Erica Rust Erica Rust 6'0" | C Harlan Community | 2024 State IA and Harlen Community got it done this past weekend in an intense contest against Cherokee Washington High School. In a game that had a State appearance on the line, this was the definition of a battle. It ended with a final score of 50-47 and there were five double-digit scorers between both programs, the most dominant bring Rust in the Post for the Cyclones. She finished this one with 15 Points on 60% shooting and 11 Rebounds. If you know anything about Rust or this team, you know that she can really hoop. She is a Post with size, footwork, balance, and a high motor. She does a great job of doing her work early on in possessions and she is quick moving down the floor from rim-to-rim. I’ve said it once and I’m going to say it again. Rust is going to kill it at the next level. She just needs to find her fit in the system at Simpson. If she does that, she could have a star-studded collegiate career at the end of the day but for right now she is worried about one thing and one thing only, that being a 3A State Championship.

Ever since I saw Erica Rust Erica Rust 6'0" | C Harlan Community | 2024 State IA compete prior to this season, I’ve been a huge fan. She is a post that understands her balance, footwork, size, and skill-set to a T. She isn’t the type of player to try and over-do things or force action that isn’t there. She takes what the defense is giving her and because of that, she puts up some big time stat lines while her team wins. In her latest contest, her Harlen Community High School team won against Clarinda High School to move onto the Third Round and Rust had an MVP-type game. When the final whistle blew, she had 25 Points (12-18), 10 Rebounds, and 5 Steals. Not to mention a block or two. I’m not sure where Rust is going to end up after this season comes to a close but I hope she chooses to stick with it and play collegiate ball. She is good enough. She just needs the right system around her and she can flourish. You see it in her live game-play every night and it’s also reflected in her numbers.

I first had the opportunity to see Erica Rust Erica Rust 6'0" | C Harlan Community | 2024 State IA compete this Summer at a high school shootout and she impressed me on several different levels. Rust is a player that one day could compete at the college level. She has some size, coordination, and balance near the basket while also being a playmaker on both sides of the floor. On almost every possession, Rust has her presence known. She is either dominating her matchup with her back to the basket or she is moving off of the ball at a high rate, making her defender spread out to the perimeter so that her teammates can attack the rim. I know that Rust has a few collegiate offers floating out there at the moment, now where will she end up? I’m not exactly sure but if she is used in the correct situations, she is going to produce at whatever level she is competing at.