Savannah Wheeler
Class of 2019 guard, Savannah Wheeler, attacking the rim at the Coach Hemi Showcase.
In September 4-star guard Savannah Wheeler of Catlettsburg, Kentucky, gave her verbal commitment to The Thundering Herd of Marshall. Although just entering her sophomore year at Boyd County High School this winter, Wheeler has earned a reputation as a steady ball handler with a lethal jumper. The SMP Member went “In Focus” with our ProspectsNation.com staff to explain why she chose Marshall and what she still has left to prove.
BREAKING:#SMPMember Savannah Wheeler commits to Marshall.
— Brandon Clay (@BrandonClayPSB) September 11, 2016
HER PAGE: https://t.co/WJLxDVNqFe pic.twitter.com/OLJQWMJMgW
Those around Wheeler knew that she was going to be a special player years before this commitment. That reputation began being built while she was still in middle school.
“I was in seventh grade and I got the opportunity to start a varsity basketball game alongside of my sister,” Wheeler said. “I hit the game winning jumper and my sister broke a 38-year-old scoring record at the high school.”
Now a sophomore, Wheeler is committed to Marshall University. That decision was not made overnight. It was years in the making.
“Head coach Matt Daniels and associate head coach Tony Kemper showed interest in me a young age,” Wheeler said. “Coach Kemper put in a lot of time watching me play in high school and in AAU. I’ve seen AAU teammates stress out trying to figure out where to play by waiting till the end (senior year). I was not comfortable with doing that.”
Wheeler points to factors other than prestige when choosing Marshall.
“Some players only choose a school because of certain letters on the jersey,” Wheeler added. “I wanted a place that will feel like home. I really like what Coach Daniels is doing there. It is up and coming and there is a family atmosphere within the program. I liked everything there from the locker room to the uniforms and the arena.”
WHAT THE EVALUATORS ARE SAYING:
Wheeler is a player that is built to make plays regardless of the stage. She finished her freshman year at Boyd County High School averaging over 20 points per game for coach Pete Fraley. That success and confidence was apparent at the camp where she knocked down jumpers and involved teammates with the pass. At 5-6 she is a dual threat as a distributor and scorer. We will see Wheeler again in Augusta with coach Scott Johnson’s West Virginia Thunder at the PSB Elite 32 Summer Finale. – Jonathan Hemingway / Coach Hemi Summer Showcase June 2016
Wheeler is a smaller option at the position who can make all the throws. She's capable of making the long-range jumper, attacking the lane and getting her teammates involved. Wheeler is slick with the ball in her hands and smooth as she speeds through open floor traffic. – Brandon Clay / PSB End of the Road September 2016
The Tri-State area of Kentucky, Ohio and West Virginia is rich with girls’ basketball talent. Currently Marshall have several underclassmen from the area, which includes sophomore guard Shayna Gore of Logan, West Virginia, sophomore wing Madison Morris of Huntington, West Virginia, and sophomore guard Logan Fraley of Ashland, Kentucky. And Marshall University is just a mere 15 miles from Wheeler’s home.
“I would be thrilled to be a part of a conference championship one day,” Wheeler said. “To be from the Tri-State area and accomplish that would be special. Coach Daniels has done a great job of recruiting players for an up-tempo pace that is fun to play. I like everything that is going on at Marshall and I believe in it.”
Wheeler is quick to point out the people who have helped her to get where she is at today.
“My parents have always given me the opportunities to play and travel. My high school coach Pete Fraley and my AAU coaches with the West Virginia Thunder, Scott Johnson and Brian Mallory, have been with me since sixth grade.”
The 5-foot-6 guard says that she is not finished in her development nor is she satisfied in her accomplishments. “I want to continue to get better as a player and make players around me better. In high school winning a regional championship is a high priority. During the travel circuit, I want to see how I compete against top players from other areas.”
You can catch Wheeler with her Boyd County High School team at the Roundball Classic in Ashland, Kentucky December 13-14. She will also be on the summer circuit with the West Virginia Thunder where they plan to return to the PSB Tip-Off Classic in April.
Wheeler enjoyed all the benefits of being a SMP Member. You can too. Read the details HERE. Follow all the updates on #SMPMembers by following @SMPMembersPSB on twitter.
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.
