Kasiyahna KushkituahPictured above: Kasiyahna Kushkituah
Rellah Booth, Megan Walker and Alexis Morris (l to r) each claimed a spot in the top three of the 2017 ELITE 60 ranking. *Photos by Chris Hansen.
With the spring club basketball season in the books, it’s time to expand the prospect rankings for the 2017 class to the ProspectsNation.com ELITE 60. The key spring events such as Boo Williams, Check Me Out SoCal, CoachHemi.com Spring Workout, Cy-Fair Invitational, EBA Top 40, EYBL-Hampton, Marchfest, May Day Challenge, Midwest Showdown, PSB Tip-Off Classic, She’s Ballin’ Showcase, USA Basketball U16 trials, West Coast Premier Spring Invitational and dozens of other events, this ranking will carry into the summer ahead of the ELITE 100 expansion in the late summer.
2017 ELITE 60 RANKINGS
The No. 1 overall prospect stays the same with Megan Walker of Chesterfield, Va., solidifying her place with terrific play with Boo Williams Summer League. Despite not making the final 12-player roster Rellah Boothe of Jacksonville, Fla., used the USA Basketball U16 national team trials to show she is in the conversation for No. 1 overall. The 6-foot-2 combo forward moved up 8 spots to No. 2 in the class.
A new face to the top 10 is Jade Williams of The Colony, Texas. The 6-3 post impressed at USA Trials as well as with Texas United in spring ball. She made the U16 by showcasing her versatile skill set in the post.
Evina Westbrook moves up 10 spots to No. 8 overall backing up a stellar 2014 summer with improved poise and perimeter shooting this spring. Last August she proved she could defend at the highest of levels with her play at the Check Me Out Showcase, taking on some of the best guards in the country.
The top-rated post in the class is Kasiyahna Kushkituah of Austell, Ga., who impressed at the the PSB Spring Showdown and May Day Challenge before hitting the USA trials. Her physicality on both ends of the court will make her a top target for many power conference schools.
Geographically it is Georgia and Texas in the lead with nine prospects, each, cracking the latest ranking. California and Ohio are both well represented with four players a piece making this pre-summer offering.
This class is shaping up to be a point guard heavy class, which should be good for teams that don’t land one of the elite point guards left in the 2016 class. From traditional distributors like Gabbi Connally and Kiana Williams, ironically both from San Antonio, to those that can fill it up like Chasity Patterson, who does it from deep and Khayla Pointer, who is terrific off the dribble, this class has a bit of everything.
2017 ELITE 60 RANKINGS
PROSPECTSNATION.COM RANKING COMMITTEE
Brandon Clay serves as the WNBA Director of Scouting for ProspectsNation.com and owns The JumpOffPlus.com International Report, which is picked up by more than 150 colleges and universities nationwide. He serves as the Executive Camp Director for the Elite Basketball Academy Camps. He serves on the Naismith Trophy Men’s / Women’s College Player of the Year Academy and is chairman of the HS Boys / Girls Board of Selectors.
Chris Hansen is managing editor of ProspectsNation.com and serves on the McDonald’s All-American and Naismith Trophy selection committees. He was the national director of scouting for ESPN HoopGurlz from 2005 until 2012 and is the director of the Check Me Out Showcase. He can be reached at chris@prospectsnation.com.
Jonathan Hemingway is the Assistant Director of Scouting for the JumpOffPlus.com National Scouting Report, is on the Naismith Trophy Board of Selectors and owns CoachHemi.com, the go-to source for coaches for X’s and O’s. He is the floor director of #TeamEBA camps, a site director for #TeamPSB tournaments and can be reached at jonathanhemingway@peachstatebasketball.com.
Keil Moore is the Director of Scouting for the JumpOffPlus.com National Scouting Report and international scouting report. He serves on the Naismith Trophy Board of Selectors and has been a member of the women's basketball community for more than six years as a trainer and evaluator. He can be reached at keil@prospectsnation.com.
Stephen Peck is the owner of Dream In Motion Athletics and is a national evaluator for the JumpOffPlus.com National Scouting Report. He also serves as a on-floor skills coach at the Elite Basketball Academy events. He can be reached at StephenPeck@peachstatebasketball.com.
Mercedes Wetmore joined ProspectsNation.com in the summer of 2014 after graduating from the University of Washington with a Communications degree. She left Washington as the all-time leader in games played and also played with the softball team in the College World Series. She was the Gatorade State Player of the Year her senior year in high school capping off a career which included three state titles. She can be reached at mercedes@chrishansenbasketball.com.
