Wayne County Hoopers
Throughout this off-season, the Prep Girls Hoops staff will be taking a close look at some of the top underclassmen across all of Ohio’s 88 counties. Wayne County – named for United States Army officer and statesman General “Mad” Anthony…
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Continue ReadingThroughout this off-season, the Prep Girls Hoops staff will be taking a close look at some of the top underclassmen across all of Ohio’s 88 counties.
Wayne County – named for United States Army officer and statesman General “Mad” Anthony Wayne – comprises the Wooster metropolitan area. It is a hot bed in Northeast Ohio for small-school girls basketball. It is the home to traditional powers like Chippewa and Smithville – as well a number of other programs who have boasted successful teams in recent years – Wayne County is respected across the state in girls basketball circles.
Let’s take a look at a number of talented underclassmen from Wayne County.
Daysia Brown – Wooster – 5’9 Wing – Class of 2020
Brown may be the most physically gifted player of this group. At Wooster HS – the area’s premier big school program – Daysia will be the top returner for the 2019-2020 season. She is a great athlete who runs like a gazelle and has no problem getting off of her feet as a scorer, rebounder and defender. She is at her best in transition – where she is extremely tough to stop. When she is locked in, she can be a disruptive defender. Brown possesses scholarship-level potential and is one of Ohio’s lesser known prospects in the class of 2020, because she does not play AAU in the spring/summer.
Dalton’s Makenna Geiser and Norwayne’s Caitlyn DeMassimo are two of Wayne County’s top underclassmen. (Photo Credit: Wooster Daily Record)Caitlyn DeMassimo – Norwayne – 5’9 Guard – Class of 2021
Norwayne had an outstanding 2018-2019 season and one of the largest contributing factors behind their success was the special sophomore year that Caitlyn DeMassimo had. DeMassimo, a good athlete in her own right, averaged 12.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game for the Bobcats. For her efforts, Caitlyn was named to the DII All-Ohio Special Mention team by the OPSWA. Like Daysia Brown from Wooster, DeMassimo is another kid who will not be on the “exposure circuit” this spring, but can play at the college level in a few years.
McKayla Feikert – Triway – 5’8 Guard – Class of 2021
Feikert is a combo guard with a smooth stroke from 3-point land. Triway has not had much success during her first two seasons of HS, so McKayla has not received as much recognition as some of the other players in this group, however the 1st team All-PAC selection belongs in their company. After scoring just under 10 PPG this season, she has the ceiling of a 14-17 PPG kid during her last two years. Feikert has a strong build, which she uses to defend multiple positions on the perimeter.
Makenna Geiser – Dalton – 5’8 Guard – Class of 2020
The Ashland University commit was named to our PGH All-Ohio 3rd Team for the Class of 2020 after being named the OPSWA All-Ohio 1st Team for the second straight season. Geiser is a dynamic guard who has no problem creating her own shot – she averaged 15.6 PPG this past winter. She is an outstanding shooter of the basketball from all 3 levels and is one of the premier distributors in the area. Her team has made it to the regionals for the 3 consecutive years – it will be interesting to see if they can get over that hump and make it to Columbus during Makenna’s senior campaign.
Celina Koncz – Chippewa – 6’0 Wing – Class of 2020
Koncz, who was named to our PGH All-Ohio 1stTeam for the Class of 2020, was also the WCAL POY and a 2nd Team All-Ohio selection by the OPSWA. A long and lanky wing that can post up or play out on the perimeter, Koncz does whatever is necessary for her Chippewa team to be successful. You will see her at the top of the press on defense and playing lead guard on offense. Long time Chippewa Denny Schrock has stated that Koncz is the best player that he has coached in his hall-of-fame career. Celina averaged 17 points, 8 rebounds and 4 steals per game during her junior season, while shooting 52% from the floor.
Taylor Thomas – Chippewa – 5’8 Wing – Class of 2021
Thomas is a dynamite 3-point threat with a quick release. She has good length and rarely gets her shots altered or blocked. She is beginning to add a post-up game to her arsenal, which will only make her a more all-around player on the offensive end of the court. Taylor has the frame to add some muscle and it will be interesting to see what she does as a rebounder and defender once she does get a little bit stronger. She has a very high ceiling.
Waynedale returns a majority of their production from their run to the district semi-finals – leading the way is Brooklyn Troyer. (Photo Credit: Wooster Daily Record)Brooklyn Troyer – Waynedale – 5’7 Guard – Class of 2021
After a long post-season run to the regional finals in volleyball, it took Troyer a little bit of time to reach her top level of performance on the basketball court – but when she did she was a force in the Wayne County Athletic League. A 1st Team WCAL selection at nearly 16 PPG, Troyer does it all for the Golden Bears from either guard position. She is a great shooter off of the dribble and is also consistent on catch-and-shoot attempts. When she has smaller guards on her, she has no problem going and posting them up.
Kelsey Wolfe – Waynedale – 5’7 Guard – Class of 2021
At 14.5 PPG on the year, Wolfe joined her classmate/teammate Troyer on the WCAL 1st Team. She was also chosen to the DIII All-Ohio Honorable Mention team by the OPSWA and earned All-District honors in the Northeast from coach and media panels. Perhaps the best shooter of the bunch, Wolfe set a school record for made 3-pointers in a single season with 65 and shot 37% from downtown. Also a very good softball player, Wolfe needs to continue to develop as a distributor/playmaker to provide her with more options at the next level as a basketball player.