’23 Rankings Update: Top 50 Newcomers
In this article:
The class of 2023 was fun to watch and evaluate because so many prospects I was unfamiliar with going into March turned out to be some of the best players of the season. Below are new faces who started on…
Access all of Prep Girls Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingThe class of 2023 was fun to watch and evaluate because so many prospects I was unfamiliar with going into March turned out to be some of the best players of the season. Below are new faces who started on my watchlist but solidified a spot in the rankings by their outstanding play.
Selina Monestime Selina Monestime 5'11" | SG Framingham | 2023 State NewE – MCW Starz/Framingham – 5’10 – SG/SF
’23 Rank: #13
Monestime is the best contested shooter I have seen this spring. Some of the shots she hits are incredible because a defender is usually draped all over her. Monestime takes full advantage of the mid-range area and is automatic inside the three-point line, even displaying the ability to rise up and hit jumpers on 6 ft+ wings and bigs. Her confidence in her offensive repertoire is highly impressive, and when you witness her shot-creation and shot-making on excellent defense, it’s hard to find another player you trust more to get a bucket at the end of a game. Not to mention her intensity on defense forced turnovers making her a valuable two-way player.
https://twitter.com/MonestimeSelina/status/1404174761706545164
Bianca Ortiz Bianca Ortiz 5'7" | CG Holyoke | 2023 State NewE – Springfield Ballers/Holyoke – 5’7’’ – CG
’23 Rank: #16
Ortiz put on a laser show at the Philly Showcase. She is a walking bucket who effortlessly pulls up from 30 feet. It was awe-inspiring watching the lefty gunslinger shoot the lights out that whole weekend. What’s crazy is that these bombs Ortiz is drilling are shots she practices routinely. She has the ultimate green light, and her aggressiveness and consistency in hitting these shots not only affect her game but impact the other 4 players on the court with her. When Ortiz is cooking from behind the arc, the defense reacts and pressures her tightly. This results in blow-bys, and Ortiz can kill you in the mid-range game or get to the basket. Her shooting efficiency opens up the floor for forward Julie Bahati Julie Bahati 6'2" | PF Springfield Central | 2023 State NewE , who likes to do damage on the block and high post, and for slashing guards Armany Lopez and Jordis Tautalatasi Jordis Tautalatasi 5'2" | PG Springfield Central | 2023 State NewE . Ortiz’s impact on the Springfield Ballers offense is huge, and just her presence on the floor elevates the team.
Sloane Ginevan Sloane Ginevan 5'10" | SG Falmouth | 2023 State NewE – Maine Attraction/Falmouth – 5’10’’ – CG
’23 Rank: #25
Ginevan instantly popped when I saw her in Rhode Island a couple of months ago and was easily one of the best players in that tournament. I like Ginevan’s makeup; she is tough, aggressive, and plays so hard when on the floor. She is a big guard who, you can argue, is the best on-ball defender in the class. Her east-to-west movement is elite, and at 5’10’’ can smother point guards while also having the size to bother wings. A mismatch nightmare on offense, Ginevan uses her upper body strength to get around her defender and shows tremendous body control when attacking the rack. Also, she is valuable off the ball as a reliable catch and shoot 2 guard. Ginevan has a top 15 skill set, so I am eager to watch her this summer because she has the potential to make a significant leap in the ranks.
Ashlee Talbot Ashlee Talbot 5'6" | PG Dracut | 2023 State NewE – MCW Starz/Dracut – 5’6’’ – CG
’23 Rank: #34
Talbot is not the biggest guard, so she makes it a point to outwork her opponent every possession. Talbot kicked off the spring on a high note, being one of the standout players in the Zero gravity Level Up tournament and built on that weekend the rest of the spring. Her ball handling and security are top tier; she does not struggle to create her own shot, and Talbot is an absolute pest on defense. She frustrates the opponent with her defensive activity and forces many turnovers and rushed plays. Towards the end of the spring, I liked how Talbot was playing off the ball more. She can impact the game in so many ways that she does not need to dominate the ball to be effective, but she is willing to play both guard positions, and in doing so, adds more value to her game. Talbot has one of the best work ethics I have seen, and she will sacrifice whatever she has to win a game. Those characteristics, in addition to her game, is what helped catapult Talbot into the top 35.
Check out my highlights from The Philly Showcase this weekend @LadyMiddies @BashHoopsNE @PGHNewEngland @elite_c4 @MCWSTARZ pic.twitter.com/iBmGUG6vkL
— Ashlee Talbot (@AshleeTalbot) May 18, 2021
Niya Morgen Niya Morgen 5'4" | PG St. Mary's | 2023 State NewE – MCW Starz/St. Mary’s – 5’6’’ – CG
’23 Rank: #49
Morgen has been very consistent playing the 2 for MCW. I think she is a good fit for her team because Morgen has the tools and skill set to be a potent scorer but does not mind being the 4th option when on the floor with Yirsy Queliz Yirsy Queliz 5'5" | PG St Mary's | 2023 NewE , Abigail Wright Abigail Wright 6'2" | SF Newton North | 2023 State NewE , and Selina Monestime Selina Monestime 5'11" | SG Framingham | 2023 State NewE . Morgen has been an efficient scorer and has good shot selection bringing another layer of firepower to the MCW ’23 lineup. In addition, she is an unselfish player who does the little things well. She sets good screens, sprints back on defense, and moves the ball well to keep the team’s offense flowing. Last weekend in Albany at the GymRats Showcase, Morgen showcased her complete skill set and was a scoring machine. If she continues to play at that level, her stock will continue to increase.