Minnesota Top 250 Expo: 10 big-time players to watch
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The Prep Girls Hoops Top 250 Expo is all about exposure, and for Minnesota prospects it is the best one-day opportunity in the state to show what you have to offer. College coaches from Division 2 and 3, NAIA and junior college programs will be in the gym. Division 1 coaches, who aren’t allowed to watch live at this time of year, will be watching via Baller TV. As in the past, the event has attracted some of the brightest stars in Minnesota basketball. Many of them have already made college commitments but they come to the Top 250 Expo because it’s a heck of a lot of fun and it’s a chance to help their peers achieve the college dream, as well.
Here are 10 star prospects – all either D1 commits or holding D1 offers – you don’t want to miss Sunday at Bloomington Kennedy:
Mara Braun Mara Braun 5'11" | CG Wayzata | 2022 State #21 Nation MN – Some say she’s the best player in the Class of 2022. The University of Minnesota commit from Wayzata is a multi-dimensional talent who impacts the game in so many different ways.
Nia Holloway Nia Holloway 6'0" | PF Eden Prairie | 2022 State #45 Nation MN – Fresh off a summer in which she went head-to-head with the best players in the country, Nia is a standout defender and elite rebounder. The #5 senior from Eden Prairie is also committed to Minnesota
Tessa Johnson Tessa Johnson 5'11" | SG St. Michael-Albertville | 2023 State #36 Nation MN – The premiere player in the Class of 2023, Tessa has recovered from a leg injury that kept her off the court all winter. The St. Michael-Albertville Knight is proving all over again why she is #1.
Maren Westin Maren Westin 5'8" | CG Becker | 2023 State MN – One of the most dynamic players in the state, the athletic guard from Becker recently committed to Wisconsin-Green Bay. Ranked #5 in the Class of 2023, Maren is a walking highlight reel.
Kennedy Klick Kennedy Klick 6'0" | CG Maple Grove | 2023 State MN – She’s long, she’s smooth, she’s savvy. Ranked #6 among Minnesota 2023s, the Maple Grove junior can score the basketball any way you want and have fun doing it.
Taryn Hamling Taryn Hamling 5'9" | PG Grand Rapids | 2023 State MN – Taryn was the first D1 commit in the Class of 2023 where she is ranked #17 and rising. The Grand Rapids guard is heading to North Dakota State.
Emma Dasovich Emma Dasovich 6'1" | PF Valley Vista | 2024 MN – The big power forward from Minnetonka is ranked #3 in the Class of 2024. She’s deceptively quick, highly skilled and very versatile.
Laura Hauge Laura Hauge 5'9" | SG St. Croix Lutheran | 2024 State MN – One of the very best shooters in the state, the athletic guard from St. Croix Lutheran can light it up from everywhere. Laura is ranked #4 among in-state 2024s.
Rhyan Holmgren Rhyan Holmgren 5'9" | SG St. Peter | 2024 State MN – The uber-athletic guard from St. Peter, ranked in the Top 10 in the Class of 2024, is a force of nature on the court. She’s quick, fast and agile, and she can flat out shoot the basketball.
10. Freshman of your choice – There will also be 65 ninth graders competing on Sunday. Since we can’t choose just one we’ll offer up several names and you can choose your own prospect to round out our Top 10 collection. This is their final opportunity to make a great impression prior to the release of the Freshmen 50 later this month, the initial ranking of the Class of 2025. We have been previewing many of the top players in recent weeks. At the Top 250 Expo you can see for yourself. Don’t miss standouts like Kendall McGee Kendall McGee 5'10" | CG Benilde-St. Margaret's | 2025 State MN (Benilde-St. Margaret’s), Jordan Ode Jordan Ode 5'11" | CG Maple Grove | 2025 State MN (Maple Grove), Addison Mack Addison Mack 5'9" | PG Minnehaha Academy | 2025 State MN (Minnehaha Academy), Bree Bowman Bree Bowman 6'2" | SF Prior Lake | 2025 State MN (Prior Lake), Tori Schlagel Tori Schlagel 5'9" | CG Eden Prairie | 2025 State MN (Eden Prairie), Zahara Bishop Zahara Bishop 5'10" | CG Benilde-St. Margaret's | 2025 State MN (Benilde-St. Margaret’s) and Sophie Hawkinson Sophie Hawkinson 5'8" | CG Wayzata | 2025 State MN (Wayzata). All are potential Top 10 prospects.
The Top 250 Expo has come a long way in just three years, and it just keeps getting bigger. In the first two years more than 2,000 players across the country showcased their talents in front of more than 150 college programs attending in person in addition to the more than 200 schools that read our coverage and analysis year-round. This year that number has exploded.
The event runs from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. There will be 28 teams playing. Each squad will play three five-on-five games. The teams are mixed by grade and selected randomly by computer. Players are coached by high school and college coaches and everyone receives equal playing time. The event is open to spectators and there is no charge for admission. If you can’t make it to the gym the games are also available on Baller TV.
Top photo: Tessa Johnson Tessa Johnson 5'11" | SG St. Michael-Albertville | 2023 State #36 Nation MN (left) and Mara Braun Mara Braun 5'11" | CG Wayzata | 2022 State #21 Nation MN (right) are among the headliners at the Top 250 Expo.