Eight Bigs Debuting in the 2021 Rankings
As Prep Girls Hoops Kansas heads toward the release of a rankings refresh I thought I would share a look at debuting bigs. Many have been on the radar for the past year while others are more recent discoveries. Wichita…
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Continue ReadingAs Prep Girls Hoops Kansas heads toward the release of a rankings refresh I thought I would share a look at debuting bigs. Many have been on the radar for the past year while others are more recent discoveries.
Noel Brown Noel Brown 5'10" | PF Wichita Heights | 2021 State KS , 5’10”, PF, Wichita North, Dynasty 17U – Brown was a Greater Wichita League honorable mention selection in 2020. In June and July MAYB tournament games she has shown herself to be Dynasty ‘s most consistent scorer. With a long, strong build she has shown speed, good hands, perimeter and mid-range scoring, and an ability to elevate quickly off the catch. Her ability to get position on inbound plays is indicative of her game IQ. Brown hit an overtime game winner from behind the arc.
Lauren Broyles, 5’11”, F, Olpe, Kansas Triple Threat Smith – With good size and build Broyles had her fair share of moments against other bigs on both ends of the floor at the June MAYB Summer Kickoff. If she can improve her post denial positioning; arch on her interior shot; get quicker and faster so she is better able to defend quicker opponents, and show more athleticism Broyles will be a major reason why Olpe will challenge again for championship.
Maci Claycamp Maci Claycamp 5'11" | PF Circle | 2021 State KS , 5’11”, PF, Circle, Kansas United 2021 – 2020 AVCTL Div III second team. Stretch four possibility. Runs the floor well and can take the ball the length of the floor. Can finish and block shots with either hand. Solid interior passer including off the high-low game. Good hands.
Abby Dunsmore Abby Dunsmore 6'0" | PF St. James Academy | 2021 State KS , 6’0″, PF, St. James Academy – Dunsmore was a Eastern Kansas League honorable mention selection in 2020. Head Coach Sammy Paradise describes her as a hard working, versatile player and a shot blocker.
Taria Franklin Taria Franklin 6'0" | PF Wichita Northwest | 2021 State KS , 6″0″, PF, Wichita Northwest, No Boundaries Athletics – MAYB Summer Kickoff (June 2020) – Kept opposing bigs from setting a post-up. Boxed on shots and rebounded well! Strong athlete. Jumps on D a little too often. 2020 Greater Wichita League honorable mention. Good hands. Catches and goes up quickly off entry passes. Quick enough to play at the top of zones to disrupt point guard. Closes out well. Strong free throw shooter. A great deal of upside potential.
Rakailah Hill Rakailah Hill 6'1" | C Wichita Southeast | 2021 State KS , 6’1″, C, Wichita Southeast – A raw talent, Hill has good size; length; and athleticism. She has good north-south transition speed and is a banger defensively. I look forward to seeing more of her in the future to see how her skill set has grown.
Symone Simmons, 5’11”, C, Garden City, Western Kansas Elite 2021 – Simmons is a solidly built talent that playing this summer should help polish her game. Matched up with #13 Karenna Gerber Karenna Gerber 6'0" | PF Halstead | 2021 State KS of Halstead in a July, 11, MAYB tournament game it was evident that she was not as big, strong, nor athletic as Gerber but she competes. Simmons showed good defensive smarts by reading how plays develop. Improving her vertical and her positioning against quicker posts will make her more effective. A good free throw shooter.
Alicia Solis Alicia Solis 5'9" | PF Dodge City | 2021 State KS , 5’9″, PF, Dodge City – Vastly improved in 2020 from 2019. Faster, stronger, an offensive threat. Three point range. Go end-to-end off the rebound and finish with speed and athleticism. Good strength defensively.