2023 Rankings Update: Top Shooting Forwards
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The Class of 2023 has officially started their senior year of high school and they’ve been practicing as they prepare to play their final season of high school basketball. This class boasts some of the top scorers in the state…
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Continue ReadingThe Class of 2023 has officially started their senior year of high school and they’ve been practicing as they prepare to play their final season of high school basketball. This class boasts some of the top scorers in the state and a ton of talented players that are committed to play at the next level. In fact, 4 of the top 5 shooting forwards have already committed to play at the Division-I level next year and the 5th has 10+ offers on the table currently, so needless to say, there are a lot of elite players in this group. Let’s take a look at those players and what they bring to the court.
Yeast has an extremely impressive resume going into her senior season. She’s won a KHSAA State Championship, been to multiple 2A State Championships, finished as the 12th Region runner-up the past 2 seasons, and the list goes on. Individually, her numbers are as solid as it gets. She shot 52% overall last season while averaging 20.9 ppg and 8.4 rpg. However, she’s one of the most unselfish stars around, so even those impressive numbers are slightly deceiving. Whatever Yeast is asked to do, she does it and she does it well. She’s one of the top defenders in the state and she consistently does the little things on the court. Yeast will certainly be in the conversation for 2023 Miss Kentucky Basketball before she moves on to play at the University at Buffalo.
Another player with an untouchable resume is Ryle’s Abby Holtman Abby Holtman 5’11” | SF Ryle | 2023 State KY . The Cincinatti commit has won a KHSAA State Championship, and been there many times throughout her high school career, and she was on track to help lead them to another state title before COVID cancelled the tournament at the end of her sophomore season. She has been making major impacts on the court since she got to Ryle, and with how many talented players she’s played alongside there, that is saying a lot about Holtman as a player. She can score at all 3 levels and she’s an extremely tough match-up. Everything she does is solid and her work ethic is special. Expect Holtman to finish out her career on a high note.
Feltner is not only her team’s leading returning scorer, but she is the entire state’s leading returning scorer after averaging 26.9 ppg last season. With her numbers and overall talent, there is no doubts that she will be in the consideration for the Miss Kentucky Basketball award at the end of this season. Feltner can get buckets on anyone and she’s proven that time and time again. And she’s done it at a really high level as well. She attempted a lot of field goals last season (609 to be exact), and still managed to have one of the higher field goal percentages around (53.2% overall). The Belmont commit is likely going to average a double-double this season and her career numbers are going to be some of the most impressive ones you can find by the end of this season.
Thomas just keeps getting better and better, and that’s a scary thought because of how talented she is. She helped lead her team to a 31-2 record last season. Thomas led the Mustangs in both scoring and rebounding after averaging 18 ppg and 6 rpg. She shot an outstanding 53.7% overall and 31.2% from 3. And Thomas has multiple talented players around her, so that makes what she’s doing even more impressive. She is so versatile and athletic. The Murray State commit can score at all 3 levels. She can post up smaller players and she can go around or score through bigger players. You cannot sleep on the impact Destiny Thomas Destiny Thomas 5’10” | SF McCracken County | 2023 State KY brings to the floor and she’ll be looking to finish her high school career strong.
West doesn’t always get the attention she deserves, but what she brings to the floor is huge. For starters, she’s a relentless rebounder. If you don’t locate her and move her out of the way, you’re going to be in trouble. However, even when she’s boxed out, she still works and is able to come up with a lot of boards. West has a variety of moves she can use when she gets the ball down low, but she can also stretch a defense with her ability to knock down shots. If the defense doesn’t step out, she shot 35.6% from 3 last season. If they do step out to guard her, she makes good drives to the rim as well. West led Male in scoring and rebounding last season and she will certainly make her presence known again this season.