2021 Top 25 Breakdown: Best Passers
In an effort to highlight the the PGH Nebraska rankings in the most complete way possible, I’ve divided the 2021 class into 3 ranges: 1-25, 26-50, and outside the top 50. For each range I have chosen who I think…
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Continue ReadingIn an effort to highlight the the PGH Nebraska rankings in the most complete way possible, I’ve divided the 2021 class into 3 ranges: 1-25, 26-50, and outside the top 50. For each range I have chosen who I think are the best shooters, rebounders, passers, and scorers – 5-6 players for each category – and identified what makes them successful. Here are the best senior passers ranked in the top 25.
Allison Weidner Allison Weidner 5'10" | PG St. Francis Humphrey | 2021 State #97 Nation NE
Position: PG Height: 5’10” 2019-2020 Pts./Reb./Ast.: 25.2/6.1/6.5
First on this list is the best passer, and best player in the 2021 class. Allison relentlessly pushes the pace and her rebounding ability fuels her assist numbers lots of times. She grabs the board, races up court, and bobs and weaves through defenders until someone pops open. She can sling it with both hands and also shows touch on entry and skip passes. Her ball-handling fuels her entire game, but specifically lets her quickly get the ball off from many angles to create buckets.
Ava Kuhl Ava Kuhl 5'8" | SF Scotus Central Catholic | 2021 State NE
Position: SF Height: 5’8″ 2019-2020 Pts./Reb./Ast.: N/A
The Scotus wing is very quick off the dribble and she gets into the lane frequently. She drives and kicks out to open shooters, or often can find an easy dump-off for layup when the interior defense gets distracted after she beats her defender. Using fakes, she opens up passing lanes and is a reliable transition player.
Jillian Aschoff Jillian Aschoff 5'6" | CG Pius X | 2021 State NE
Position: CG Height: 5’6″ 2019-2020 Pts./Reb./Ast.: 11/3.7/5.8
Jillian is an gifted scorer, but I get the sense she enjoys distributing the basketball more than scoring it. When she has advantages, she milks them, not settling for a pretty good shot, but putting the defense in further rotation and getting a great look. Her strength in transition is not speed, but her handle and footwork. She changes directions without much wasted movement and will get multiple levels of defenders out-of-position thanks to her probing ability.
Kyra Fischer Kyra Fischer 5'9" | PF South Sioux City | 2021 State NE
Position: PF Height: 5’9″ 2019-2020 Pts./Reb./Ast.: 14/4.4/4
There is a specific assist Kyra made over and over again last season that landed her on this list. She would take her defender off the dribble, usually going left, and just at the moment the other big stepped her way to help, she’d quickly toss a live-dribble pass to the big who was just open enough. Another valuable part of her game is the post entry pass. As a more versatile and rangy forward, she can invert the defense and give the center plenty of room to operate.
Grace Haneborg Grace Haneborg 5'8" | CG North Platte | 2021 State NE
Position: CG Height: 5’8″ 2019-2020 Pts./Reb./Ast.: 18.6/6.9/4.4
Grace is very well-rounded and brings value to every part of the game. While dissecting her passing, I think a lot of her advantages arise from her great movement without the basketball. When a player cuts at the right time, the defender is temporarily removed from their assignment, and this often time leads to temporary defensive weaknesses elsewhere when other defenders have to cover for that first disadvantage. Grace creates so many of those situations, and seems to anticipate them happening, because when she gets the ball she knows whether to give it up immediately to an open teammate, to drive into open space and create from there, or to react in any other way she sees fit.