Southern Illinois Top Incoming Players Class of 2024: Part 2
In this article we take a way too early look at some of the incoming 2024 talent in Southern and Central Illinois. This is part 2 of 2 and this article will be tilted a little more towards Central Illinois…
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Continue ReadingIn this article we take a way too early look at some of the incoming 2024 talent in Southern and Central Illinois. This is part 2 of 2 and this article will be tilted a little more towards Central Illinois This group has some excellent talent. There are girls here that show early signs of potential D1 talent and the size to match. Many should contribute right away as freshman. Hopefully we can see them on the circuit this summer.We have some serious guard talent in this group. hopefully we can see them on the summer circuit soon.
- Alayah Sprattling is a 5’6 Point Guard from Peoria. Alayah is very gifted athletically and in her ball skills. She has that ” ball on a string” ability with her dribbling and continues to work on quicker and tighter moves. Alayah will play for Peoria High and runs with the Heart of Illinois 2024 club team. She is a defender that can eliminate the opposing best guard with her quickness and talents.(on the right in cover picture)
- Mya Wardle is a 5’7 Guard from Peoria Notre Dame and Heart of Illinois. Mya is a floor leader that is becoming a bonafide scoring threat. She does a great job of using her length and feel for the game on both ends of the floor. Mya is a coaches daughter, her father is on staff at Bradley.(in the middle in cover picture)
- Johnaja Smith is a 5’9 Wing from Peoria Richwoods and Heart of Illinois. Jo has the size and build to be over powering in the paint. She has good moves in the lane and counters off those moves that make her hard to stop. Jo is working to continue to improve her game off the bounce to enhance her options to score.(on the left in the cover picture)
- Kamryn Heider is a 5’7 Guard from Peoria Richwoods and Heart of Illinois. Kamryn can shoot the 3-point shot and has worked on her game off the bounce to create shots in the mid-range. She has developed her moves to allow her to create an advantage without explosive quickness. Kamryn sees and can read the defense to find the right scoring options as the help side comes on her drives.
- Izzy Vandeschraaf is a 5’9 Forward from Metamora and Heart of Illinois. Izzy has a versatile game that allows her to score at all three levels with confidence. She can hit the 3 or drive to the basket but tall and long enough to be an effective low post scorer. Izzy can also defend multiple positions using her athletic ability. She has definitely been an improving player over the past year and hopefully keeps that path through the Covid19.
- Kiarra Kilgore is a 5’9 Wing from Galesburg and Heart of Illinois. Kiarra is similar to Izzy with her versatile physical abilities that allow her to play inside and out. She has a special ability to see the floor that makes her a plus passer. Kiarra uses her length well on the defensive end to defend multiple positions
- Addie Ray is a 5’7 Guard from Tolono. Addie has decent size for her position at this young of an age. She is a natural scorer that can hit the 3-point shot with a consistent stroke.
- Marissa Zane is a 5’6 Guard from Robinson. Marissa is a natural scorer that may have a chance to make a difference at the varsity level with the team coming off a 7-21 campaign. She has a long torso and arms for her height, hopefully showing there are a few more inches coming. Marissa can score off the dribble and has a nice outside shot.
- Alexia Zane is a 5’6 Point Guard from Robinson. Alexia is the ball handler and defender of the twins.Again, with the state of the program both girls may have a shot to contribute as freshman as the Maroons try to get back on the winning track. Alexia also has that nice length that she uses well on both ends of the floor.
- Addi Shrader is a 5’8 Wing from Charleston. Addi is a very athletic wing with huge potential as her skills grow to match her natural athletic ability. She is a good slasher where she uses her quickness to get by her defender and then her length and skill to finish in traffic. Addi is a natural 3/4 that will find her way into the right position as her growth levels out.
- Laura Hewitt is a 5’9 Post player from Alton Marquette. Laura is a strong player with a nice shot that she can hit consistently in the 15 foot range including have good success at the free throw line. She can rebound and has improving footwork. Laura has potential to provide some minutes at the varsity level and as she gains strength and confidence she could be a nice stretch 4.
- Jayce Privia is a 5’10 Wing from Porta and the Predators. Jayce has had a nice run at the IESA state tourneys in Middle School. While she did not get the championship she led her team to the championship game by scoring inside and out. Jayce has a nice outside shot but will also get her points in the paint which helped her get over 1,000 for her middle school career.
- Becca Bellows is a 5’9 Forward from Pleasant Plains. Becca is another player that had a big influence in getting her team to the top at the IESA state tourney. Plains lost in the 3A championship game. She had 38 points in the 3 games at state. Becca can hit the 3 and also plays well inside. As is typical for their program Becca plays good team ball and is a willing defender and passer.
- Ellie Gegen is a 5’10 Wing from Rochester. Ellie plays multiple sports and uses that versatility and athletic talent to show signs on the basketball floor of being a college level player.Ellie is a physical player that has a knack for rebounding. Her jumping ability works well in volleyball and working inside in basketball. Ellie has a good shot in the mid range and shows nice instincts for the game.
- Molly Peel is a 5’8 Guard from Edwardsville. Molly is a smart player that shows natural point guard type skills in that she can handle it, pass it and has good instincts on the floor. She can also play good defense and is always a team first player.
It is always fun to speculate which girls may end up being top level players by the time they are done. These girls have not even attended a high school class or practice yet so there is a long way to go before they solidify themselves as top level players.