We complete our new Post Summer Player Rankings with our final release – the 2017 class post-summer player rankings for girls in the state of Arizona. This class is also very talented – led by some really talented girls prospects in the state that are high-major division-I college prospects, with many other prospects that will reach some level of college basketball.
The 2017 class for girls in the state is still developing a great deal, but many prospects in the state have already emerged as nice college prospects.
Leading the way for the class is Valley Vista High School's talented and impressive 6-foot-2 sophomore post Kiara Edwards. Edwards is one of the elite-level prospects in the state of Arizona, regardless of class. Edwards gained valuable experience this spring and summer while playing on the club circuit with nationally ranked West Coast Premier, a Nike EYBL team and one of the most successful club programs in the country.
Last season as a mere freshman and as a varsity starter, Edwards averaged nice numbers - 12 points and 10 rebounds per/game. These numbers will only get much better over time as she matures. Look for her numbers to improve a great deal this high school season – a scary thought as Edwards already possesses a division-I college-ready body and will only continue to develop.
Edwards is a very nice looking young post prospect with excellent physical size and loads of potential for the future. She is a glaring young talent with good overall fundamentals and a strong presence on the court. An excellent rebounder, especially on the offensive end where she takes up space inside the paint and is able to get nice put-backs for her team. She also runs the floor very well for her size and is a very good finisher already. Gets very good low post position and has an excellent drop step inside the paint. Has very good footwork. A good mid-range shooter with a soft touch. A big-time young prospect that already has an offer from Long Beach State. An elite high major division-I prospect for the future.
Gilbert Christian High School’s skilled and superb 5-foot-7 sophomore point guard Lauryn Satterwhite checks in at our #2 spot, but is just as talented and gifted a prospect as our top prospect. Satterwhite is a big-time scorer already as a youngster, and is able to create scoring opportunities for herself or others off the dribble.
Satterwhite is a crafty and skilled left-hander with a nice shooting stroke and a very good feel for the game at a young age. She is a very good ball handler and is able to make plays for herself off the dribble. A good passer as well with good court vision, Satterwhite is a very talented young prospect with loads of potential. Also a good defender that should develop a great deal in this area over time. Satterwhite is the younger sister of top-rated underclassman boy’s prospect Cameron Satterwhite. A future high-major division-I prospect.
Other top-rated prospects in the class that have the potential to play serious college basketball over time also include Fairfax HS 6-foot-2 sophomore guard Jenise Strover, Rincon HS 5-foot-8 sophomore combo-guard Larissa Rocha and Corona Del Sol HS 6-foot-1 sophomore post Leilani Peat. Each of these three prospects have the potential to really blossom over the next three seasons of high school basketball.
Seton Catholic's talented sophomore duo of 6-foot-1 sophomore post Jennifer Wirth and 5-foot-7 sophomore guard Liz Holter are both very gifted prospects as well that should make Seton Catholic HS very tough to beat for next three seasons of high school basketball. Both prospects are division-I talents for the future.
Here are our Post Summer Player Rankings for the girl’s 2017 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 2017 Class Girls Post Summer Player Rankings (In Ranking Order)
1. Kiara Edwards 6-2 SOPH PF Valley Vista HS (Surprise, AZ)
2. Lauryn Satterwhite 5-7 SOPH PG Gilbert Christian HS (Gilbert, AZ)
3. Jenise Strover 6-2 SOPH C Fairfax HS (Laveen, AZ)
4. Jennifer Wirth 6-1 SOPH SG/SF Seton Catholic HS (Chandler, AZ)
5. Larissa Rocha 5-8 SOPH PG/SG Rincon HS (Tucson, AZ)
6. Leilani Peat 6-1 SOPH C Corona Del Sol HS (Tempe, AZ)
7. Liz Holter 5-7 SOPH PG Seton Catholic HS (Chandler, AZ)
8. Melody Medlock 5-6 SOPH PG Moon Valley HS (Phoenix, AZ)
9. Savannah Anderson 5-10 SOPH PG/SG Casa Grande HS (Casa Grande, AZ)
10. Nichelle Laffoon 5-10 SOPH SF North HS (Phoenix, AZ)
11. Bethany Wolph 5-6 SOPH PG Valley Christian HS (Chandler, AZ)
12. Diamond Fuller 5-10 SOPH SF/PF Mesa HS (Mesa, AZ)
13. Abbey Jensen 6-1 SOPH C Yuma Kofa HS (Yuma, AZ)
14. Allie Sluga 5-10 SOPH PF Phoenix Christian HS (Phoenix, AZ)
15. Amy Mazanec 5-7 SOPH PG Cactus Shadows HS (Cave Creek, AZ)
16. Ashley Bliss 5-7 SOPH SG Phoenix Christian HS (Phoenix, AZ)
17. Emily Henderson 5-6 SOPH PG Mountain Ridge HS (Glendale, AZ)
18. Danielle Cassady 5-6 SOPH PG Ironwood HS (Glendale, AZ)
19. Araceli Loya 5-6 SOPH PG/SG Pueblo HS (Tucson, AZ)
20. Tyra Euell-Long 5-4 SOPH PG Moon Valley HS (Phoenix, AZ)
Best of the Rest
Perry Ellis 5-3 SOPH PG Shadow Mountain HS (Phoenix, AZ); Jacqueline Iafrate 5-2 SOPH PG Scottsdale Christian Academy (Scottsdale, AZ); Kiara Goseyun 5-4 SOPH PG Fort Thomas HS (Fort Thomas, AZ); Alexis Sports 5-7 SOPH SG Verrado HS (Buckeye, AZ); Tierney DeDonatis 5-3 SOPH PG Ironwood HS (Glendale, AZ); Elena Arriaga SOPH Sahuaro HS (Tucson, AZ); Raja Davis 5-8 SOPH SG/SF Catalina HS (Tucson, AZ); Bree Olson 5-7 SOPH Pusch Ridge Christian Academy (Tucson, AZ); Sierra Gallego SOPH Valley Vista HS (Surprise, AZ); Megan Smith 5-7 SOPH SG Liberty HS (Peoria, AZ); Cheyenne Lee SOPH Sierra Linda HS (Phoenix, AZ); Brielle McKinney SOPH Tempe Prep HS (Tempe, AZ); Megan Timmer 6-0 SOPH PF Valley Christian HS; Karissa Rodriguez SOPH Sunnyslope HS; Rebecca Whipple SOPH Mogollon HS (Heber, AZ); Courtney Colleary 5-7 SOPH SG Hamilton HS (Chandler, AZ); Malory Vivola 5-9 SOPH SG Boulder Creek HS (Anthem, AZ); Sydney Chavez 5-8 SOPH SG/SF Bourgade Catholic HS (Phoenix, AZ)
Post 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, summer and fall seasons. A top performance throughout the high school season impacts a player’s ranking a great deal. A student-athlete’s performance throughout the fall, 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.