Megan Walker
Evina Westbrook (right) battles NC State-bound senior Aislinn Konig at the 2015 Check Me Out Showcase. *Photo by Glenn Nelson.
The ProspectsNation.com staff has expanded the 2017 player rankings after a strong summer of club basketball and numerous camp evaluations across the country. While No. 1 and No. 2 remain unchanged, with Megan Walker and Rellah Booth holding their spots, respectively, there were countless players elevating their status in the 2017 class.
There may not be a more complete perimeter player in the junior class than Evina Westbrook. The 5-foot-11 guard from Salem, Ore., is a fierce competitor who uses her length, strength and quickness to impact the game in all phases. Her ability to guard almost anyone effectively has her on the map for major schools across the country, but it is her basketball I.Q. that lifted her to No. 3 in the ELITE 100 from her previous spot at No. 8.
The top of the point guard group is impressive with six players ranked in the top 15 playing the lead guard position. The Texas two-some of Alexis Morris and Chasity Patterson play the position differently but represent the high bar for the position in 2017.
One of the biggest risers this summer, Dana Evans of Gary, Ind., helped lead a short-handed Indy Gym Rats squad, riddled with injuries, to the championship game of Nike Nationals. She fits the mold of a the new-age point guard that can score big numbers when needed but leads by distributing first and foremost and earned her the No. 9 spot in the ELITE 100.
Injuries are a part of sports and can temporarily interrupt the journey of a player but not even a torn anterior-cruciate ligament could keep Lauryn Miller of Kirkwood, Mo., down. Prior to her injury she showed as versatile of a game at the forward spot as you can find, earning a spot on the USA Basketball U16 national team. That progress as a player led to her taking the No. 8 spot in the post-summer rankings.
In all 30 states have players in the ELITE 100 with another year of basketball to make noise. Georgia and Texas, two states known for churning out college prospects, lead the way with 12 and 10 ranked players, respectively. California and Florida claim seven spots each while North Carolina is fifth with six ranked prospects.
On the recruiting front the 2017 class appears to be taking the senior class lead, taking their time with no player in the top 15 verbally committed and only two prospects in the top 17 spots giving a pledge. Only nine players currently ranked have made verbal commitments with 14 months until the 2017 class’ early signing period.
2017 ELITE 100 – ProspectsNation.com
2017 Committed Players
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.
