Wichita Area Standouts : A Updated Look at the Top 10 2023s
It has been a full year since I have turned my attentions to share a look at the top Wichita area 2022s. But as with last year, being early into summer ball and looking ahead to senior seasons, it is…
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Continue ReadingIt has been a full year since I have turned my attentions to share a look at the top Wichita area 2022s. But as with last year, being early into summer ball and looking ahead to senior seasons, it is a good time to take a quick look at the top ten and short list of those making their case to climb into it. The list is primarily reflective of the February rankings release, which saw 40 additional prospects added. The total now stands at 160. With the next release scheduled to drop sometime in late June to mid-July, information newer than the February release does have an impact.
Players from a defined set of 24 schools, as introduced in a August 2020 article, are included.
#1 Maryn Archer Maryn Archer 5'8" | PG Derby | 2023 #29 Nation KS , 5’9″, PG, Derby – The future Arkansas Razorback, and #6 ranked player in the state, was starting to follow up on her huge 2020 season when she went down with an injury five games into the 2021 season. She came back at full strength and then some this past season, leading the Panthers to the 6A championship game where they lost to a very experienced, balanced Washburn Rural squad. Following the year she was again selected to the Ark Valley Chisholm Trail League Division I first team. She also earned a honorable mention selection from Kansas Basketball Coaches Association, as she did in 2020. As Archer goes, so goes the Panthers as she has long been their floor leader. A major characteristic of her game is that she plays with composure – head up, controlled, deliberate about looking at openings and options. Archer is strong off the bounce, able to split defenders, and drops dimes to teammates. She also has a very strong offensive arsenal including step-back, floater, jumper, and three-point shot.
#2 Addyson Brown Addyson Brown 6'2" | PF Derby | 2023 State #44 Nation KS , 6’2″, CG, Derby, PBR Lex Nation – The Iowa State University commit wrapped up another strong season. After earning KBCA honorable mention honors following the 2020 season Brown has not been selected to the 6A first team two years running. She also repeated as first team AVCTL Div I, also being selected as player of the year. Ranked #7, the physically strong player uses her frame well to power through a defense, and finish around the basket. A streaky three point threat, she works to beat defenders off the dribble. In the mid-range and closer she is effective at putting together multiple moves and using her ball skills to create shots.
#3
Sophia Gimino
Sophia
Gimino
5'4" | PG
Kapaun Mt. Carmel | 2023
State
KS
, 5’4″, PG, Kapaun Mt. Carmel, Wheat State Elite – Since rocketing up the ranks prior to last summer, Gimino has settled into a top 20 player in the class. At #16 in the class, Gimino is one of the most complete, all-around players I have seen. A terrific floor leader, she has a deep understanding of her role as the point guard. High IQ player is an understatement. After graduation losses following the 2021 season, Gimino stepped up to lead and at time carry her young team. Among her abilities, she is fast with the ball, creates off the bounce, finishes athletically, gets air under the ball on all shots, sees the floor well and is unflappable against full court pressure. A first team Wichita City League selection, Gimino is uncommitted.
#4 Avery Lowe Avery Lowe 6'3" | PF Maize South | 2023 State KS , 6’3″, PF, Maize South, SSA Gameball Basketball 17U – Lowe not only advanced to #23, she also moved up a spot in the Wichita area rankings. The University of Nebraska – Kearney has landed a terrific player. Lowe is a long, athletic, versatile, and is a better player every time I see her. She has range beyond the arc, is a consistent mid-range shooter, and uses her threat as a shooter to use post moves away from the basket to help her get a step to drive to the basket. Defensively, she continues to grow in physicality in defending big, physical posts. Lowe also boxes very well to set herself up for rebounds. Lowe earned AVCTL Div I first team honors this past season.
#5 Landon Forbes Landon Forbes 5'7" | PG Bishop Carroll | 2023 State KS , 5’6″, PG, Bishop Carroll, SSA Gameball Basketball 17U – A player whose game has exploded, Forbes is not the same player I saw in February. She has gone from a player who, despite her talent, did not have a strong presence on the floor to one that is consistently showing elite quickness and speed as well as playing with purpose. Forbes dropped substantially in the February release because of her play and will rocket back up in the next for the same reason. She reminds me a great deal of Hutchinson Community College PG Janaya Washington other than Forbes is not the great perimeter shooter Washington is. A first team Wichita City League selection, Forbes does need to prove she can score effectively and consistently at all levels. Opponents are frustrated with her defensive quickness and inability to stay in front of her. She also beats people down the floor with the ball and is improving as a play maker. Slightly built, Forbes will need to get stronger to absorb contact.
#6 Maddi Amekporfor Maddi Amekporfor 5'11" | PF Andover Central | 2023 State KS , 5’11”, PF, Andover Central, Missouri Phenom 17U EYBL — Ranked #25 in the class, Amekporfor was an impact player as a freshman and continues to be a force, becoming a two-time AVCTL Div II second team selection following this past season. She is an effective post defender and is fast in transition. Amekporfor can finish around the basket with either hand and is an effective rebounder. I am really watching for her to break out this summer as she has the potential to be a highly sought post player at the next level.
#7 Weronica Tomaszuk Weronica Tomaszuk 6'0" | SF Life Prep | 2023 State KS , 6’0″, SG, Life Prep – Despite dropping two spots in the area rankings, Tomaszuk is solid #32 in the class. Coach Jeff Henry describes her as a guard “… who can score at all three levels. She also has great lateral movement which will allow her to defend a very athletic three or two…” Tomaszuk has a solid frame and good length. She has a fluid release off the catch.
#8 Addison Verbeck Addison Verbeck 5'7" | PG Eisenhower | 2023 State KS , 5’7″, CG, Eisenhower — A three-time AVCTL Div II honorable mention selection, Verbeck jumped two spots in the city rankings and climbed twenty spots in the class to #43. She is heady and fast in transition, especially hustling back to disrupt a fast break. Verbeck handles well under back court pressure and will quickly hit the downtown three off the catch. Needs to pull the trigger quicker though. On the other end, she has quick hands to create steals in the half-court.
#9
Sophia Lopez
Sophia
Lopez
5'10" | CG
Life Prep | 2023
State
KS
, 5’10”, CG, Life Prep – The MVP of the Kansas Christian Athletic Association state tournament, Lopez is new to the radar and is slotted in the rankings at #61. Coach Jeff Henry offers that she defends opposing point guards, is best when off the bounce, and has D I potential.
#10 MaKayla McClellan MaKayla McClellan 5'4" | CG Wichita South | 2023 State KS , 5’4″, PG, Sunrise Christian – McClellan, ranked #90, is a player that drew solid attention last summer from Prep Girls Hoops scouts last summer. Jason Green selected her as a PGH Dynasty Regional Finals 16U honorable mention, describing her as a “…player that every team needs.” He added that “She is just a baller, plain and simple. She is extremely quick with the ball in her hands. Her first step is great at throwing her defender off balance and she clearly relishes the one-on-one challenge that comes with playing guard at a high level. She has a great pull-up jumper that she uses when her defender is off-balance and scared of the “blow by.” She is a vocal leader and the heart of this squad who can fill it up from all three levels. She is also a tremendous passer with the vision to run any offense and play defense against the best players the other team has to offer. McClellan turned a lot of coaches heads at the Dynasty Region Finals and if you haven’t seen her play in person yet, you’re going to want to.” At the same event Shayla Smith said she “…is one of the quickest guards seen so far. Knows how to attack the basket and finish strong through contact. Has the ability to shoot the pull up jump shot and the 3 ball. Showed her leadership at the point guard position and hustles on both ends of the court.” I like her solid three-ball stroke off the transition catch.
Those just outside the top 10 in class rank order.
#105
Addison Martin
Addison
Martin
CG
Life Prep | 2024
State
KS
, CG, Life Prep,
Next Level Eclipse
#109
Allana Nobles
Allana
Nobles
5'5" | CG
Wichita South | 2023
KS
, 5’5″, G, Wichita South
#118
Jada Harvey
Jada
Harvey
5'11" | SF
Wichita Southeast | 2023
KS
, 5’11, SF, Wichita Southeast
#123
Ali Coash
Ali
Coash
5'4" | SG
Valley Center | 2023
State
KS
, 5’4,” PG/SG, Valley Center
#124
Tara Wills
Tara
Wills
5'6" | PG
Trinity Academy | 2023
State
KS
, 5’6″ PG, Trinity Academy
#125
Erihana Vincent
Erihana
Vincent
6'0" | C
Wichita Collegiate | 2023
State
KS
, 6’0″, C, Wichita Collegiate