Six 2021 Centers to Watch
In the past year a few centers have solidified their position as best in the 2021 class three-quarters of the way through their high school career. Prep Girls Hoops takes a look at six centers to watch once they hit…
Access all of Prep Girls Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingIn the past year a few centers have solidified their position as best in the 2021 class three-quarters of the way through their high school career. Prep Girls Hoops takes a look at six centers to watch once they hit the hardwoods later this summer.
Shawnee Mission Northwest 2021 [player_tooltip player_id="47064" first="Kennedy" last="Taylor"]. Photo by Robert Kelly.#2 Kennedy Taylor Kennedy Taylor 6'3" | PF Shawnee Mission Northwest | 2021 State KS , 6’3″, Shawnee Mission Northwest, KC Dream — 2020 KBCA 6A first team. 2020 Sunflower League first team, third team in 2019. Averaged 15.2 points and 9.1 rebounds, averaged 10.3 points and 9.3 rebounds in 2019. Great size, strength, and speed. Taylor’s game has matured dramatically in the past year. She has developed more fluidity and flexibility to her game while eliminating the volleyball swing, haymaker shot blocks. She finished the season averaging 15.1 points and 9.1 rebounds.
#9 Ella Anciaux Ella Anciaux 6'4" | C Kapaun Mt. Carmel | 2021 State KS , 6’4″, Kapaun Mt. Carmel, Next Level Eclipse — 2020 Wichita City League first team. 2019 KBCA 5A second team all-state. She reported mid-Jan ’19 that she’s averaging 22 ppg, 14 rpg, and 3 bpg. Coach Billy Graf was quoted in Vype saying “she can shoot the three and she’s bigger and stronger than anyone guarding her…. She does a great job with her hands and her feet, and there’s never anything awkward about how she moves.”
Schlagle 2021 [player_tooltip player_id="91927" first="Tylieea" last="Wallace"] has a ball with a pre-season team photo shoot.#12 Tylieea Wallace Tylieea Wallace 6'0" | C Schlagle | 2021 State KS , 6’0″, Schlagle, KC Dream — Topeka Capital Journal and Wichita Eagle 5A honorable mention. Topeka Capital Journal 5A honorable mention. Pool B all-star Battle at the Border (6/19). Strong, great feet and hands (former Coach Mark Western). Big frame. She had 27 points and 13 rebounds in a first round state tournament win over Wichita Heights.
Hugoton 2021 center [player_tooltip player_id="123506" first="Jordyn" last="Beard"] boxes out a Sterling opponent during their Sterling Invitational contest. Photo by Robert Kelly.#40 Jordyn Beard Jordyn Beard 6'1" | C Hugoton | 2021 State KS , 6’1″, Hugoton, Wheat State Elite — Two time Great West Activities Conference second team. Averages 7 points, 6.2 rebounds, 2.2 blocks, 1.7 steals, and 1.3 assists. 50.5% FG%. Long armed shot blocker with good timing and great size. Boxes well and with strength. 2020 numbers down due to substantial increase in talent on the team did not require her to do everything. Needs to continue to improve elevation; perimeter shooting; and offensive skill set and fluidness, interior handles, and aggression with back-to-basket and face-up game. 2019 stats = averaged 12.2 points, 12.1 rebounds (6th in the state), 35% ORB, 3.4 blocks, and 2.6 steals. 49% FG% in 2019. Owns school record of 21 rebounds in a game.
Nemaha Central 2021 [player_tooltip player_id="123507" first="Riley" last="Rottinghaus"]. Photo by Robert Kelly.#43 Riley Rottinghaus Riley Rottinghaus 6'2" | PF Nemaha Central | 2021 State KS , 6’2″, Nemaha Central, Lady Prospects — 2020 Big 7 honorable mention. Willie Dotson, Lady Prospects Exposure (Nov 2019) – Plays with energy, gets out and runs with her guards, showed a good mid-range game and three point potential. Reign the Plains (July 2019) – Hardly knew she was on the floor one game. Next game was a formidable presense from the start: Worked hard on the interior on both ends of the floor and posted up strongly. LaQuita Thompson Report identified her as one of six top posts of the April ’19 Border War Showcase (Tulsa) and “decent footwork inside, knock down mid range shots very mobile, shot blocker.” Mid-18/19 season vs Jefferson West raw but had some good moments. Posted strong, showed 10′ range, passed well on the interior, and ran well. Struggled when putting the ball on the floor inside the freethrow line.
Lawrence 2020s Ella Stewart, left, and Sophie DeWitt, center, and 2021 [player_tooltip player_id="123528" first="Ozi" last="Ajekwu"],right, as guests on the Sunflower Smack Show podcast. Image courtesy of Sunflower Smack Show.#59 Ozi Ajekwu Ozi Ajekwu 6'2" | C Lawrence | 2021 State KS , 6’2″, Lawrence — 2020 Sunflower League second team. Averaged 10.7 points and 10.4 rebounds. 2020 Sunflower Smack Show third team. Great build, size, strength, and length. Fast. A developing talent who also needs to increase fluidity.
Featured image: Kapaun Mt. Karmel 2021 Ella Anciaux Ella Anciaux 6'4" | C Kapaun Mt. Carmel | 2021 State KS rises over Wichita Southeast defenders to score. Courtesy of Ella Anciaux Ella Anciaux 6'4" | C Kapaun Mt. Carmel | 2021 State KS .