Top Players in Class of 2023: Part II

One year is in the books for these young players who are now sophomores. They got a good taste of what playing in high school would be like and some started their freshman year with stellar performances. Others are on a team that is stacked with very talented players around them. These are some of the top players in their graduating class and will continue to prove that they are ready to contend in the upcoming shortened season. &nbsp; <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="145420" first="Ramiyah" last="Byrd"] (The Vanguard)</strong> Byrd stands at 5-foot-11 and had to do it all for her team last year at James Irwin, never taking a play off. She moves her feet well on the defensive end and will get on the floor after a loose ball. Byrd has great size, length and physicality to her game, making her a tough player to contain. Byrd averaged 14.2 points, 2.9 assists, 12.2 rebounds, 5.8 steals and 5.5 blocks per game. She has a good midrange shot and is looking to extend her range. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="118721" first="Amanda" last="Byrnes"] (Brighton)</strong> Byrnes stands at 6-foot-1 and has been continuing to grow her game. She shows signs of being able to put the ball on the floor and get to the rim. A great shot blocker with her size and length, she is averaging 2.5 blocks per game in high school. Byrnes averaged 4.4 points per game on 43-of-119 (36 percent) shooting from the floor. Byrnes shows athleticism in her game and has a ton of upside, which makes her a prime candidate to uplift her Brighton team for years to come. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="95225" first="TiAna" last="Davis"] (Sand Creek)</strong> Davis has showen that she can be a catalyst for her team, which finished the season with a 23-2 record last year after a tough Sweet 16 loss in the playoffs. She shows that she can be a good on-ball defender with her quick feet and hands. In Davis' freshman debut with a talented team, she averaged 10.7 points per game on 79-of-226 (35 percent) shooting from the floor. She is a willing shooter and plays passing lanes well, defensively, getting her hands on deflections or steals often. She shot went 34 for 125 (27 percent) from behind the arc 34-of-124 (27 percent) as a freshman and put up a season high with points 25 against Sierra early last season. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="95211" first="Jameson" last="Mott"] (Evergreen)</strong> Mott does a great job of creating opportunities for her team with her ability to knock down shots from anywhere on the floor. She attacks the rim with tremendous effort and sets the tone each time she steps on the floor with her strong work ethic. Mott also has a good basketball IQ and makes the smart plays, putting her team in a great position each game. She led her team in points per game last season, averaging 11.8 on 97-of-241 (40 percent) shooting from the floor. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="95212" first="Katie" last="Johanning"] (Highlands Ranch)</strong> Johanning does a really great job getting to the bucket and shows that she can finish through the contact. She is already a player who can knock down open shots and will do whatever it takes to put her team in the best position to win. Johanning will dive on the floor after the loose balls and spent much of her freshman campaign making a name for herself as a solid defender. An unselfish player that loves looking for her teammates, Johanning does a great job passing ahead in transition to help set the pace for her team.