WICHITA, KS–The ability to objectively and accurately evaluate prospects is a hallmark attribute of successful college recruiters.  Rankings, while fun to debate and use as a tool, are meaningless in comparison to the keen eye of a strong evaluator, and evaluating talent is a holistic exercise; how does the player you’re watching now compare with the player you just saw two games ago, compared with the player you saw yesterday against different competition in a different gym?  That is the riddle strong evaluators solve correctly more often than not, which means they pay close attention.  It should come as no surprise that strong recruiters are rarely on their phones while watching games (except to perhaps look up information on a player) and can carry on a conversation with an adjacent coach without taking her or his eyes off the court.

The first spring evaluation weekend of 2017 provided college coaches with just that opportunity in Wichita.  Coaches were able to maximize their time covering both the USJN Great Plains Qualifier and the MAYB Exposure Hall of Fame Showcase held just 10 minutes apart from each other. Below are some of the players who caught our eye in Kansas last weekend.

Emily Acton – 2022 – 5-6 – Wing – (Cimarron, KS – Next Level Eclipse 13 Blue) – Raw player still learning the game but showed potential for growth, both basketball-wise and physically…Excellent length and shoe size signifies inches to come…Showed adept play at high post and pursued rebounds…Emphasis on playing lower to the floor will go a long way

Sarah Bingham – 2020 – 6-2 – Forward – (Fairway, KS – Next Level Eclipse 14 Red) – Lanky five who showed good pursuit on ORB opportunities…Keeps ball high on catches and boards…Finesse mentality will improve with commitment to upper body strength development

Brittany Brickhouse – 2019 – 5-8 – Wing – (Wichita, KS – TMK Phenom 17 White) – Athletic slasher with Inspector Gadget length…Defensive impact – overplays passing lanes for runouts…Open court speed…Would be excellent in pressing system 

Jadyn Byrd – 2019 – 6-3 – Center – (Broken Arrow, OK – Team Spirit 15) – Big body post…Active on the boards…Runs floor well…Showed off soft hands…Needs to keep ball high to prevent defensive interference…Dump-off scorer that could evolve

Brooke Carlson – 2018 – 6-2 – Forward/Center – (Elkhorn, NE – Lasers 17U Gold) – Strong-body banger…Not a great leaper…Surprising quickness and excellent change of speed on low post reception…Poise on catch with chin-and-check…Can bury defenders…Can also counter with up-and-under and reverse finishes

Avery Crouse – 2019 – 5-10 – Guard – (Sachse, TX – North Texas Lights Out 2019 Elite) – Slender, long guard/wing with smooth game…Showed attacking skills off the wing and in transition…Three-point range is there…Could be major impact player when she fills out 

Becky Delgado Fabre – 2018 – 6-0 – Wing – (Overland Park, KS – Next Level Eclipse 17 Blue Star) – Athletic Euro-style wing with slash game…Plus first step with blow-by ability…Solid frame allows her to accept contact with finish…Creative finisher around rim…Utilizes reverse layup with success…Left-hand is non-existent

Taylor Dement – 2019 – 5-5 – Point Guard – (Sapulpa, OK – PWP 17 Red) – Morgan William-type scoring point guard…Fearless mentality and quick trigger…Small package who gets to spots on floor…Avoids having shot challenged…Pull-up game serves her well…Can stop and pop from range as well as in paint…Further development of floater will come in handy

Emilee Ebert – 2019 – 6-0 – Wing/Forward – (Frankfort, KS – Ohlde Elite 2019) – Crafty 4/3 who uses body to create space for scoring opportunities (spin moves)…Sneaky elevation with hang time…Has a tendency to drift offensively, minimizing impact

Jasmine Gaines – 2018 – 5-8 – Guard – (Denver, CO – Mile Hi Magic Platinum) – Athletic guard with good quicks and open court game…Valuable in pressure man-to-man or pressing unit…Excellent change of direction on defensive end…Could serve lockdown defender role well 

Angelique Gall – 2018 – 5-10 – Forward – (Fruita, CO – U17 WS CO Premier Red) – Hardest worker witnessed over the weekend…Undersized post who is a gamer and competes on every play…Took multiple charges…Would lead league in floor burns…Plays with fire…Sneaky elevation around basket…Dump off option offensively…Would benefit from developing reverse pivot face up game

Katie Glatczak – 2018 – 5-7 – Point Guard – (Centralia, KS – Ohlde Elite 2018) – Scrappy PG…Maximizes physical ability…Executes in half court…Rugged frame absorbs contact…Limited individual offense 

Johnni Gonzalez – 2019 – 5-5 – Point Guard – (Kansas City, MO – Next Level Eclipse 17 Blue Star) – Exciting, go-go point guard…Endless energy…Thrives in up-tempo game…Penetrates to dish…Always seeking dump-off and kick opportunities…Sometimes tries to thread needle through closed off space…Midrange is there but leans forward on shot and lowers release point

Madison Hema – 2019 – 6-2 – Forward – (Castle Rock, CO – Mile Hi Magic Platinum) – Agile 5/4 with impressive poise…Quick second jump ability…Good defensive length…Putback threat on offense…Walls up tall and challenges shots on the defensive end…Could become primary low post option in right college system

Ashlon Jackson – 2022 – 5-10 – Point Guard/Guard – (China, TX – HTX Fire 16 Rodriguez) – Ultra-mature framed guard would easily be confused with high school senior…Ran point and delivered on-time/on-target passes to open players while still creating her own offense…Very unselfish…Has blow-by ability and nightmare strength for defenders…Deep three range…Clean, effortless release…Elite prospect…Watch closely

Trinity Knapp – 2019 – 6-3 – Forward – (Shawnee, KS – Next Level Eclipse 17 Blue Star) – Solid framed forward…Understands help-side concepts and rotates off white line to cut off baseline drive…Walls up defensively and challenges shots…Showed occasional 15-foot range on shot…Self-confidence will go a long way

Brooke Lansford – 2018 – 5-7 – Point Guard – (Overland Park, KS – Les Chats U16) – Tough-as-nails point guard…Plays through contact despite slender frame…High motor and aggressive in transition…Hit step back jumper with clean release…Bigger players at position could cause defensive issues

Dariauna Lewis – 2018 – 6-1 – Forward – (Omaha, NE – Hoops Elite) – Explosive runner/leaper…Has putback ability on ORB…Lob option on high post seal in low post or baseline plays…Rip drive from high post with low-and-long first step…Go-get-it type scorer…High motor with personality…Offensive game will continue to develo

Ryann Lewis – 2018 – 6-2 – Forward – (Denver, CO – Mile Hi Magic Gold) – Strong low post prospect…Space-eater game…Presents big target in low post with poise on catch…Drop step game is tough if defender is caught on hip…Soft hands and touch around rim…Would struggle in run-and-gun system

Laura Macke – 2018 – 6-1 – Forward – (Baileyville, KS – Ohlde Elite 2018) – Impressively framed face up forward…Fluid athleticism…Secures rebounds and starts break…Can handle and push in transition…Excellent hand-eye coordination…Runs extremely well and doesn’t tire…Disappears in stretches offensively…Still establishing level

Selah Merkle – 2021 – 5-10 – Forward – (Salina, KS – Chaos 15) – Big body physical post…Patient on low post catch…Showed poise on drop step…May need to develop perimeter skills if height stays same

Haylee Mitchell – 2021 – 5-9 – Forward – (Tulsa, OK – PWP 14) – Athletic runner/leaper…Showed off some back-to-basket ability…Elevates to score…Understands post position and how to release to ball on catch

Mariah Murdie – 2018 – 6-3 – Forward – (Meriden, KS – Ohlde Elite 2018) – Long-limbed, lean forward…Active on the floor and battles for boards on both ends…Offensive game needs continued refinement…Could be a sleeper for programs committed to skill development

Jaden Newfarmer – 2021 – 5-7 – Guard – (Wichita, KS – Next Level Eclipse 13 Orange) – Combo guard…Demonstrated strong IQ…Surprising athleticism and quickness…Plays head up in transition and leads teammates to rim with enough air under ball…Excellent passer – passes are on-time/on-target…Has three-point range but needs to fix guide hand to prevent continued knuckleball on shot…Instinctual player

Chandler Prater – 2019 – 5-10 – Guard – (Kansas City, MO – Kansas Elite 17U Kane) – Aggressive, stout scoring guard…Demonstrated ability to get to her spots on the floor…Gets defender on hip for contact on drive…Creative finisher at rim…Ogunbowale (Notre Dame) style in theory but needs consistency in practice….Could be an elite scorer in class

Kortlyn Rounkles – 2018 – 5-8 – Guard – (Chillicothe, MO – Next Level Eclipse 17 Red) – Competitive off-guard with strong IQ…Deep range three-pointer with effortless release…Rotation is extremely tight and is very accurate…Accelerates well in open court…Gamer who plays hard

Sofia Semon – 2021 – 5-9 – Forward – (Gardner, KS – Next Level Eclipse 14 Red) – Lanky four with aggressive strain…Active around rim…showed impressive shot blocking timing on weakside rotation…Cocks shot on shoulder and shotputs…Needs to smooth out shooting form by way of single-motion release

Asiyha Smith – 2019 – 5-7 – Guard – (Conway, AR – Mavericks Ludgood) – Aggressive, small package guard…Battler mentality…Clean shooting stroke will continue to yield perimeter scoring opportunities…Pounds ORB from perimeter…Gets to FT line on putback opportunities

Payton Verhulst – 2020 – 6-1 – Wing/Forward – (De Soto, KS – Next Level Eclipse 17 Blue Star) – Elite prospect in class…Long, agile slasher…Displays impressive level of poise, skill with the ball and IQ at age…More than enough speed and leaping ability to compete against elite runner/leaper athletes…Picks spots to attack and understands how get into space and avoid defense…Crafty finisher with both hands…Three-point range and doesn’t force…Will be interesting to see how true midrange game develops

MacKenzie Wells – 2018 – 5-6 – Point Guard – (Fruita, CO – U17 WS CO Premier Red) – Small, go-go point guard…Negates size with speed in open court…Fearless competitor…Kicks ahead in transition…Disruptive on defense…Makes plays on ball

Shemera Williams – 2019 – 5-8 – Point Guard – (Milwaukee, WI – Playground Elite U16 Smith) – High energy scoring guard…Most likely slide to the two…Excellent first step with blow-by ability…Blink-and-you-missed-it change of speed with good body control…Scoring mentality and fearless attacker…Communicates well with teammates and coach…Vocal and plays with swagger…Takeover ability…Must increase three-point consistency

Aspen Willston – 2018 – 6-4 – Center – (Idabel, OK – Team Oklahoma 17 Red) – LHD big body post…Impressive scoring touch around rim…Can use glass or finish otherwise…Keeps ball high on catch and doesn’t dip ball to score…Strong grip leads to secure rebounds on both ends…Shakes off contact to power through defenders…Would be limited in up-tempo offense

Sereena Weledji – 2018 – 6-0 – Wing/Forward – (Overland Park, KS – Les Chats U16) – Tweener…Showed improved perimeter skill in addition to physical mentality…Demonstrated range to 16 feet, though defense was able to sag off past three-point line…Pursues rebounds out of area…Ivy League academic interest

Maia Wilson – 2018 – 5-10 – Forward – (Overland Park, KS – Next Level Eclipse 17 Red) – Heady forward with nose for ball…Soft touch around rim…Offensive skills centered on offensive rebounding and back to basket play…Does not shy away from contact…Needs to improve free-throw shooting due to aggressive play on boards

Sydney Wilson – 2018 – 6-0 – Wing – (Overland Park, KS – Les Chats U16) – Tantalizing wing prospect…Length and solid athleticism…Motor was higher than in past evaluations…Tends to drift offensively…Showed slash game with straight line footwork…Passes the eye test

Danielle Winslow – 2020 – 6-0 – Forward – (Olathe, KS – Kansas Elite 17U Kane) – Long, agile four…Displayed some ability to slide to wing…Finished at rim with contact and extension in half court…Lanky frame will benefit from increased perimeter skill development

Evan Zars – 2018 – 6-1 – Forward – (Shawnee, KS – Kansas Elite 17U Kane) – Multi-sport standout…Showed impressive face-four game combined with length and smooth athleticism…Catch-and-shoot three from trail spot…Ideal candidate in four-out motion offense…Slash game from wing with low/long first step took defenders by surprise…ORB threat with hang time and quick second-jump ability…Passive at times when opportunity to score presented itself…Lets game come to her…Could be sleeper