Introduction: Class of 2023
Earlier today we released our initial 2023 alphabetical watchlist. There are 70 players who are included in this preliminary look at the incoming freshman class. While this is just an alphabetical list at this point in time, I want to…
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Continue ReadingEarlier today we released our initial 2023 alphabetical watchlist. There are 70 players who are included in this preliminary look at the incoming freshman class. While this is just an alphabetical list at this point in time, I want to take a look at a few prospects who are already drawing some buzz from college coaches around the region. This will likely remain an alphabetical list through the next rankings update before transforming into a Top 50 list with 50 additional names alphabetized at the onset of 2020.
Guards
There is a tremendous amount of talent in the 2023 guard class. There will be quite a few take over their high school teams as soon as this winter and lead them for four years. Many of them I have already talked about this summer but will hit on a couple of them again here. Molly Joyce is one who I really like. She’s a good decision maker with a good basketball IQ and a great feel for the game. Headed to Bishop Garrigan, Joyce is going to be an impact player from the first day of the season. Whether that be as the starting guard or off the bench, Joyce is going to have an impact on a very good 1A team that returns most of their production. One name that most haven’t heard of so far is Jenna Pitz who will be heading to Ankeny. Pitz is a long and fluid lead guard who has loads of potential to her game. She’s a very solid ball handler with the ability to run an offense at a high level. Pitz has a ton of length and is going to be the next big thing at Ankeny. Arianna Jackson is going to be one of the top players in the state if she develops like I think she will. She’ll be heading off to Des Moines Roosevelt and will be a very compliment to Amaya Davison (2022). It is a crowded backcourt but I don’t see anything that stops Jackson from playing a ton this season. Ke’Ayla Madison is going to be the running mate for Jackson at Roosevelt and is going to create quite a collection of talented guards. They will be able to mix-and-match quite well and despite losing Grace Cumming (Minnesota), I think they should show improvement this season with all their talent. Madison is more of a scorer and will fit right in beside Jackson. Jena Young is going to come in and quickly be one of the top scoring lead guards in the state. Young is an awfully good softball player (batting .550 through 28 games), so you know she’s not going to be shy to pull the trigger on the court too. Young has a very good jumper and great body control already. She could be the top scoring freshman in the state this year at Winterset.
Wings
The wings as a whole right now aren’t nearly as strong as the guards, but this group has the only prospect with an offer so far. Jenna Hopp plays for Nebraska Attack and has already received an offer from Wichita State. She’s more of a wing right now but I can envision her moving to a combo guard role through her development. She’s a game changer and Glenwood is really going to benefit from her this season. Hopp is already making her name known through the Midwest with her play. A name that you might be familiar with is Kelsey Joens. She’s the younger sister and soon to be teammate of Aubrey Joens (Iowa State) and has two other sisters at the D1 level right now. Joens is growing and is going to very likely end up on the wing as a third guard. She’s been impressing this summer and is going to be making her mark on Iowa City High as early as this year. Regan Rice is the next player in line for Marion and is already a very skilled wing who can bounce around and play multiple positions. I really enjoy her ability to score the ball and she’s going to be a player who can take over a game very soon. The waves of talent just keep coming for Marion and Rice fits right in as the next likely player to end up as a D1 talent. Carlee Rochford is the only player on this list that I admittedly have not seen. I have on good authority from a host of trusted sources that she is going to be a very, very good player in high school. She’s one of the top athletes in the state and is one of the better middle school track athletes in the nation. She’ll be attending New Hampton where she will likely come in and impact right away. Jariah Harris has been having a stellar AAU season and is going to come in and play minutes at Cedar Rapids Kennedy right away. She’s a tough scoring wing who can score the ball well at all three levels right now. Harris has a very good frame and will continue adding strength throughout her high school career.
Forwards
If we had an actual hard list of rankings for the 2023 class, I have no problem saying that at the top of the list would be Audi Crooks. The 6’1 center is going to be heading off to Bishop Garrigan and is going to instantly be one of the most productive players in the state. She has great footwork around the rim and great touch to back that up. She’s going to be one of the best true post scorers in the state rather quickly and along with Molly Joyce (above) running the show Bishop Garrigan is going to rise to be one of the top 1A teams rather quickly. Johnna Rotto is another player who has a lot of skill and is still trying to get comfortable in her body. Rotto is heading off to Gilbert and while she might not as much time as others in this story, she’s going to be one to watch over the next four years. She has good body control, a strong lower base, and a willingness to work. Ava Meyer is going to be at Iowa City Liberty and should provide a quick spark. She’s a mobile four who can slide to the wing or into the post if needed. Meyer is going to keep growing and her skill will continue to climb. It is a relatively weak class for bigs so expect some names to separate themselves over the next year.