Prospect Spotlight: Natalie Rippy (2021)
A rising player in Missouri’s 2021 class, St. Pius X forward Natalie Rippy is putting together a strong start to the 2019-20 season. At 5’9, Rippy is a versatile player who can shoot from the outside or work in the…
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Continue ReadingA rising player in Missouri’s 2021 class, St. Pius X forward Natalie Rippy is putting together a strong start to the 2019-20 season.
At 5’9, Rippy is a versatile player who can shoot from the outside or work in the post. She takes pride in her defense and says she enjoys the challenge of keeping an opponent from scoring.
A year ago, St. Pius X advanced to the Class 3 quarterfinals where they fell to Trenton. Rippy was named first team all-conference and all-district and averaged eight points per game.
“I played primarily post, so I felt my game was a little thrown off not facing the hoop as much as I do in summer ball, but I still improved as an overall player,” she says. “One thing I definitely took away last season is the importance of team leadership.”
This season the Lady Warriors are off to a 6-1 start with its only loss coming to Kearney.
“We have a lot of depth. as a team, we can cause a lot of chaos on the defensive end and get buckets on the offensive end,” Rippy said. “The matchup I’m most looking forward to is against Chillicothe. last season we had an exciting battle with them, so I expect the same for this season.”
Rippy spent the offseason playing with the KC Run GMC 16U squad for Rodney Gilyard and Emiah Bingley in the newly established girls’ Under Armour circuit and says the experience helped her game grow.
“(It) was a challenging season with lots of growth and development while facing a new level of adversity,” Rippy says. “My coaches were amazing and pushed me to evolve as a guard. I think summer ball mostly helped me become a leader and better teammate while also becoming a more aggressive player.”
Rippy says her mom has had the biggest influence on her basketball career to date.
“She played at Rockhurst University while also sporting a volleyball scholarship,” Rippy says. “Her passion for the game is contagious and she has definitely helped shape me into the player I am today.”
A fan of NBA star Giannis Antetokounmpo (“the greek freak”), Rippy says she appreciates his all-around game.
“I like the way he leads his team and his ability to make plays,” She said. “I want to implement his way of scoring into my game.”
While she does not yet hold an offer, Rippy has drawn interest from several college programs, including Drake University.