Player rankings through first 2 weeks

[bballnut90]

Top 38 players so far this year, ranked by position (note, I'm sure I'm missing some Mid-Majors and other folks on here, please add them in to get discussion going).

I ranked these players based on a combination of stats, big game performances and eye test. Someone like Bueckers doesn't pass the stats test for top wing but eye test says she's the best when she's on.

I'll also acknowledge it is very early in the season and a lot of these players could be ranked higher or lower and stats are inflated right now for many players For example, you could make a strong case that Sedona Price should be top 5 (and I wouldn't disagree with you) but I have her at 10th. Same with Charisma Osborne who has great numbers, but historically she has great numbers early and the drop considerably during conference play, so I took that into consideration. I didn't include injured/missing players (notably Rickea Jackson/Angel Reese).

There are a LOT of really good players making their mark this year and the overall level of basketball is the highest I've ever seen in November.

PG:
1. Caitlin Clark, Iowa (31.0 points, 7.4 rebounds, 8.0 assists, 2.0 steals)
2. Raven Johnson, South Carolina (10.8 points, 9.5 assists, 3 steals, team averages 100.3 ppg)
3. Hannah Hidalgo, Notre Dame (25.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, 5.5 assists, 6.8 steals)
4. Saniya Rivers, NC State (17.3 points, 6.0 rebounds, 5.8 assists, 3.0 steals)
5. Lucy Olsen, Villanova (28.0 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 2.7 steals)
6. Rori Harmon, Texas (12.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, 8.0 assists, 4.0 steals)
7. Georgia Amoore, Virginia Tech (16.0 points, 9.0 assists)
8. Jaylyn Sherrod, Colorado (14.8 points, 3.5 rebounds, 6.8 assists)
9. Genesis Bryant, Illinois (20.0 points, 3.8 assists)




Wings:
1. Paige Bueckers, UCONN (17.8 points, 5.8 rebounds, 3.0 assists)
2. Juju Watkins, USC (25.0 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.0 assists)
3. Mikaylah Williams, LSU (19.2 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.3 assists)
4. Jacy Sheldon, Ohio State (18.8 points 3.5 rebounds, 2.3 steals)
5. Gianna Kneepens, Utah (19.4 points, 6.6 rebounds, 4.0 assists)
6. Milaysia Fulwiley, South Carolina (14.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 2.3 steals)
7. Taniya Latson, Florida State (20.3 points, 5.7 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 2.0 steals)
8. Tehina Pao Pao, South Carolina (14.0 points, 5.0 assists)
9. Taliah Scott, Arkansas (24.6 points, 4.2 rebounds)
10. Charisma Osborne, UCLA (17.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, 4.8 assists)
11. Cotie McMahon, Ohio State (16.0 points, 4.5 rebounds)
12. Shyanne Sellers, Maryland (20.3 points, 6.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists)
13. Aziah James, NC State (20.3 points, 3.8 rebounds)
14. Madison Conner, TCU (22.4 points, 7.6 rebounds, 4.4 assists)
15. Sonia Citron, Notre Dame (20.3 points, 4.0 rebounds)





Center:
1. Cameron Brink, Stanford (16.3 points, 10.3 rebounds, 3.8 blocks, 72 straight FT made)
2. Kamilla Cardoso, South Carolina (17.5 points, 11.3 rebounds, 3.8 blocks, 66.7% FG)
3. Alissa Pili, Utah (22.4 points, 5.8 rebounds, 73.2% FG)
4. Kiki Iriafen, Stanford (20.8 points, 9.3 rebounds, 68.0% FG)
5. Lauren Betts, UCLA (19.5 points, 10.8 rebounds, 78.6% FG)
8. Elizabeth Kitley, Virginia Tech (24.3 points, 10.8 rebounds, 2.5 blocks)
6. Ayoka Lee, Kansas State (22.0 points, 8.5 rebounds, 2.5 blocks, 63.2% FG)
7. Aaliyah Edwards, UCONN (18.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, 59.6% FG)
9. Mackenzie Holmes, Indiana (17.5 points, 6.8 rebounds, 1.8 blocks)
10. Sedona Prince, TCU (21.6 points, 11.0 rebounds, 2.4 blocks
11. Taylor Jones, Texas (19.5 points, 8.0 rebounds, 68.6% FG)
12. Lauren Gustin, BYU (14.8 points, 16.5 rebounds)
13. Aaronette Vonleh, Colorado (19.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, 71.7% FG)
14. Raegan Beers, Oregon State (18.3 points, 13.0 rebounds, 68.8% FG)

 

[visitingcock]

Why only 3 positions?
No shooting guards or forwards?
Or is that coming in Part II?

 

[bballnut90]

Why only 3 positions?
No shooting guards or forwards?
Or is that coming in Part II?

I grouped SG/SF together and PF/C together. I feel like those positions are a lot more fluid in today's day and age. SG/SF means you typically play off ball and are more perimeter oriented, PF/C same thing but operate primarily in the post or high pots. Someone like Aaliyah Edwards is more of a PF in skill set (primarily scores in the paint, has a good midrange shot, solid defender, not a shot blocker) but plays center for UCONN. Same with Brink offensively, she's more of a 4 but defends like a 5 so I thought it'd be easiest to group them in this format.

 

[garddog]

Jerkaila Jordan at Mississippi State this season.
18.4 pts, 7.8 reb, 2.4 asst, 2.2 Steals at SG

 

[militarydog]

Jerkaila Jordan at Mississippi State this season.
18.4 pts, 7.8 reb, 2.4 asst, 2.2 Steals at SG

Yeah J Jordan has been on fire to start the season. She has been especially tenacious on defense. A couple of the games she barely played over two quarters but still scored in the mid 20s. The only game she has played in the upper 30s in minutes was the win at Belmont.

 

[JstVisiting]

I hate that Stanford and South Carolina aren't playing this season. I'd like to see Brinks and Cardoso go head to head.

 

[bballnut90]

I hate that Stanford and South Carolina aren't playing this season. I'd like to see Brinks and Cardoso go head to head.

Boston/Brink was fun to watch last year. That game was a battle. I never thought about it until now, but I wonder if SC losing that game could’ve been helpful them in long run. Stanford had that game won and basically choked it away IIRC

 

[visitingcock]

Boston/Brink was fun to watch last year. That game was a battle. I never thought about it until now, but I wonder if SC losing that game could’ve been helpful them in long run. Stanford had that game won and basically choked it away IIRC

I would have been very comfortable with a loss in the last regular season SEC game. We had lost the title game of the SEC tourney the year before,

The only regular season games I hate losing would be LSU and Tenn - oh yeah - Clempsun. A loss here or there before the tourney to Stanford or UConn is bearable

 

[triaddukefan]

I would have been very comfortable with a loss in the last regular season SEC game. We had lost the title game of the SEC tourney the year before,

The only regular season games I hate losing would be LSU and Tenn - oh yeah - Clempsun. A loss here or there before the tourney to Stanford or UConn is bearable

Lemme tell ya something buddy... if yall lose on Dec 4th....... you should either avoid this site for a week.... or put me on ignore for 6 weeks.

Now if yall do a Maryland or ND on us... well... that's a different story.

 

[JstVisiting]

Boston/Brink was fun to watch last year. That game was a battle. I never thought about it until now, but I wonder if SC losing that game could’ve been helpful them in long run. Stanford had that game won and basically choked it away IIRC

Nah. South Carolina didn’t lose for lack of focus or 4th Q panic. We lost due to confluence of worst shooting night, great player, and officiating taylor made to limit us and empower opponent.