West Coast Elite High Academic Super Bowl Top 2023s
The summer is winding to a close, and most high school basketball events are too. The high school season is right around the corner, but there are still a few events being held here and there. This past weekend, Mater…
Access all of Prep Girls Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingThe summer is winding to a close, and most high school basketball events are too. The high school season is right around the corner, but there are still a few events being held here and there.
This past weekend, Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana, CA played host to West Coast Elite’s Girls High Academic Super Bowl. There was a lot of talent in the building from the Class of 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and even some from 2024.
The event ran from Friday night to Saturday afternoon. I was able to attend the event on Saturday, and here’s a look at some of the top players from the Class of 2023 that I saw.
1. Judea Watkins – Windward
Watkins put on a great display of talent and showed why she’s considered by many to be the top player in the Class of 2023. She makes scoring look easy. She has a nice first step and is good at using hesitation moves to keep the defense on their toes. She can pull-up in transition for three or take the ball all the way to the rim. When she does attack the rim, she’s a strong finisher and can finish over multiple defenders. She has a nice floater too.
2. Dikara Franklin – King/Drew
Franklin is small, even by guard standards, but she makes up for her height with her energetic and tough play. Despite her size, she can finish pretty well at the rim around the defense. She’s very fast, especially in transition. She constantly gets out on the break and head of the defense. She really plays much bigger than her size. Solid ball-handler too. She could stand to work on getting a little more in control on the break, but the skills are there.
3. Taylor Arnold – Palisades
Arnold has all the makings of developing into a solid player in the paint. For her age, she’s already a pretty good post player. She can establish her position well in the post and when she gets the ball, she can make a move to the rim. She finishes well at the rim too over the defense. She moves well without the ball and her cuts often find her on the receiving end of a teammates pass. Despite being a big, she can handle the ball as well. She’s a good rebounder too.
4. Alexys Valdez – Bishop Amat
Valdez is another player that plays much bigger than her size suggests. She is also a bit small, even for a guard, but don’t let that fool you. She plays with a lot of energy and effort. She isn’t afraid to dive on the floor and scramble for loose balls, and she isn’t afraid to mix it up with bigger players. As a young player, she’ll probably grow a little bit more as she develops, but her heart and her hustle are already apparent.