2015 Rankings Roundtable Part II

2015 Rankings Roundtable Part II
2015 Rankings Roundtable Part IIErin DeGrate

MiMi Jackson is already ranked in the ELITE 60 but still has a world of upside. *Photo by Chris Hansen.

The Rankings Roundtable will cover several topics throughout this week on the recently revised PropsectsNation.com ELITE 60 prospect rankings for the Class of 2015.

Over the next calendar year, what player do you expect to make major gains in player development in the 2015 class?

Posts are usually the last to develop. They’re bigger and even the most skilled young interior player has to learn to execute in the physicality of the paint. The physical potential has been obvious in No. 31 Erin DeGrate of Bowie, Texas, but until this summer we only saw it in small flashes. The summer of 2013 was a breakout for DeGrate, who showed in longer stretches what this 6-foot-5 post could be. Her combination of size and agility are a rarity and she is just starting to harness her skills. If the progress from 2013 continues I expect DeGrate to be one of the most improved players in 2014.

-- Chris Hansen

Kiah Gillespie of Meriden, Conn., has all of the physical tools to be one of the premier forwards in the country this time next year. The four-star prospect made great strides during the July evaluation period, establishing herself as a wing who can score the basketball and be physical on the interior. Gillespie’s next step is proving that she can use that combination to become a dominant force on both ends of the floor. Her ability and skill set puts us in the mind of former ELITE 100 prospect Markel Walker who just graduated from UCLA last season. Walker had a banner career for the Bruins and we would expect Gillespie to progress her game in a similar fashion over the next twelve months.

-- Brandon Clay

Jamesha “MeMe” Jackson of Murfreesboro, Tenn., is a player that is blessed with a number of tools from both a skill set and athletic perspective. Her No. 23 ranking is reflective of the work that she produced on the floor recently, but I foresee her ceiling being even higher than that. Playing within the talented Tennessee Flight program, the 5-11 wing has had to wait her turn in recent years and play a complementary role at times. Now moving into her final years at the prep level, I can see Jackson becoming an even more dominant force on both ends of the court. She has the skill set to become an elite scorer from both behind the arc and at the rim. While on the defensive end she could easily become her team’s lead defender. Jackson will have the opportunities to see just how high she can push herself.

-- Jonathan Hemingway

As one of the most talented prospects in the class of 2015 Aliyah Jeune of Mt. Holly, N.J., has the potential to be one of the best players in the class. Her combination of size and athleticism at the wing position could be considered the prototype as she has a wiry athletic frame and the skills to complete the package. With that said, Jeune has been inconsistent as a prep prospect so far and has yet to maximize her physical tools enough against elite competition. As far as talent and individual ability goes she has shown the signs and potential to stand as one of the country’s best 2015 prospects. The next 12 months will be key as she has a great opportunity to rise to that occasion.

-- Keil Moore



Clay is the owner of the JumpOffPlus.com International Scouting Report, PeachStateBasketball.com and ProspectsNation.com. He can be reached at brandon@prospectsnation.com.



Hansen is managing editor of ProspectsNation.com and a McDonald’s All-American selection committee member. He was the national director of scouting for ESPN HoopGurlz from 2005 until 2012. He can be reached at chris@prospectsnation.com.



Hemingway is the Assistant Director of Scouting for the JumpOffPlus.com National Scouting Report. He can be reached at jonathanhemingway@peachstatebasketball.com.



Moore is the Director of Scouting for the JumpOffPlus.com National Scouting Report and international scouting report. He has been a member if the women's basketball community for more than six years as a trainer and evaluator. He can be reached at keil@prospectsnation.com.

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