Wichita Area Standouts : A Look at the Top 10 2021s
Drawing from the 24 schools introduced in my previous article about schools included in the Prep Girls Hoops Kansas ranked list of Wichita Area players, I will kick things off with a look at the 2021 top ten. Wichita Heights…
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Continue ReadingDrawing from the 24 schools introduced in my previous article about schools included in the Prep Girls Hoops Kansas ranked list of Wichita Area players, I will kick things off with a look at the 2021 top ten.
#1
Laniah Randle
Laniah
Randle
5'9" | SF
Wichita Heights | 2021
State
KS
, 5’9″, W, Wichita Heights, Wheat State Elite Ferguson — Randle is a 2020 Kansas Basketball Coaches Association (KBCA) 6A honorable mention selection after earning the same honors the year before in 5A. She is also a two-time Wichita City League first team selection. As PGH’s Israel Potoczny noted in a March article, she can do a little bit of everything well. With good length for her height, Randle uses it to her advantage on both ends of the floor to generate turnovers; rebound; pressure opponents; and to shoot over defenders. At June’s MAYB Summer Kickoff her consistency in all aspects of her game were noticeable. She is a high IQ player with the ability to dribble out of trouble in the back court. Randle is currently ranked #3 statewide in the class and is uncommitted.
#2 Ella Anciaux Ella Anciaux 6'4" | C Kapaun Mt. Carmel | 2021 State KS , 6’4″, C, Kapaun Mt. Carmel, Next Level Eclipse KC 17U Bluestar — Staying home to play for Wichita State University, the #8 ranked player in Kansas made my summer 2021 all-Kansas team. Recently selected as a pool A 17U all star at the US Junior Nationals Battle at the Border, she is also a returning first team Wichita City League selection. In 2019, she was a KBCA 5A second team selection. She averaged 20 points, 11 rebounds, and 3 blocks in 2020. Some abilities that stood out when I saw her at a July 11 MAYB Tournament were her hands and quickness. Repeatedly she helped from the weak side on drives to shut them down while on the other end caught passes in all sorts of situations around the lane.
#3
Jaidyn Schomp
Jaidyn
Schomp
6'3" | PF
Derby | 2021
State
KS
, 6’3″, SF, Derby, Wheat State Elite Ferguson — The Missouri Western University bound Schomp earned honorable mention honors in the Ark Valley Chisholm Trail Div I league in 2020. She is an athletic big with the ability to play and defend all five positions. A three point and mid-range perimeter threat, her ball skills to attack are usually set up well. Schomp has improved her rebounding in the past year and is a difficult match-up who will be that much more difficult as she continues to get stronger. She is currently ranked #15 in the class.
#4 Sydney Holmes Sydney Holmes 5'9" | CG Maize | 2021 State KS , 5’9″, W, Maize, Next Level Eclipse 2021 Holmes — Pittsburg State University picked up a high motor player with defensive smarts and jump shooting ability. I was able to see Holmes play a couple times over the summer. She is a player who will out-hustle opponents and do the dirty defensive work. Holmes rebounds, boxes, and helps well from the weakside. While she is a known perimeter threat who can also get into the lane, what she showed off was her motor and defensive smarts. Holmes is 2020 KBCA 5A second team all-state after earning honorable mention in 2019. She also is a returning AVCTL Div I first team player who earned second team in 2019. Holmes is ranked #16 in the class.
#5
Austin Broadie
Austin
Broadie
6'2" | SF
Wichita Trinity Academy | 2021
State
KS
, 6’2″, PF/W, Trinity Academy, Wheat State Elite Crain — The two-time Central Plains League first teamer is also a returning KBCA 3A second team selection. She was a 4A honorable mention selection in 2019. Broadie’s stock has risen substantially over the summer. She has always had the ability to play multiple positions, go end-to-end with speed and finish, and be a nightmare to defend because of it. What I finally saw this summer was improved strength and physicality around the basket and growth in her back-to-basket game. Her defensive quickness is not to be underestimated as she used it to good effect helping on basket attacks from the weak side. Ranked #19 in the state, Broadie is committed to play basketball and volleyball at Washburn University.
#6 Bailey Wilborn Bailey Wilborn 5'7" | CG Andover Central | 2021 State KS , 5’8″, G, Andover Central, Next Level Eclipse KC 17U Bluestar — The University of Maine bound Wilborn earned KBCA 5A honorable mention and AVCTL Div II first team honors in 2020. A lefty with good bounce in transition, she is a scorer who can use either hand well; has a quick first step; and can shoot quickly off the catch. In 2020 she averaged 13.4 points while shooting 38% from behind the arc (61 made). She also had a strong 1.91 assists to turnover ratio. Wilborn is currently ranked #26 in the state.
#7
Brooke Sullivan
Brooke
Sullivan
5'4" | CG
Goddard | 2021
State
KS
, 5’4″, CG, Goddard — Sullivan returns for her senior year as a two time ACTVL Div II second teamer. In 2020 she averaged 13.1 points, 3.6 assists, and 2.2 steals and shot 76% from the line. Sullivan has three point range and can finish at the rim with either hand. On the other end she has off-ball anticipation to generate turnovers. She has averaged more than two steals the last two seasons. Uncommitted, Sullivan is ranked #33 in the class.
#8 Olivia Wedman Olivia Wedman 6'0" | C Maize | 2021 State KS , 6’0″, PF, Maize, Wheat State Elite — In the past year Wedman has grown her game on both ends and gained strength. I also saw over the summer an ability to seal and call for the ball well in her block game. She changes ends quickly, blocks shots, and just plays hard on both ends. Committed to Washburn University, Wedman is ranked #39 in the state.
#9 Jaden Newfarmer Jaden Newfarmer 5'9" | CG Andover Central | 2021 State KS , 5’9″, G/F, Andover Central, Wheat State Elite Crain — Yet another Washburn University commit is Newfarmer. Newfarmer happens to be the returning state leader in assists (140) and assists to turnover ratio (4.24). What I saw from her this summer was an ability to use a step back jumper off the bounce, quick hands, good speed with the ball in transition, and the ability to finish with both hands. Improvement in getting her feet set will be key to increasing her three point percentage. Newfarmer is ranked #50 overall.
#10
Katelyn Kennedy
Katelyn
Kennedy
5'7" | CG
Wichita Southeast | 2021
State
KS
, 5’8″, G, Wichita Southeast, Central Impact Athletics (CIA) Elite — Israel Potoczny reported in March about her quarterfinal state play against Shawnee Mission Northwest. A transfer from Derby, Kennedy is among the best defensive players in the state, commonly drawing an opponent’s best guard. The 2020 AVCTL Div I honorable mention selection also has game on the other end. An athletic three-point shooter, she moves well without the ball, and transitions well on both ends. Kennedy is ranked #55.