Day 1 17U Forwards and Centers at Battle in the Sunflower
A dozen 17U under teams took the floor Saturday at Wichita Hoops. Among the division standouts where this pool of post players and small forwards. KaMyra Barber KaMyra Barber 5'9" | PG Wichita Heights | 2025 State KS , 5’9″,…
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Continue ReadingA dozen 17U under teams took the floor Saturday at Wichita Hoops. Among the division standouts where this pool of post players and small forwards.
KaMyra Barber KaMyra Barber 5'9" | PG Wichita Heights | 2025 State KS , 5’9″, SF, Sunrise Christian Academy (KS), Kansas Bluejays, 2025 – While Barber is included in a small forward capacity it should be noted that she can be plugged into any one of four positions on either end. She showed good strength and athleticism, handles, range on her three ball, scoring ability, and activeness defensively to defend those same four positions. Barber was a consistent presence on the floor.
Daphne Bracker-Sturm Daphne Bracker-Sturm 6'3" | C Lawrence | 2023 State KS , 6’3″, C, Lawrence (KS), KC Royalty 2023 – Since last seeing her at the PGH Midwest Melee several weeks back Bracker-Sturm worked to get in better shape, get quicker, and improve her overall post game on both ends of the floor. Her work paid off to the reported two game total of 19 points, 19 rebounds, 5 blocks, and 3 assists. She saw plays develop and helped well defensively, walled up well on drivers and interior scoring attempts, and put together a couple post moves to create her own shot inside. Against quicker post players she effectively used her feet, size, and length to disrupt. With the ball inside she drew numerous fouls because defenders could not overcome her size and her position to stop her. On the boards, Bracker-Sturm did a solid job of clearing rebounds to her point guards.
Jaylee Christian, 6’2″, C, Stillwater (OK), Graham’s Shooting Stars, 2024 – Christian caught my eye at the Dynasty Region Finals several weeks back and today showed growth and consistency in all areas. Not only can her size and length not be missed but she also showed transition speed, hustle, soft hands, and an ability to finish off the catch while on the move. She took up a lot of space on both ends when she spread out but particularly on the block post-up. What really caught my eye was her ability to defend on the perimeter with consistent quickness and balance. Christian is nowhere near her ceiling so look … out.
Stephie-Safi Salumu Stephie-Safi Salumu 6'0" | SF The Independent | 2024 State KS , 6’0″, PF, Sunrise Christian Academy (KS), Kansas Bluejays, 2024 – While Salumu is usually quiet on the floor she can create a lot of noise in flurries with her game. With good size, speed, and overall skill set finished with athleticism with either hand and used her quick feet to create out of her face-up and back-to-basket game. She showed decent strength as well. Where Salumu creates her wow moments was with her passing. She made the crisp near no-look pass in a 3-on-2 break and hit teammates around the basket with soft but quick dishes and high-low looks.
Mady Swayze, 5’11”, SF, Hooker (OK), Western Kansas Elite Adigun/Fyler, 2023 – Swayze turned some heads today with her speed with the ball, handles in transition, and with her perimeter shooting. She also showed defensive quickness and good ability to defend on the high screen plays. A great moment was on a 3-on-2 break she started attacking a defender, drawing them a step, then crossed over to slip past and finish left.
Featured image: Lawrence and KC Royalty 2023 Daphne Bracker-Sturm Daphne Bracker-Sturm 6'3" | C Lawrence | 2023 State KS , white right, and anSunrise Christian Academy and Kansas Bluejays 2024 Stephie-Safi Salumu Stephie-Safi Salumu 6'0" | SF The Independent | 2024 State KS , right blue. Photo: Robert Kelly.