Video: Maddie Scherr highlights
See the Suddenlink Player of the Year in action.
It was clear early that Maddie Scherr was going to be special. As an eighth-grader, she played on the 24-win Ryle varsity team, but she wasn't just the token youngster who played in routs or the final minutes. She was on the court the second-most minutes of any player on that veteran team, and was second in assists and fourth in scoring.
She only got better from there. Ryle went 85-22 over the past three seasons with Scherr as the leader.
But if you're looking for dazzling individual stats, Scherr is not the player for you. Her best scoring season came as a sophomore (16.2 points per game), and her rebounding numbers are always good (7.3 per game this past season), as are her assists (5.7). But then you throw in the steals (2.9) and blocks (1.7) and you start to get the picture of an all-around player — sort of like Oregon's Sabrina Ionescu.
And not coincidentally, that's where Scherr will spend her next four years, as she's joined a stellar recruiting class that includes four other girls who were also named to the McDonald's All-American Game.
Put it all together and, despite missing time with a sprained ankle, Scherr is the 2019-20 Suddenlink Kentucky Player of the Year.
KENTUCKY ALL-STATE TEAM PRESENTED BY SUDDENLINK
5-10 | Senior | Forward | Virginia Tech
At 5-10, Calhoun doesn't fit the stereotype for "ferocious rebounder," but sometimes stereotypes just don't fit. Calhoun, who will play for Virginia Tech next year, was a double-digit scorer, but the big number was 13.2 rebounds a game — which would be impressive even if she were six inches taller.
5-6 | Junior | Guard | Uncommitted
Some players are stars from the jump, while others take some time to reach their full potential — and Miles falls into the latter category. She took a big step up this season, averaged 21.7 points a game for a 24-win team, and earned a spot on Kentucky's first five.
5-11 | Senior | Guard | Oregon
The future Duck had stats across the board with 14.9 points, 7.3 rebounds, 5.7 assists and 2.9 steals per night for the 23-11 Raiders.
5-7 | Senior | Guard | Kentucky
The numbers won't knock you out, but among others, Kentucky coach Matt Mitchell wasn't fooled. He saw a deadly 3-point shooter (38.5 percent) who ran the show for a 32-3 team that spent some time in the national rankings, and snapped up Toller to play for the Wildcats next year.
6-4 | Senior | Post | Uncommitted
There were many reasons Scott County led Kentucky in scoring (74.9 points a game), but Williams was a big one — and a tall one, too. She averaged 19.4 points and 13.7 rebounds for 25-6 Scott County, and also shot 55 percent from the floor, capping a career that included both 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds.
Second Team
5-10 | Junior | Forward | Uncommitted
Though
Wayne County didn't have a great season from a win-loss standpoint,
Blevins stood out for her 21.0 points a game and all-around
contributions.
6-2 | Senior | Post | Belmont (volleyball)
Clemons
was a key cog in the Sacred Heart machine, grabbing 9.5 rebounds a game
and shooting 56.3 percent from the floor, but this season was her last
as a basketball player — she's decided on a volleyball career in
college.
5-8 | Senor | Guard | Western Kentucky
Collett
is one of three girls in Kentucky history to total 2,500 points and
1,000 assists — and it helped that she was an 83.6 percent free-throw
shooter, and hit 39 percent of her 3-point attempts. Fans won't have to
go too far to see her, as she's signed with Western Kentucky.
5-11 | Senior | Forward | Belmont
Despite
missing part of the season, Hay was impressive enough (18.9 ppg, 5.4
rpg, 2.5 apg and 81.8 percent from the line) to earn second-team honors.
She will play at Belmont University next year.
6-1 | Senior | Guard | West Virginia
Jenks averaged a double-double for Mercy, with 19.4 points and 10.2 rebounds a game, and remember those rebounds came from the backcourt. Jenks will take those big-guard skills to West Virginia next year.
Third Team
5-10 | Sophomore | Forward | Uncommitted
The
youngest of the 15 players on the All-Kentucky list, Jenkins'
athleticism and 57.3 percent shooting mean this is not going to be the
last time you read her name.
5-8 | Senior | Guard | Northern Kentucky
Igo is more than a long-range gunner — though 39 percent from distance certainly qualifies her on that score. She runs the offense and defends at a high level, which is why she'll continue playing basketball in college at Northern Kentucky.
5-7 | Senior | Guard | Eastern Kentucky
Steele will take her inside (8.1 rebounds) and outside (39.3 percent from beyond the arc) game to Eastern Kentucky next year after helping South Laurel to a 27-6 record this past season.
5-11 | Senior | Forward | Northern Kentucky
Taylor fits the mold of the classic glue player, filling up a stat sheet and doing the things that help teams win. And in her two years at Elizabethtown, she definitely helped the team wind up on the right side of the scoreboard — there were 54 wins, and only 11 losses.
5-10 | Senior | Guard | Eastern Kentucky
Do you like shooters? You'll love Wingler. Of course, you don't lead the state in scoring (30.8 points a game) without being able to shoot, but Wingler's numbers are pretty special. The 87.6 percent from the free throw line is exceptional, but 44.8 percent from three? That's Steph Curry territory.
