We continue our new Summer Player Rankings for girls basketball in Arizona with our next release – rankings for the 2014 rising junior class. This class is also filled with many talented prospects, and has numerous division-I prospects at different positions. While the class is still being defined, many prospects in the class have already made their case among the state's elite prospects.
Leading the way for this summer’s rankings in the 2014 class is St. Mary’s High School’s terrific 6-foot rising junior guard/forward Courtney Ekmark (UCONN commit). Ekmark is fresh off a big sophomore campaign where she helped lead her Knights to a perfect 30-0 season, and also a second-straight state championship (this time in the Division-I Class). She also helped the Knights to the championship of the Nike Tournament of Champions event in Arizona over the holidays, and an amazing national championship as well.
For her achievements, Ekmark is also currently rated among the nation's Top 25 overall college prospects by ESPN. She also gave one of the nation's biggest verbal commitments this summer, when she pledged to the nation's top women's basketball program - UCONN and legendary head coach Geno Auriemma (US Olympic head coach). Ekmark will look to return this high school season to lead her Knights to another and third-straight state championship.
Seton Catholic HS 5-foot-10 junior forward Julia Barcello checks in at our #2 spot and is a very nice talent and college prospect. Not to be outdone, this skilled forward prospect led her high school program to their third consecutive state championship last season, and was the catalyst - averaging a team-high 16 points and 19 rebounds per/game. Barcello is a very skilled combo-forward prospect that should generate many high-major division-I offers for herself in the near future.
Safford HS 5-foot-10 junior post Jordan Abalos is among the most talented and gifted prospects in the class, and is also coming off a big sophomore season - averaging staggering numbers on the season. Abalos put up 21.8 points and 14.6 rebounds per/game in just her second year of high school basketball - leaving the state wondering what she will do for an encore this high school season. While her high school team would come up short in the state playoffs last season, this young lady is among the best talents in the state.
Two players that are very promising prospects and will also see strong division-I college recruitment are Saguaro HS 5-foot-8 junior forward Casey Rarrick and Tempe Prep's 6-foot-1 junior post Camille Zimmerman. Both prospects had strong sophomore seasons. Rarrick received post-season honors as a result of her play, and is among the most skilled forward prospects in the state. Zimmerman helped lead her high school program to a Division-IV state championship last season, and put up very good numbers in the process.
Desert Vista HS 5-foot-5 junior point guard Emily Wolph is among the best pure point guard prospects currently in our player rankings in the class. She is a tough, gritty prospect that runs the team and is a good penetrator with the basketball in her hands. Peoria HS 5-foot-5 junior point guard Alexis Camacho is just as good, and could make a jump in our next rankings - after helping lead her Peoria HS team to a runner-up finish last season in the Division-II state playoffs.
Here are our Summer Player Rankings for the girl’s 2014 class in Arizona. While we have not seen everyone among the class in the state, these individuals have proven to be the best at this point in time.
Arizona Preps 2014 Class Girls Summer Player Rankings (In Ranking Order)
1. Courtney Ekmark 6-0 JR SG/SF St. Mary’s HS (Phoenix, AZ) – Committed to UCONN
2. Julia Barcello 5-10 JR PF Seton Catholic HS (Chandler, AZ)
3. Jordan Abalos 5-10 JR PF/C Safford HS (Safford, AZ)
4. Casey Rarrick 5-8 JR SG/SF Saguaro HS (Scottsdale, AZ)
5. Camille Zimmerman 6-1 JR PF/C Tempe Prep HS (Tempe, AZ)
6. Cecily Wilson 5-8 JR SF Mesquite HS (Gilbert, AZ)
7. Taylor Blue 5-10 JR SG Peoria HS (Peoria, AZ)
8. Emily Wolph 5-5 JR PG Desert Vista HS (Phoenix, AZ)
9. Alexis Camacho 5-5 JR PG Peoria HS (Peoria, AZ)
10. Carley Rose 5-9 JR SF Desert Mountain HS (Scottsdale, AZ)
11. Casey Heger 5-9 JR PF Gilbert HS (Gilbert, AZ)
12. Jahnae Martin 5-4 JR PG Desert Edge HS (Goodyear, AZ)
13. Mariss Larue 5-10 JR PF Round Valley HS (Eagar, AZ)
14. Tori Lloyd 5-6 JR SG Dobson HS (Mesa, AZ)
15. Gabby Banales 5-10 JR PF Cienega HS (Vail, AZ)
16. Briana Clah 5-6 JR PG/SG Many Farms HS (Many Farms, AZ)
17. Shaniah Dona 5-5 JR PG Fort Thomas HS (Fort Thomas, AZ)
18. Renee Contreras 5-3 JR PG Westview HS (Avondale, AZ)
19. Clarissa Sabedra JR Sierra Linda HS (Phoenix, AZ)
20. Colleen Young JR Gilbert Christian HS (Gilbert, AZ)
21. Kayla Bradford JR St. David HS (St. David, AZ)
22. Madison Brazeel 5-6 JR SG Yuma Catholic HS (Yuma, AZ)
23. Briana Kewanwytewa JR Salt River HS (Scottsdale, AZ)
24. Karolyn Lamberson 5-7 JR SF Arizona Lutheran Academy (Phoenix, AZ)
25. Larissa Reed 5-7 JR San Miguel HS (Tucson, AZ)
Summer Player Ranking Notes: Our player rankings have been determined by a body of work from each student-athlete. Each player’s body of work consisted of performances throughout the high school season, and also performances throughout the spring and summer. A top performance throughout the high school season impacts a player’s ranking a great deal. A student-athlete’s performance throughout the spring and summer will have an even bigger impact, since our staff is able to observe Arizona players in competition against much better local, regional and national competition. The complete body of work has been taken into consideration for each of our player rankings. Player rankings are based on a particular student-athlete’s ability to play the game of basketball – not academic performance, although a player can help him or herself if he/she is an excellent student. Rankings are done to help aid college coaches in their ability to identify the top student-athletes by position and class in the state. These rankings are forwarded to college coaches at every level throughout the country. Rankings will be updated throughout the year.
