Basketball season is underway in Missouri. Below are the area’s Class 1 Girls Basketball Players to Watch this year.
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Kayleigh Teeter & Kennedy DeRuy, McAuley Catholic Seniors
McAuley is in the midst of its best stretch of basketball ever with Teeter and DeRuy being at the heart of the attack. Both are defensive menaces – combining for seven steals per game – but are also more than capable scorers. Teeter averaged 17.6 points, 5.7 rebounds and 3.8 assists. She’ll surpass the 1,500-point mark this season and break the school’s scoring record. DeRuy added 15 points, 7.8 rebounds and 2.6 assists.
Jayden Butterfield, Climax Springs Senior
She took a major step forward as a junior, averaging 18.8 points, 4.8 assists, 4.3 rebounds and 2.6 steals. At 5-foot-8 she has great size for a guard, which she uses at both ends of the floor. She had at least 12 games of 20 or more last year, including a pair of 30-point games. She’ll look to build on that this year.
Jazzmenn Luney, Everton Senior
Jazz was a walking double-double last year, averaging 13.9 points and 9.3 rebounds while earning All-Conference and All-District honors. She had seven double-doubles and also averaged 1.9 blocks.
Abi Smith, Chadwick Junior
Mark Twain Conference POY Paris Gilbert is gone, but don’t expect a drop off from Chadwick with Smith back. As a junior she averaged 14.5 points and 2.1 steals. A move off the ball with the emergence of incoming freshman Kerrigan Guerin will make Smith an even more effective scorer.
Chloe Cornelison & Libby Lakey, Dadeville Juniors
Cornelison was a beast on the block last year, putting up 12.7 points, 9.1 rebounds and 1.5 blocks as a sophomore. She can also step out and shoot the ball from 3. Lakey was a standout as a freshman, leading the team with 13 PPG before missing her entire sophomore season. This duo will be a problem for the next two years.
Kyndall Scott, Golden City Junior
Her sophomore year saw her take on a larger scoring role, averaging 15.8 points, 3.8 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 2.4 steals. Five of her seven 20-point games came after Christmas Break, including her season-high 31 points vs. Thomas Jefferson. Scott had 10 games of at least 10 FT attempts.
Maliah Kenney, Humansville Junior
Also a standout softball player, Kenney led Humansville with 17.3 points and eight rebounds a night last year. She’s led the program in both categories in each of her first two seasons, which has earned her All-Conference honors.
Adrien Neill, Lockwood Sophomore
As a freshman she was stellar, averaging 10.6 points and 5.2 rebounds for the Tigers, while also knocking down a ton of 3’s. Now, former Lockwood great – and her big sister – Rylee Neill will take over the reins of the program. Expect this group to play faster, which will lead to more points for No. 10.
Maraya Schimmels, Hurley Senior
What she lacks in size she makes up for in shooting ability. Schimmels averaged 14 points as a junior, knocking down 54 3’s. She had four games of at least five triples. She’ll score her 1,000th point this season and she’s made at least 48 3’s in each of her first three seasons.
Others to Watch
Aubry Antle, Exeter Senior
Brooke Beerly, Golden City Senior
Bailey Black, Halfway Senior
Lily Black, McAuley Catholic Junior
Maranda Burke, Climax Springs Senior
Ashtyn Callaway, Niangua Sophomore
Chelsi Horn, Hermitage Senior
Jaedyn Johnson, Walnut Grove Sophomore
Paisley Gilbert, Chadwick Junior
Chloe Pearson, Wheatland Sophomore
Jaka Sharp, Halfway Junior
Ashton Stuber, Niangua Senior
Ezra Wood, Everton Senior
