays in some even bigger moments to help the Spartans bring home their first women's basketball state championship. Looking at her future I could see Vice coming in and seeing the floor her freshman year depending how her pre-season goes. With her size and ability there could definitely be some spot minutes as her freshman year goes on for the Golden Eagles. No matter what, whenever she gets her chance she is sure to make the most of it and make a positive impact for her program. ","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64224cde377b9"} /--> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>#3. [player_tooltip player_id='13959' first='Arianna' last='Jackson'] - Roosevelt High School</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["13959"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"The Roosevelt Roughriders didn't make it to the state tournament this season but that didn't stop them of having a nice year, glued together by their elite point guard, [player_tooltip player_id='13959' first='Arianna' last='Jackson']. Jackson was the heart beat of this team in a lot of areas. She averaged 19.9 PPG on 45% shooting, 8.8 RPG, and 2.8 APG on the way to a 15-8 record. Iowa State is getting a good player and even better individual with this one. She can get others involved just as well as she can score and rebound. She is extremely active on both ends of the floor, securing a lot of rebounds for a point guard who needs to score a good amount for her team to be successful. She has the ability to break down a defender off of the dribble and create for herself or others in a number of ways. This is something that anyone who has watched her is used to as you can tell from her numbers this previous season. She should be proud of the career she has had up until this point with the hungry to be a real factor at the high D1-level, something I'm sure she will be working on from now until opening tip off of her first game with the Cyclones. ","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64224cde37818"} /--> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>#2. [player_tooltip player_id='127635' first='Sahara' last='Williams'] - Waterloo West High School</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["127635"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='127635' first='Sahara' last='Williams'] averaged a double-double as a senior while also dishing out over 5 assist per game. Impressive is a word that doesn't do that justice. Williams is a baller with a whole lot of heart. She can play inside to out and is dominant from 15ft and in on offense. She has an extensive u0022bagu0022 of skill moves in the post and mid-post while being able to screen and roll or screen and pop for a jump-shot from mid-range. On defense she does a great job of staying down on pump fakes and using her physicality to her advantage a majority of the time. Williams is an Oklahoma women's basketball commit with a promising future in front of her for the Sooners. She is going to be a player who is smart and gives you all she can to try and help her program win, no matter the cost. It's been exciting to watch her talents shine at the high school level but I think it's time that she shows everyone what she can really do.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64224cde37872"} /--> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>#1. [player_tooltip player_id='63019' first='Audi' last='Crooks'] - Bishop Garrigan High School</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["63019"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"I could say a lot of [player_tooltip player_id='63019' first='Audi' last='Crooks'] and her career but I think her stat line of her final game is something that says it all: 49 Points on 21/27 shooting, 16 rebounds, 3 blocks, 2 steals in a 68-57 win. This capped off an impressive game and even more impressive career from Crooks while helping the Golden Bears bring home another state title this season. She is the real deal and everyone will see that next season for the Cyclones. She is a player who put up that stat line above while being double and triple teamed all night long on the offensive side of the floor. It was one of the most dominating performances I've seen in person in a long time. I'm assuming she is going to see the floor a good amount right away starting this winter up in Ames and for good reason. Until someone shows that they can consistently stop her from scoring the ball, I would try to put her in favorable positions with her back near the hoop. This should lead to a good amount of successful for Crooks and her team. She will have to adapt to the college life style and game-speed but after the first few weeks I expect her to have some consistent production for Iowa State in her freshman year. ","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64224cde378cf"} /-->