2023 Rankings: Top Bigs
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Our final positional piece on our first-ever 2023 rankings deals with the top interior players from this class. Being an elite interior player so young not only shows the impressive development of skills everyone on this list has showcased, but…
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Continue ReadingOur final positional piece on our first-ever 2023 rankings deals with the top interior players from this class. Being an elite interior player so young not only shows the impressive development of skills everyone on this list has showcased, but also physical maturation beyond their years. These are players who have consistently engaged in physical battles with older and more developed players and emerged victorious. Because of that, these may be the players who have the best chance to take their game to the next level as they continue to grow and learn.
Brianna Bryars, George Rogers Clark- A part of a talented young core, Bryars had to take a backseat at times to the rest of her team. While she was largely limited to rebounder and occasional low-post scorer, she showed flashes of elite ability doing both. As she gets more opportunities and takes on a bigger role on her team, Bryars can easily become one of the top players in the state.
Xaviara Smalley Xaviara Smalley 6'3" | C Bethlehem | 2023 State KY , Elizabethtown- Another player who had limited opportunities on a loaded team, as well as a poorly times injury, Smalley made the most of her chances. She showed outstanding rebounding ability, using her height and athleticism to dominate the glass against lesser teams, excelling particularly with putbacks on the offensive end. She averaged close to a double-double this season, and with Elizabethtown graduating several elite inside players she can star on an elite team for years to come.
Jala Douglass Jala Douglass 6'0" | PF Central | 2023 State KY , Central- While offensive skills are important for an interior player, they also often function as the lynchpin for their team’s defense. Douglass’s highlights thus far have largely come on the defensive end, as she has shown great timing and hands to come away with a bevy of steals, as well as blocked shots. If she can continue to perfect her offensive game, Douglass can truly emerge as an elite interior player.
Amy Thompson Amy Thompson 6'1" | SF Whitefield Academy | 2023 State KY , Mercy- Another player who has largely excelled on defense, Thompson played her role on an outstanding Mercy team as an integral piece of their team defense. While she didn’t create as many plays on her own as some of her teammates, she took advantage of the opportunities she was given. It will be exciting to see what she can do as a bigger part of Mercy’s team over the next few years.