Top 10 Stock Risers of 2020
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 added with each refresh advancing, even maintaining ranked position, is a challenge. Players committed to schools for other sports are not included.
Tya Tindall Tya Tindall 5'5" | CG Campus | 2022 State KS , 5’5″, PG, Campus, No Boundaries Athletics – Tindall has blasted up the 2022 ranks 81 spots to #44. Coming into the 2021 season the Colts have won a combined total of five games and Tindall was one of the players looked upon to generate points. And while this year’s team is substantially better than those squads, Tindall still looks to score first and she has the tool box to do it. She is very athletic, quick to the basket, fast in transition with the ball and has deep three point range. Off the dribble she uses very strong handles and head and shoulder fakes to gain the advantage. Defensively fierce, she uses her quickness to generate turnovers and transition baskets. Tindall was a 2020 Ark Valley Chisholm Trail League Div I honorable mention selection.
Saniya Simmons Saniya Simmons 5'1" | PG Olathe North | 2022 State KS , 5’2″, G, Olathe North, Missouri Phenom – Simmons also made a monster-sized advance up the 2022 ranks, gaining 75 spots to #16. Her quickness and speed feed into good transition and half court vision to make good dishes and entry passes. Simmon’s vision is good on the defensive end as well as she is very adept at jumping passing lanes off the ball. A floor leader, she gets the ball down the floor well via the dribble and/or down-the-floor pass. Simmons was a 2020 Sunflower League honorable mention selection averaging 3.9 steals and 2 assists.
Emilia Nworie Emilia Nworie 6'4" | C Sunrise Christian | 2021 State KS , 6’5″, C/PF, Sunrise Christian Academy, Next Level Eclipse – Nworie climbed the most spots, 71, in the 2021 ranks to reach #22. Nworie’s development curve over the past two years has been extremely steep. Growing her perimeter game including range and quickness of her perimeter shot, has driven much of her advancement. Very long with a slighter build, she has the quickness to defend all five positions and is very adept at extending defensively on the wings. She runs, elevates on rebounds, and clears the ball well. Nworie has good hands and shot blocking ability as well. A hard worker, the College of Southern Idaho is gaining a high upside player with a diverse game.
McKenna Simons McKenna Simons 5'8" | CG Blue Valley North | 2021 State KS , 5’11”, SG, Blue Valley North, Missouri Phenom – The 2020 Eastern Kansas League honorable mention gained 69 places to reach #9 in the 2021 class. Wiry and athletic, as my PGH Kansas colleague describes, she has good anticipation on both ends of the floor to rebound, block shots, and to get into position to receive a pass. The latter enables her to jump shoot off the catch beyond the arc or use high screens to dribble and step back. Simons is fast with the ball and keeps her head up to pass down the floor and lead the break. Simons will be taking her game to Grand Canyon University upon graduation.
Natalie Payne Natalie Payne 5'9" | SF Shawnee Mission South | 2021 State KS , 5’9″, SF, Shawnee Mission South, Kansas Elite – Payne was left off the Sunflower League all-league teams a year ago after being selected as honorable mention in 2019. That will change this year. Payne can effectively play multiple positions including, defending opposing power forwards. Tough, physical, and strong, Payne showed at July’s MAYB Reign the Plains event the ability to go end-to-end off the steal and finish versus a chaser. She has a good three point stroke with a quick mid-range. Tough and active she brings many abilities to the table. Payne gained 54 spots to #48 in the 2021 class.
Jaila Harding Jaila Harding 5'7" | CG Wichita Southeast | 2021 State KS , 5’7″, PG, Wichita Southeast, Next Level Eclipse – Harding, who advanced 49 spots to #76 in the 2021 class, garnered substantial attention over the summer including from coaches I spoke with at the MAYB Reign the Plains event. She spaces well, can go end-to-end with the ball while pressured, has a quick shot to go with three point range, and creates well off the dribble. Harding is not a good player to put on the line. The 2020 Greater Wichita League second teamer also earned pool all-star selection in 2020 USJN Battle at the Border pool E.
Isis Sanders Isis Sanders 5'9" | SG Maize South | 2022 State KS , 5’8″, SG, Wichita East, Kansas United – Sanders advanced 49 spots over the year to reach #27 in the 2022 class. Sanders transferred to East to play for her dad after earning Wichita City League first team honors in 2020 at Wichita Northwest. Quick, fast, athletic, smart, durable, and fierce she is a tremendous mid-range scorer as well as around the basket. Once she gets her three point shooting percentage above 35% she will be one of the most difficult players around to defend. She is heady in transition and in the half court. Sanders will also allow a driver to go by to shot block from behind. Would like to see her a tick quicker to help get by quicker guards and sharper in her entry passes.
Gabriella Henderson-Artis Gabriella Henderson-Artis 5'10" | SF Bishop Miege | 2022 State KS , 5’10”, SG/SF, Bishop Miege, Lady Run GMC – Henderson-Artis’ 45 spot advancement up the 2022 class ranks saw her join the top twenty, entering at #19, with an eye on a future top ten. A 2020 Eastern Kansas League second team selection, she garnered substantial attention this summer with her play at exposure events. Long, athletic, and fast coaches homed in on her quickness and decisiveness with the ball off the bounce. With quick hands to pick ball handlers one-on-one, Henderson-Artis has the ability to dominate a match-up on both ends of the floor. She can lead breaks effectively and is a three-point threat.
Ashley Carrillo
Ashley
Carrillo
5'7" | PG
Liberal | 2022
State
KS
, 5’7″, PG, Liberal, GameBall Basketball – Carrillo, who has climbed 45 spots to #20 in the 2022 class, is among the quickest PGs in the state and top players in southwestern Kansas. According to PGH Kansas’ Joel Hannigan she is averaging 18 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals per game. She is also shooting 50% from the field including 36% from three. After missing her freshman year due to injury she is, after enjoying a 5-0 start, 28-0 in her high school career. Besides being about impossible to keep in front of you, as she is adept at drawing defenders out and then blow by them, she creates with speed in transition and uses her quickness to cause turnovers on the defensive end.
Cali Foltz
Cali
Foltz
5'10" | PF
Anderson County | 2021
State
KS
, 5’10”, SF, Anderson County, Khaos – Foltz ended 2020 with a selection to the Pioneer League first team for good reason. With good size, length, and transition speed she can create around the basket with post moves; get into the lane off the bounce; and hit the perimeter shot. Defensively she shines in help-side defense and on the baseline steal from behind ability reminiscent of former Baldwin and Hutchinson Community College star Abby Ogle. Foltz advanced 48 spots to #108 in the 2021 rankings.