Developing 2022 Stretch 4 Possibilities
The 2022 class of players is loaded with potential to be college level stretch 4 talents. Nearly a dozen of the 80 players currently ranked have been identified for this article due to already having key physical and ability characteristics…
Access all of Prep Girls Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingThe 2022 class of players is loaded with potential to be college level stretch 4 talents. Nearly a dozen of the 80 players currently ranked have been identified for this article due to already having key physical and ability characteristics described in our initial stretch 4 series article. More are sure to be noticed as the upcoming season plays out. As more players are identified and added to the pool of nearly 50 players already being considered for addition to the next rankings update.
Before continuing with the 2022s be mindful to read the two previous articles highlighting 2020s and 2021s.
#1 NiJaree Canady, 6’0″, F, Topeka, Team KC Hoops – This past season Canady was a Kansas Basketball Coaches Association (KBCA) 6A first team all-state and USA Today Kansas Girls Basketball first team selection. Described as a strong defender who scores well through offensive flow, she averaged 20.6 points, 10.6 rebounds, 2.4 steals, 1.8 assists, and 1.4 blocks for the state runner-up Trojans.
#9 Jordan Jackson, 6’1″, PF/C, Blue Valley, Missouri Phenom – Jackson was a 2019 Topeka Capitol Journal 6A honorable mention all-state and. Eastern Kansas League honorable mention selection. Long and athletic, she has solid ball skills and three point range. Jackson also showed speed going end-to-end with the ability to finish with both hands and through contact. Defensively she has good ability to block shots without fouling. Steve Reynolds, Lady Baller Insider, said “she’s the lightning of the thunder and lightning combo [with Beatrice Culliton] for Missouri Phenom and has the elevation on her pull-up jump shot to die for.”
Eureka’s Brooklyn Ptacek, red, and Haven’s Faith Paramore, yellow, compete for position in their summer, 2019, Hutchinson Community College team camp game.#18 Brooklyn Ptacek, 5’11”, PF, Eudora, Wheat State Elite – HCC Team Camp (June 2019) – Ptacek is a great deal to handle because of how physical she can be inside. She posts very strongly and really challenged the other bigs in camp. She runs the floor well and is a very long 5’11.” Ptacek shoots quickly off the catch and sets her feet well from three point range. She also shows good quickness and control with the ball. She will continue to get better as she gets stronger.
#26 Maddy Vermetten, 5’11”, W/F, Valley Heights, Wheat State Elite – Club coach describes her as “wicked athletic.” Vermetten has the ability to go end to end, outlets off the rebound well to get transition game going, and sees the floor well with the ball in transition. Her good off-ball anticipation makes her a solid steal threat. Valley Heights only lost two players from last season’s fourth place finish team in the tough 2A Twin Valley League, but someone she’ll likely face is up next.
#28 Kenzie Strathman, 6’0″, PF, Wetmore, Bruna Elite – Strathman earned Twin Valley League second team honors a year ago. She was among the state’s top ten, and the top freshman, in rebounding averaging 11.9 per game to go with 10.3 points per game. At July’s Reign the Plains event she displayed aggressiveness posting up and the ability to score on the interior using spin and other moves. Notable also was her transition speed and strong ability to box out.
#34 Emma Yungeberg, 6’0″, F, Valley Heights, Ohlde Elite – Yungeberg was a Great West Activities Conference honorable mention selection. She is a lengthy, solid defensive post who walls up well. Yungeberg also transitions well, including taking the ball down the floor with speed.
#37 Grace Dixon, 6’0″, PF, Manhattan, Lady Prospects – Selected as an all-star at June’s Battle of the Border. A developing talent with terrific lateral quickness and three point range, Dixon is a hard working post player who can be expected to get more floor time this season.
Lady Prospects and Manhattan High School forward Grace Dixon attacks the basket during a summer 2019 tournament game.#57 Tiana Winn, 5’10”, PF, Wichita East, No Boundaries Elite – Winn is a long, physical, and athletic prospect who typically defending the 3 or 4 spots. Winn has shown good transition speed, good hands, and a quick shot. Development on the perimeter and showing the ability to get to the basket from the wing will be key to expansion of her game.
2022 PF Tiana Winn, Wichita East, No Boundaries Elite. Photo: Courtesy of Bryant Winn#59 Dakiah Yates, 5’9″, W, Paola, Lady Prospects – Yates is a transfer from Parsons. She has shown three point range as well as the ability to get shots up quickly around the basket. Yates has good hands on rebounds and can go end-to-end off of it. Motor and physicality, including boxing out, need improvement.
#61 Gabi Henderson-Artis, 5’9″, W, Bishop Meige, Lady Run GMC – Henderson-Artis was a Eastern Kansas League honorable mention selection this past season on the heels of being on the Jr. NBA Championship team the preceeding summer.
#65 Brooke Eby, 5’11”, PF, Trinity Academy, Bluejays – Eby has the ability to strongly control space when posting up. Once with the ball she can get off a shot quickly. She is effective at denying entry passes from over the top.
Photo: Topeka Athletics. NiJaree Canady, left, and her Topeka teammates hold their 2019 class 6A Kansas tate championship second place trophy.