2024 Player Rankings Update: Five Names You’ll See Again
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You keep hearing me say that this upcoming high school season is going to be one of the best we have seen in a long time, meaning that the competition level is going to be at an all time high…
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Continue ReadingYou keep hearing me say that this upcoming high school season is going to be one of the best we have seen in a long time, meaning that the competition level is going to be at an all time high throughout all Classes in Iowa. If teams want to compete for a State Championship, they are going to need to come together and demonstrate to everyone watching that they are truly the best TEAM in their perspective Class. In the article below I highlight five players that you are most likely going to hear about again this winter out of the 2024 Class. All five players have been main producers for their varsity teams in the past and I don’t see that changing this winter.
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McKenzie Snook has a mixture of length and knowledge of the game of basketball that helps her beat her competition on a regular basis and that’s why she is receiving some collegiate interest at the moment, going into her Senior season at Chariton High School. Snook stands at 5’9 and puts up some big time numbers where she competes. She is looking to continue that tradition this winter when she laces up but it won’t be easy. As being the main factor of her team, Snook is going to have a target on her back. It’s nothing she isn’t prepared for but the others around her will have to adapt if they want to be successful as a program. I have a feeling that Snook is going to commit early on this winter to play at the next level but who knows. As long as her decisions don’t take away from her efforts on the floor this season, it doesn’t matter, she will find the correct fit all in due time.
Someone who is going to be a big piece to her varsity teams “puzzle” this winter is Mila Van Weelden Mila Van Weelden 5’9″ | SG Marion | 2024 State IA of Marion High School. Weelden is a natural Shooting Guard that does a little bit of everything on the floor for her team. She can knock down shots from deep, she can take the ball in and score on smaller defenders off the dribble, she can rebound over alike size players, and she can defend guards who are smaller or posts who are bigger then herself at a steady rate. This Marion Wolves team is going to have some nice pieces across their roster this year. If they can put together a system that will work moving forward, they will be favored in a good amount of contests they compete in this upcoming season. Something I’m sure that this team is very excited for.
McKenna Sievers McKenna Sievers 5’4″ | SG Newell-Fonda | 2024 State IA brings energy and positive vibes to her Newell-Fonda team each game. That was something that stood out to me the most the last time that I had the opportunity to see the Mustangs compete. In a program that is consistently getting to the State Championship and sometimes even winning it, to be a main player in that system is big time. It means that you can come in and be successful with others around you at a high rate. When you break down Sievers actual game you get a pure SG. Someone that knows her abilities and plays within her own means a majority of the time. From a coaching standpoint, sometimes you have individuals on the court that try to do too much and because of that, they fail. That is the complete opposite case in this situation. Sievers keeps it simple and does the little things for her teammates, leading to wins throughout the duration of a heated contest. Overall, Newell-Fonda is going to be relevant again this winter and I’m excited to see what they are going to bring to the table.
Southeast Polk’s varsity team is going to have a handful of college committed players on their roster going into this season, which can only mean one thing. Everyone that they will come up against is going to take them very seriously and have them marked on their calendars as a “must-win” contest. One of the main pieces to this Rams team is Eva Solseth Eva Solseth 5’9″ | CG Southeast Polk | 2024 State IA . Solseth is a Shooting Guard that displays even balance and coordination on each attempt she lets go. To be a good shooter, you need to understand spacing. Solseth does a great job of that and seemingly always gets her shot attempt off when looking for a bucket from deep. If it’s in transition, she will run to an open spot on the floor, that will give her enough time to let it go. If it’s in the half court, she always runs with intent off of screens to get a clean look and this opens up a lot of other things for her teammates. The Rams will be ready for this season. If they get a good matchup come Playoff time, who knows. We maybe talking about this team as a State Contender before everything is said and done.
I had the chance to see Ellie Daubenmier Ellie Daubenmier 5’9″ | CG Linn Mar | 2024 State IA compete a handful of times this AAU spring/summer season and each tournament she did a good job of holding her own. Daubenmier is a 5’9 Combo Guard. She can move between the 3 spot and the other guard positions if need be or in certain matchups, she can even play the 4. Defensively, she uses this same versatility to her advantage. She can play against bigger opponents in the post or she can stay on smaller guards on a switch, either way, she is usually pretty successful. For Linn Mar High School to put together a successful season, Daubenmier is going to have to be a constant for them. Someone who gives her team production in several categories, each game, no matter what. If she can do that and her teams young roster can mature quickly, they could shock some teams this winter.