7 Climbers of the 2022 Ranks
The number of emerging 2022 players continues to grow. The recent rankings refresh added 14 more players to reach 94 total. Below is a look at seven top advancers in the class. Several players have appeared in previous articles. One,…
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Continue ReadingThe number of emerging 2022 players continues to grow. The recent rankings refresh added 14 more players to reach 94 total. Below is a look at seven top advancers in the class. Several players have appeared in previous articles. One, an October article about developing stretch fours, included three of the players below.
Mill Valley 2022 Emree Zars flashes a smile for the camera while sitting with Bishop Carrigan (IA) 2023 Molly Joyce, left, during an early game at the Iowa PGH 250 Expo.#13 Emree Zars, 5’10”, PG, Mill Valley, Kansas Elite – Advancing 17 positions Zars caught some eyes at the Prep Girls Hoops 250 Expo Iowa at the end of October. She had a great event on both ends of the floor. With her size, build, and athleticism Zars showed she can play and/or defend nearly every position. She was fast in transition, showed quickness defending on the wing, can create her own shot off the dribble, finishes well, and has three point range. While overlooked in my recent article on 2022 stretch 4 candidates Zars definitely should be considered. Prep Girls Hoops’ Mason Asher, at an early summer Be The Best event in Ames, Iowa, that “her game is well developed and fluid” and that she was “…finishing through length…” He recognized her as one of ten standouts he viewed.
#18 Gracie Gilpin, 5’6″, G, Emporia, Wheat State Elite – Gilpin advanced 26 spots in the rankings. With her feet set Gilpin shoots quickly off the catch and well from three point range. She has good quickness and control with the ball. Read more about Gilpin in this July article.
#20 Kenzie Strathman, 6’0″, PF, Wetmore, Bruna Elite – Strathman advanced 8 positions in the rankings. A Twin Valley League second team all-league selection a year ago, she was among the state’s top ten and top freshman in rebounding while averaging 11.9 rebounds and 10.3 points per game. At July’s Reign the Plains event she showed aggressiveness posting up and an ability to score on the interior using spins and other moves. She boxes out well and has good transition speed.
Lady Prospects and Manhattan High School forward Grace Dixon attacks the basket during a summer 2019 tournament game.#29 Grace Dixon, 6’0″, PF, Manhattan, Lady Prospects – Dixon advanced 8 positions in the rankings. PGH Kansas’ Willie Dotson noted, at November’s Lady Prospects exposure event, that she has good hands, works hard for position inside, and has three point range. Dixon is laterally quick on the defensive end. She was a June, 2019, Battle of the Border pool all-star selection.
#41 Danielle Howard, 5’8″, PG, Uniontown, Next Level Eclipse – Howard advanced 6 positions in the rankings. A Three Rivers League first team all-league, she was also selected as a pool all-star at the July, 2019, USJN St. Louis event. Howard possesses long arms, quick hands, and the smarts to jump passing lanes. She has a quick perimeter shot off the catch. Howard was featured in a previous article on defensive monsters of the 2022 class.
#57 Brooke Eby, 5’11”, PF, Andover, Bluejays – Advanced 6 positions in the rankings. Eby, a transfer from Trinity Academy, 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. Eby has good speed and handles to take the ball end-to-end off the rebound.
Hooks Shots 15 Norton’s and Olathe East’s Michelle Schneller looking toward a teammate on the wing.#61 Michelle Schneller, 5’9″, F, Olathe East, Hookshots – Schneller advanced 11 spots in the rankings. She possesses a combination of court awareness, athleticism, good hands, and interior ball skills. She has the strength to overpower players for loose balls. Schneller is one to keep an eye on as she polishes her game. Keeping the ball up higher on the finish will lead to more baskets. Opponents during the summer were able to prevent them due to it being held too low.
Featured Image: Uniontown 2022 point guard Danielle Howard elevates for a left-handed lay-in. Image courtesy of Bret Howard.