Another Dozen 2020 Top Stock Risers
As play resumes across the state take a look at players who have been raising their stock since the November 2019 rankings release. Players will be listed by numbers of positions advanced. Due to the number of players always being…
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Continue ReadingAs play resumes across the state take a look at players who have been raising their stock since the November 2019 rankings release. Players will be listed by numbers of positions advanced. Due to the number of players always being added with each refresh advancing, even maintaining ranked position, is a challenge. Players committed to schools for other sports are not included.
Kisa Unruh Kisa Unruh 5'8" | PG Dodge City | 2021 State KS , 5’9″, PG/SG, Dodge City, Wheat State Elite – After a great summer in which she improved the consistency of her offensive game, Unruh has advanced 38 spots to #32 in the 2021 class. The two-time Western Activities Conference first team selection is going for the hat trick early as she averages 15 points on 51% shooting and 30% from three. She is also racking up 6 rebounds, 3 steals, and 2 assists per game. Her court vision makes her Two time Western Activities Conference first team. Unruh’s court vision in transition and in the half court stands out, making her an effective passer.
Camree Johnson Camree Johnson 5'8" | SF Dodge City | 2022 State KS , 5’8″, W, Dodge City, Western Kansas Elite – Gaining 36 spots to #31 in the 2022 class, Johnson, like Unruh above, was included in my PGH Kansas colleague Joel Hannagan’s article on the top players, statistically in western Kansas so far this season. A Western Activities Conference second team selection a season ago, she is currently shooting 45% from three while averaging 17.5 points. Throughout the summer I enjoyed see how quickly she can get to the hole and finish with contact, run the show at the point, and defend physically and with strength.
Amiah Simmons Amiah Simmons 5'7" | PG Osawatomie | 2021 State KS , 5’8″, PG, Osawatomie, Lady Run GMC – Simmons vaults 35 spots to #17 in the 2021 class. A transfer from Blue Valley Southwest, she earned KBCA 5A honorable mention and Eastern Kansas League second team honors a season ago while averaging 18 points, 3.8 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1.6 steals. She also shot 32% from three and 74% from the line. Through the first four games of the 2021 season she is leading second in the state in scoring at 29.3 points per game and leading the state in steals at 7.3 per game. She is also averaging 6.5 rebounds and 5.8 assists. A fast, athletic, slashing player she has quality handles and decision making abilities. During one event this summer The latter was displayed when she ran a textbook 3-on-2 break from the middle and set the table for a teammate to get an easy layup.
Aubree Dawson Aubree Dawson 5'6" | CG Wichita East | 2022 State KS , 5’6″, PG/SG, Wichita East, Next Level Eclipse – Gaining 33 spots to #43 in the 2022 class, Dawson a smart, tenacious, and creative defender. She moves well off the ball, can score athletically on the move off the catch, light up a defender with multiple deep threes with elevation, and get the ball down the floor with the dribble or the pass. She was a Greater Wichita League honorable mention in 2020.
Lily Kovalcik
Lily
Kovalcik
5'7" | SG
Shawnee Mission South | 2022
State
KS
, 5’7″, SG, Shawnee Mission South, Kansas Elite – Relatively new to the radar, Kovalcik locks up the #100 spot in the 2022 class after gaining 30 spots. When she is not knocking down threes or finishing with athleticism, she does a number of subtle things well. Kovalcik shows the ball well to set up the dribble drive, has good interior vision, can make the touch pass on entry passes, and has a nose for the offensive rebound.
Amaya Perez Amaya Perez 5'7" | CG Dodge City | 2022 State KS , 5’7″, PG/SG, Dodge City, GameBall Basketball – I have enjoyed watching Perez play this summer, including at GameBall Basketball camp in June, and her vaulting 30 spots to #42 in the 2022 class is just the tip of the iceberg. Perez’s stats, due to being a part of a extremely deep Demons back court, are not what is going to garner her attention. What will is her length, ability to anticipate drives and passes to use her hand speed and generate steals, her ability to go end-to-end and finish under pressure, and her handles. Her range and consistency on her perimeter shot continue to improve but what teammates can count on is her ability not just as a scorer and a defensive force but also as a controlled point guard to involves her teammates.
Taedyn Gray
Taedyn
Gray
6'3" | PF
Shawnee Mission West | 2022
State
KS
, 6’2″, C/PF, Shawnee Mission West, Missouri Phenom – The 2020 Sunflower League second teamer gained 28 spots to reach #8 in the 2022 class. She averaged 10 points and 6.1 rebounds after averaging 8.5 rebounds in 2019. Gray’s ceiling is high as she has the energy and diverse skill set, including as a shot blocker, to be a nightmare for her opponents. Strong and with a long build, she can overpower other posts on both ends. Gray rolls well off her screen and has good hands to catch and finish well with contact. She has the ball skills to dribble out of trouble and lead a break with speed. As a shooter she can hit the mid-range and perimeter shot with elevation and quickness. Defensively she is regarded as a good rim protector.
Jennifer Jacobs
Jennifer
Jacobs
6'0" | SF
Kapaun Mt. Carmel | 2021
State
KS
, 6’2″, PF, Kapaun Mt. Carmel,
Next Level Eclipse
– I have enjoyed Jacob’s growth, including in size, over the past two seasons. Her efforts to grow her game made her physically stronger and more physical. Among her improvements have been developing a solid mid-range, pull-up jumper off the bounce. Benedictine College will enjoy how hard she plays on both ends of the floor whether her team is up 20 or down 20. She gained 27 spots to #69 in the 2021 class.
Sophia Gimino
Sophia
Gimino
5'4" | PG
Kapaun Mt. Carmel | 2023
State
KS
, 5’4″, PG, Kapaun Mt. Carmel, Wheat State Elite – A Wichita City League honorable mention selection as a freshman, Giminio had a terrific summer to gain 25 spots to #39. Fast with the ball and able to create off the bounce, she can finish athletically sees the floor well. Club Coach Dwayne Paul stated on twitter 7/5/20 that “She sets the tone for our team on both ends of the floor. She does a great job seeing the floor and playing with great pace.”
Mackenzie Hart
Mackenzie
Hart
5'8" | PG
Olathe West | 2021
State
KS
, 5’7″, PG, Olathe West, KC Dream – Climbing 25 spots to #7 in the 2021 class, The University of Missouri Kansas City commit has been a top player for two years in the Sunflower League. She earned first team selection last season after averaging 10.2 points, 4.5 assists (2nd SFL), and 4 steals (1st SFL). She also was recognized as a Kansas Basketball Coaches Association 6A honorable mention. In 2019 she led the league in steals (3.4 pg) and assists (4.4 pg). PGH Kansas’ Joel Webb wrote a year ago that “Hart has a lot of great skills she displays, but the one area that stands out to me is her vision and instincts.”
Allie Burns
Allie
Burns
5'8" | CG
Bishop Miege | 2022
State
KS
, 5’8″, W, Bishop Miege,
Next Level Eclipse
– I have written previously about how active and pesky Burns is. I first saw her during the Stag’s 2020 4A state championship quarterfinal win over Chapman. Of her eight rebounds seven were offensive, making great use of her ability to elevate when rebounding. At a July MAYB tournament I saw more. She played on the top of presses, used her quick feet and hands to rip away her share of steals, and did an effective job of defending a very strong wing for Victory Christian (MO). Burns climbed 24 spots to #79 in the 2022 class.
Tatum Boettjer Tatum Boettjer 6'2" | PF Derby | 2022 State KS , 6’3″, PF, Derby, Team Lex Breeze – Currently averaging 8.8 points and 5.2 rebounds, Boettjer advanced 21 spots to #65 in the 2022 class. She benefited from her strong play in the open court at the Wichita I-35 Showcase this past September. She showed the ability to lead transition play off the rebound, using solid handles to get down the floor with speed. Boettjer got to the rim, kicked well to wings, dove for return passes and finishes, and pulled up quickly for three. Boettjer can take up space inside when she wants to but could be more decisive with her foot work. I would like to see her get quicker and more physical defending the better scoring post players.