Top 250 Expo: 10 outstate 2023s who shone
There are so many great guards in Minnesota’s class of 2023 that it’s hard to know where to begin when sifting and sorting who fits where. There are more than 20 of them in the Prep Girls Hoops Top 100…
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Continue ReadingThere are so many great guards in Minnesota’s class of 2023 that it’s hard to know where to begin when sifting and sorting who fits where. There are more than 20 of them in the Prep Girls Hoops Top 100 who hail from outstate Minnesota, many of whom were on hand for the Top 250 Expo last weekend. We already recognized rising star Ava Privet Ava Privet 5'10" | CG Caledonia | 2023 State MN of Caledonia, who made our 2023 All-Expo Team. Emily Crandall Emily Crandall 5'10" | CG Sartell | 2023 State MN of Sartell was featured in our “Ten 2023 guards we liked” evaluations. Today we offer you 10 more top outstate 2023s, all of whom make their living in the backcourt.
Vivica Bretton Vivica Bretton 5'9" | SF Rochester Lourdes | 2023 State MN – The 5’8 guard from Rochester Lourdes is the #42-rated prospect among Minnesota sophomores. She is a solid contributor in multiple aspects of the game. Vivica isn’t flashy but she is definitely effective. Bretton is athletic, handles the ball well and is a very good shooter.
Ashlynne Guenther Ashlynne Guenther 5'11" | SF Duluth East | 2023 State MN – The big guard from Duluth East is listed at 5’11 with a big frame and a big game. Currently ranked #58, Ashlynne can handle the ball and fill up the basket from the inside, outside and everywhere in between. Guenther is leading a program turnaround in Duluth and it’s not hard to see how.
Peyton Stevermer Peyton Stevermer 5'5" | CG Mankato East | 2023 State MN – The 5’6 guard from Mankato East has earned a #60 ranking in the class of 2023. That’s not surprising given her speed, quickness, ability to handle the basketball at a high level and non-stop motor. Peyton is a coach’s kid whose game continues to mature. The results speak for themselves.
Emily Bowron Emily Bowron 5'7" | SG Rochester Lourdes | 2023 State MN – The 5’6 guard from Rochester Lourdes is ranked #63. Emily is crafty, she’s quick and her overall skill set is well-honed. Bowron is a terrific shooter who can knock it down with the best of them. Emily had a nice summer in AAU and that has continued over into the fall.
Brynn Busse Brynn Busse 5'6" | CG G-F-W | 2023 State MN – The 5’5 guard from Gibbon-Fairfax-Winthrop is another coach’s kid. Ranked #65 in the class, Brynn is a solid floor general with excellent skills and a nice understanding of the game. She plays in an aggressive fashion while exuding plenty of confidence. Busse has filled out and gotten stronger this year, too.
Juliana Ewald Juliana Ewald 5'6" | CG Pillager | 2023 State MN – The 5’5 guard from Pillager is also coming off an excellent summer. We watched the #75-ranked sophomore in the state numerous times with Minnesota Stars Knight and always came away impressed. Juliana has swagger and the skills to back it up. She can also shoot the rock!
Keeley Steele Keeley Steele 5'8" | CG Stewartville | 2023 State MN – The 5’7 guard from Stewartville is simply solid with a well-rounded set of skills, a good-sized frame and a team-first mentality. The #76 prospect of 2023 plays the game with confidence, poise and precision, firing hard passes, making sound decisions and contributing in a myriad of ways.
Aubrey Akervik – The long, lanky guard from Byron didn’t play AAU this summer and isn’t yet in the Prep Girls Hoops Top 100. That’s about to change because Akervik has made a heck of an impression all fall. She’s a high-octane athlete with fast feet, great lateral movement and a huge wingspan.
Paige Ford – The 5’9 guard from Randolph has made a solid impression of late, at tryouts, in the PGH Fall Exclusive and at the Top 250 Expo. She’s got handles, range, a very nice understanding of the game and just enough swagger to let you know she means business. Randolph may not be on the radar but Paige is.
Paige Klug – Shooter! That’s what you’ll hear every time Paige takes to the court as defenses scramble to keep up with her silky-smooth delivery and all-out aerial assault. The lengthy 5’9 guard from Caledonia showed us all summer that she’s legit and the college coaches see it, too. Big things ahead for Klug.
Top photo: Vivica Bretton Vivica Bretton 5'9" | SF Rochester Lourdes | 2023 State MN of Rochester Lourdes (with the basketball) was among the outstate standouts at the Top 250 Expo.