Class AAAA and AAA Stock Risers for 2021-22 season
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Improvements are part of every sports participant’s game no matter what sport they participate in. For football players, it could mean a better catch rate for wide receivers, a higher pancake total for offensive lineman, or more sacks for a…
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Continue ReadingImprovements are part of every sports participant’s game no matter what sport they participate in. For football players, it could mean a better catch rate for wide receivers, a higher pancake total for offensive lineman, or more sacks for a defensive lineman. In soccer, it could mean improved dribbling, better defense, or better contact on the ball. Basketball carries all the same improvements and seeing as there are only five players on the court at one time, can make a much larger difference, teamwise.
Here are five players in Class AAAA and AAA with stocks on the rise:
CLASS AAAA
Amara Jackson, Huntington, PF, So., 5-11 – Huntington will miss Imani Hickman Imani Hickman 5'11" | PF Huntington | 2022 State WV a little less next season, thanks to Amara Jackson. She’s a very similar type of player to Hickman, capable of guarding wings while playing down low on the post. One thing that stands out most about her is that she always brings her best attitude and effort to the games. She’s always fighting for balls, always looking for shots, and won’t get beat on defense very often. This kid shows so much raw talent. She’s going to add even more to her game this summer with the Thunder and be even more of a threat for the Highlanders in the 2022-23 campaign.
Her final stats for the 2021-22 season: 11.2 points per game, 5.2 rebounds per game, 1.6 assists per game, 2.2 assists per game, 0.7 blocks per game
Trinity Balog Trinity Balog 5'7" | SG Parkersburg | 2024 State WV , Parkersburg, SG, So., 5-8 – Trinity Balog Trinity Balog 5'7" | SG Parkersburg | 2024 State WV formed the third arm of the Big Reds scoring trio alongside Kisten Roberts Kisten Roberts 5'10" | C Parkersburg | 2022 State WV and Brilynn Florence Brilynn Florence 5'6" | SG Parkersburg | 2023 State WV . She melded seamlessly with her teammates. The best thing about her? She wasn’t afraid to take charge if her team needed her to step up. She showed the ability to drive to the bucket, or the comfort to nail the outside shot. She reveled in the big moment. Her teammates fed off that energy. Not just a little bit, but a lot. Imagine more of a big bang out of nowhere situation. That’s more accurate to the energy Balog brought to the team. She finished the year with 12.6 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 1.9 steals per game.
Natalie Daugherty, Wheeling Park, G, So., 5-6 – LaLa Woods and Alexis Bordas Alexis Bordas 5'8" | SG Wheeling Park | 2025 State WV received a lot of attention this season, and rightfully so, but it would be criminal to leave Natalie Daugherty out of the praise.
She grew up just as much as those two, perhaps even more. Asked to take the pressure off the often-well-guarded Woods and Bordas, Daugherty performed her role well. Though quiet on the court, her game spoke for her – often times it was quite loud. Louder than many people probably expected. Park was loaded with good scorers and players, so it was easy to get lost. Daugherty didn’t. She showed off a shooting stroke comparable to Woods and Bordas. She also showed the spotlight didn’t bother her when she hit on 3 of 4 3s against Jefferson in the first round of the state tournament. She’s a quiet, but gritty player who doesn’t mind a lack of spotlight and steps up when her number is called. That is a coach’s dream. She also doesn’t need the ball in her hands to cause trouble on the court. She moves well in the halfcourt set and her defense is solid.
Abby Dillon Abby Dillon 5'4" | PG Woodrow Wilson | 2025 WV , Woodrow Wilson, PG, Fr., 5-4 – Abby Dillon Abby Dillon 5'4" | PG Woodrow Wilson | 2025 WV screams leader when out on the court. Each and every time. Not only in the games where everyone is watching, but in the games where limited people are watching.
What’s so special about Dillon?
How about the fact she showed a lot of confidence and bravery stepping in at point guard this year for head coach Brian Nabors. Keanti Thompson Keanti Thompson 5'4" | PG Woodrow Wilson | 2023 State WV ‘s baffling absence created a hole, and Dillon’s filled it well. She shows off a high basketball IQ when on the floor and picks her shots and spots wonderfully. She never forces anything. She shoots when she thinks her team needs her. And she’s usually always right.
On defense, she’s just as intense.
Lexi Adams Lexi Adams 5'7" | PG Washington Patriots | 2025 State WV , Washington, CG, Fr., 5-7 – Spring Mills’ Preslee Treadway Preslee Treadway 5'8" | SF Greenbrier West | 2025 State WV , Kilah Dandridge Kilah Dandridge 5'8" | CG Saint Maria Goretti (Maryland) | 2025 WV and Washington’s Mary Rivera Mary Rivera 5'4" | PG Washington | 2025 State WV receive much of the attention when it comes to impressive Eastern Panhandle newcomers.
You can’t leave Lexi Adams Lexi Adams 5'7" | PG Washington Patriots | 2025 State WV out of the conversation.
She steps in and immediately makes an impact for the Patriots. She shows off a high basketball IQ that couples well with her knack for finding open teammates. Her visions going to help her see increases in playing time as her teammates won’t have to work as hard to receive an entry pass or regular pass. She has a good feel for the game. She shot 73% from the line and 41% from the field as a freshman in just 17 games. She’s on the way up because her high IQ and shooting accuracy means more playing time. Also, coaches and players can be more open and flexible in play calling with her passing skills on the floor.
Her final stats for the 2021- 22 season: 8.4 points, 2.6 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.9 steals per game.
Honorable Mention: Kyra Brown Kyra Brown 5'4" | CG South Charleston | 2023 State WV , Capital; Dria Parker Dria Parker 5'10" | SF Spring Valley | 2025 State WV and Allie Daniels Allie Daniels 6'1" | PF Spring Valley | 2025 State WV , Spring Valley; Annaniesha Johnson Annaniesha Johnson 5'2" | CG St. Albans | 2025 State WV , St. Albans; Corrin Edsall, Spring Mills; Sadaya Jones, Morgantown; Lily Jordan Lily Jordan 6'0" | PF Morgantown | 2024 State WV , Morgantown; Gabby Parke Gabby Parke 5'9" | CG Buckhannon-Upshur | 2024 WV , Buckhannon-Upshur; Kaitlyn Blake Kaitlyn Blake 5'9" | SF Wheeling Central | 2025 State WV , John Marshall; Sophi Aldridge Sophi Aldridge 5'5" | CG Cabell Midland | 2024 State WV , Cabell Midland; Jayda Turner, Huntington; Mary Rivera Mary Rivera 5'4" | PG Washington | 2025 State WV , Washington; Josie Cross Josie Cross 5'10" | PF Woodrow Wilson | 2025 State WV , Woodrow Wilson; LaLa Woods, Wheeling Park; Kaila Fitzpatrick Kaila Fitzpatrick 5'9" | SG Martinsburg | 2023 State WV , Musselman; Maddie Stull Maddie Stull 5'9" | PF Princeton | 2024 State WV , Princeton; Cadence Stewart Cadence Stewart 5'8" | SG Greenbrier East | 2023 State WV , Greenbrier East; Nasiya Smith Nasiya Smith 5'10" | SF George Washington | 2025 State WV , George Washington; Kierstyn Fore, George Washington
CLASS AAA
Avery Childers Avery Childers 5'10" | PF Robert C. Byrd | 2023 State WV , RCB, PF, Jr., 5-10 – It wouldn’t be a stock-rising list for the 2021-22 season without Robert C. Bryd’s Avery Childers Avery Childers 5'10" | PF Robert C. Byrd | 2023 State WV . She showed immense growth in her game, especially in some of the biggest contest of the season. Against North Marion, in the Eagles’ biggest win of the season, she took over early and never let her team forget they were always in the contest. She’s a very physical player who doesn’t mind doing the bumping and banging around the rim. She prefers it. Each little jostle and jangle fuels her more.
Addison Issacs, Midland Trail, PG, Fr., 5-8 – Here’s a name in the Southern West Virginia basketball scene that fans may want to keep an eye on. Issacs is a kid who gives it all while on the court for her Patriots. She brings a great attitude and even better game to the floor. Her height at point guard allows her to see the entire court and she does just that. There’s no wasting an advantage with her. She rings out all the information from a game or set that she can and uses it to improve her team’s chances. She can score from all 3 levels and should continue to get stronger through the next three years.
Kennedy Schilling, Winfield, C, So., 6-0 – Ah, Kennedy Schilling.
Good at scoring and rebounding. Especially good at it in a very, very short amount of time.
The latest example came this entire past season when she stuffed the stat sheet in just 15 minutes of playing time in 19 games. Behind established post player Kennedy Dean Kennedy Dean 5'10" | PF Winfield | 2022 State WV , Schilling made her presence known on the boards and at the rim. She scored 7.4 points and pulled down 6.3 rebounds per game. Translate that over the course of an entire game and you get numbers closer to 14 points and 12 boards, not too shabby. The best part of Schilling is her all-or-nothing attitude. No one will outwork her on the block. She’s making sure of that. Her build lends itself perfectly to a post player. And being a sophomore, she’s only going to grow and will see more playing time next season.
Halle Crouse Halle Crouse 5'6" | CG Logan | 2025 State WV , Logan, G, Fr., 5-6 – Crouse flashes the beginnings of a great game for Logan fans to look forward to the next three years.
Really.
Big, bright lights hardly bother this freshman.
She’s feeding off them, especially with her team needing her. Look no further than Logan’s run to a state championship. Early in the season, things seemed a little too much. But as the year went on, she grew more and more accustomed to the moment. By the time the Wildcats reached Charleston, the pressure wasn’t a problem. What I like most about Crouse’s game is her tenacity and fearless nature. She’s willing to get a little dirty if it means helping her team out. With a multi-talented approach, she gets the job done on so many different levels.
Ashlyn Riley Ashlyn Riley 5'8" | SF Lincoln | 2024 State WV , Lincoln, G, So., 5-7 – Riley is fresh off her second season with Lincoln – one where she was an integral part of the Panthers’ attack. The biggest part of her offensive game is the ability to attack the rim and pop out from behind screens for quick 3s. She’s not afraid to drive down the lane, slice through defenders, and put up a fancy lay-up if need be. She delivers all around hustle and thrives being in
Honorable Mention: Brooke Craft, PikeView; Riley Meadows, PikeView; Carleigh Curotz Carleigh Curotz 5'11" | PF Robert C. Byrd | 2024 State WV , Robert C. Byrd; Kora McBridge, Hampshire; McKennan Hall, Ripley; Savannah Walls Savannah Walls 5'9" | PF North Marion | 2025 State WV , North Marion; Kynna Britton Kynna Britton 5'10" | CG Sissonville | 2025 State WV , Sissonville; Keiera Wilkinson Keiera Wilkinson 6'0" | PF Wheeling Central | 2023 State WV , Wheeling Central; Daizi Farley Daizi Farley 5'2" | PG Chapmanville | 2025 WV , Chapmanville; Emma Widmeyer Emma Widmeyer 5'7" | CG Berkeley Springs | 2025 WV , Berkeley Springs; Antonela Johnson, Winfield; Addie Adkins Addie Adkins 5'11" | PF Wayne | 2025 State WV , Wayne; Emma Elliott Emma Elliott 5'10" | CG Liberty | 2024 State WV , Liberty