Class of 2022 DI Committed Kids: Big Ten & MVC: Ready, Set, Go!
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Continue ReadingThere is no question these five players are prepared to take their game to the DI ranks. I will now take an in-depth, closer look at a couple of our 2022 committed kids in the state of Iowa that have verbally committed to DI colleges in both the Big Ten and Missouri Valley Conference. The day they will be signing on the dotted line is inching closer and closer, and it is a memorable day for these players to be sincerely blessed. All of their hard work, effort, and drive to come out on top through the years has finally paid off. The rigorous time spent in gyms and weight rooms has made them into a successful overall athlete and person both on and off the floor. These kids will be taking their talents to the next level, and will be getting the awesome opportunity of competing against the best of the best. All of these kids have been covered, however, with the AAU season into full swing and the summer circuit approaching us, I would like to discuss each of them in more detail. Let’s check out these hoopers and highlight some of their AAU performances this 2021 season up to this point, as well as some detailed analysis of how they will fit into each of the given programs they are going into. It can be difficult for a first year freshman to make an impact, get into a rhythm, and have a ton of success right from the get-go in a DI women’s basketball program; however, I think these kids that I am going to discuss here could definitely do that if they have the right mindset, a positive attitude, are coachable, and play their cards right. Anything is possible and they could find themselves becoming an integral dimension in each of their programs. Wham!
- Hannah Stuelke Hannah Stuelke 6'2" | PF Cedar Rapids Washington | 2022 State #41 Nation IA , 6’2, F, 2022. Committed: University of Iowa
–Hannah is one phenomenal, versatile player that will be having an immediate impact at the University of Iowa the 2022-2023 season, and there is no question about that. I loved seeing her perform out at the Clash on the Courts tournament a couple of weeks ago, where her AIA team brought home the championship hardware. I’m seeing a very talented player that is continuing to get better and is striving for greatness as she prepares to take her skills to the Big Ten. She is so physical and strong, and can seriously beat you in so many ways. She can dominate you in the paint, but can also put it on the floor and take it to hoop with great finishing ability. U of I puts up a lot of 3 balls and assists during the course of each game, and Hannah will join them in those categories with no problems. I like her capability to shoot the 3 ball, run the floor, and be unselfish and get the ball to teammates; which will make her a lethal and critical player in Coach Lisa Bluder’s style of play. Her athleticism is superb, and her ability to crash the boards and block shots is outstanding. Hannah will join two fellow AIA teammates in Iowa’s 2022 recruiting class, Jada Gyamfi Jada Gyamfi 6'1" | PF Johnston | 2022 State #76 Nation IA and Taylor McCabe. Can you say, “Keen Familiarness, Perceptive Knowledge, and Three Heartbeats Brought Into One?” This is a true statement, as these three kids know each other so well and have experienced so much greatness, honors, and excitement together. They mesh and gel on the court well, and know what each other likes to do, is really good at, etc. Each of these kids are ranked in the Class of 2022 ESPN’s HoopGurlz Top 100 Players, which proves how good they are. This truly is tremendous to bring in three high-level players from the same AAU team, and will no doubt make the program an even better one in years to come. U of I has always had a tremendous women’s basketball program, and with the intake of these 3 talents; I could see them reaching new heights and evolving even more. That is difficult to say, as they have had a lot of success over the years and have always been a top notch DI team. Iowa finished the 2020-2021 season on a high note and had a great season with a 20-10 record, coming up second in the Big Ten Tournament against a very good Maryland team, and making it to the Sweet Sixteen losing to another good UConn team. Amazing tradition in the U of I program, and Hannah will fit in nicely with how they do things. Continue to watch her development this summer, as well as her final HS season next year at CR Washington HS.
2. Jada Gyamfi Jada Gyamfi 6'1" | PF Johnston | 2022 State #76 Nation IA , 6’1, F, 2022. Committed: University of Iowa
–Whenever I look at Jada, I see so many similarities between her and Hannah. In my book, they are like twins and have so many of the same qualities and abilities on the court. Jada is another high-level talent that will making her presence known at the University of Iowa the 2022-2023 season. I also loved her performance out at the Clash on the Courts tournament a couple of weeks ago. She was reigning the 3 ball with consistency and hit so many of them throughout the event. Her movement without the basketball to find open seams and easy opportunities to score makes her a overall threat. Her superiority to be dominant at many positions on the floor will provide so many opportunities for her at Iowa. The coaching staff at U of I will love her ability to score in several ways. Her 3-point shooting is tremendous, and she can get to the rim and finish well. Her capability to rebound the ball and to block many shots is essential, and she has the knack to create a ton of chaos on the defensive end. To be honest, my evaluation of Hannah can easily go hand in hand with Jada’s analysis as well. They are two peas in a pod that share close to the same height, overall strength, and skillset. This kid will thrive right out of gates in Coach Lisa Bluder’s program. Jada will elevate into a terrific player at U of I, and I see her having a quick impact, just like Hannah. Continue to watch Jada’s development this summer, as well as her final HS season next year at Johnston HS.
3. Ava Hawthorne Ava Hawthorne 5'10" | PG Gilbert | 2022 State IA , 5’10, PG, 2022. Committed: Drake University
–Ava is a talented facilitator at point, and is a kid that will keep getting better as years go on. Her upside is tremendous, and I enjoy watching her play. She will also be having an immediate impact at Drake University the 2022-2023 season. Ava will be playing in the MVC, which is a wonderful league with a bundle of top-notch players who are highly skilled. I loved watching her perform at the Clash on the Courts tournament a couple of weeks ago, and I thought she stood out for sure. She hit a lot of 3’s, made a living in transition getting many easy buckets, took the ball hard to the hoop and finished many drives, and utilized her athleticism on both ends of the floor. She is a very intelligent player and has a high basketball IQ. Her passing ability and court sense is also very good, and she can create good opportuntiies for teammates. She will be heading out to Drake Univ. joining a few in-state Iowa kids who will be kicking off their basketball career this Fall in 2021. Ashley Iiams Ashley Iiams 6'1" | PF Ames | 2021 State IA (Ames), Katie Dinnebier Katie Dinnebier 5'7" | PG Waukee | 2021 State IA (Waukee), and Maggie Phipps Maggie Phipps 5'10" | SG North Polk | 2021 State IA (Ankeny Centennial) will be first year freshman this upcoming 2021-2022 season for the Bulldogs. I am pumped to see the success that Drake U. will have in future seasons with so many Iowa kids; and adding Ava to the slate in 2022 will make it a fun program to watch. Drake had a great season this year with a 18-12 record, making it to the championship game of the MVC tournament, but came up short against Bradley. Allison Pohlman, who has been Drake’s assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for 14 years, will now be the head coach at Drake U. Jennie Baranczyk, the former head coach for Drake U., will now be the head coach at Oklahoma University. Ava will thrive playing in Coach Pohlman’s system, and she will have loads of success. Continue to watch Ava’s development this summer, as well as her final HS season next year at Gilbert HS.
4. Taylor Veach Taylor Veach 5'11" | SF Central DeWitt | 2022 State IA , 5’11, G, 2022. Committed: Illinois State University
–Taylor is a high caliber player who can create endless opportunities on both the offensive and defensive end. I have not seen her play this AAU season on video or live, however, I would like to talk about her upside and capabilities she brings to the table to compete at the DI level. She will have an immediate impact at Illinois State University the 2022-2023 season. Illinois State Univ. also competes in the MVC, and has always been a great program in that league just like Drake. They have had tons of talented players go through their program over the years, and many of them have gone on to play professionally overseas. I really love Taylor’s game, and I think she is a special player. She has a nifty handle, and can break down defenders in a flash to get to the rim and finish. She can stroke the 3 ball, and has a pure shot. I like her tenacity on the defensive end too. She has caught the attention of people at the national level, as she was invited to the USA 16U Women’s Basketball Team Trials in Colorado a couple of years ago. I see her becoming a tremendous DI player out on the perimeter. Illinois State Univ. had a great season this year with a 16-9 record. Taylor will fit into Coach Kristin Gillespie’s program nicely, and they will love her versatility out on the wing. Continue to watch Taylor’s development this summer, as well as her final HS season next year at Central DeWitt HS.
5. Reagan Barkema Reagan Barkema 6'0" | SF Roland-Story | 2022 State IA , 6’0, F, 2022. Committed: Bradley University
–Reagan is a pure, highly skilled basketball player with a good feel for the game. She will be making her presence known at Bradley University the 2022-2023 season. Her size and strength will allow her to do many things as a Brave in the MVC. I loved watching her perform at the Clash on the Courts tournament a couple of weeks ago. She was draining 3 balls, demonstrating her enormous amount of athletic ability finishing buckets in transition, ran the floor well, and took the ball to the hoop with aggression. Her tenacity on the defensive end is also evident to me as well, and she plays both sides with the same effort. Bradley Univ. had an outstanding season this year with a 17-12 record, winning the 2021 MVC Tournament against Drake. They received an automatic bid for the program’s first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance. They played a very good Texas team in the first round of the NCAA Tournament and lost 81-62. Big things they got going out in Peoria at Bradley in the women’s basketball program, and Reagan will join them being a crucial element of their continued success as seasons go on down the road. Coach Andrea Gorski is getting a top-notch talent, and Reagan will thrive in her system and style of play. Continue to watch Reagan’s development this summer, as well as her final HS season next year at Roland-Story HS.