2023 Rankings Overview: Top 5 Analysis
In this article:
Last week, I dove into the top 5 players in the class of 2022, highlighting what specific attributes I valued that separated them from the rest of the field. This week, let’s look closer at the top 5 athletes from…
Access all of Prep Girls Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingLast week, I dove into the top 5 players in the class of 2022, highlighting what specific attributes I valued that separated them from the rest of the field. This week, let’s look closer at the top 5 athletes from 2023. The same criteria from the 2022 list is applied to the 2023 rankings, which are as follows:
- Can the player impact both sides of the floor at a high level?
- Is the player transcendent in a skill that is a driving force in their respective team’s success?
- Does the player show versatility on both sides of the floor?
- Hypothetically, if the player is the team’s focal point, does their talent, skill set, and intangibles translate to a team winning at a high level?
- For consistency purposes, all players are graded on the same scale. Other rating outlets do not influence my rankings. They are solely based on my eyes and personal analysis. With the next update in June, I will continue to get out to watch the players, dissect their film and bring the rankings up to date.
I do not consider certain arguments when ranking the players such as “who beat who one on one” and “who has more offers”? I do not apply these to my evaluation because it makes the rankings unbalanced and inconsistent. I can find a favorable one-on-one matchup that every player on this list can win or lose based on skill set and play style. Winning a one-on-one matchup doesn’t necessarily correlate with being a better team basketball player. The “how many offers” argument is inconsistent unless I know why a player got a certain offer from that specific school. All an offer validates is the information we all already know: the player is one of the best in their region, but that still does not indicate how good she is amongst her peers. That said, here are the top 5 players from the class of 2023:
#5: Meghan Stack Meghan Stack 6'1" | SF Bishop Guertin | 2023 State New E – Bishop Guertin/MCW Starz – 6’1’’ – SF
Stack is the best passer in the class of ’23. You want to know how to tell if a player is a transcendent passer or not? Watch the team around her when Stack catches the ball, whether it be on the wing, low or high post. Off the catch, her teammates immediately move, cut, and rotate and get into scoring spots because they know that when Stack has the ball, she can find the team’s best scoring opportunity. When Stack has the ball in her hands, she increases the team’s percentage of scoring on that possession exponentially due to her innate ability as a playmaker. Not to mention she throws some of the most beautiful and accurate passes you will see from anyone never mind a combo forward. It is extremely difficult to be a player who maximizes the talent around them. It takes a special and unique talent to do so, and with Stack’s size, athleticism, and defensive versatility, it is hard to find a more distinctive individual. Stack scores at all three levels, is a ferocious rebounder and can guard the perimeter and post. A player who also displays leadership intangibles that coaches would kill to have on their team, Stack has the potential to creep up higher on this list come the June update.
Insane highlight film of @meghan_stack 🔥🔥She has no issue going into her bag and peep some of the dimes she drops👀👀Big time player
Follow @thehighlightguy and check out his YouTube for the full video pic.twitter.com/knu1SLlQVi— Bash Hudson (@BashHoopsNE) March 19, 2021
#4: Alana Scott Alana Scott 5'9" | CG St. Andrews | 2023 State New E – Bradford Christian Academy/Lady Rivals – 5’9’’ – SG/PG
Scott is a potent scorer who is brilliant, scoring off the bounce and catch. I usually lean to taller wings who possess Scott’s skill set mainly because with more size means you are more than likely to get your shot off against bigger forwards; but Scott is so polished offensively her 5’9’’ frame does not hold her back at all. Scott’s ability to keep defenders off balance with her quick jabs and head fakes lead to one of the most unstoppable mid-range pull-ups. Her three-point shooting is elite as she has shown the ability to hit consistently off the catch and is comfortable pulling up from long distance in transition. Scott has an excellent feel for the game and can slide over to the 1 and be a strong facilitator for the team. What separates Scott from a lot of players is her conditioning and muscular endurance. She is one of the most in-shape athletes I have seen, and that is one of the most critical factors to being a top scorer. Can I trust in close and late-game situations that you will have the lift, and the stamina to score at a high level when it matters most? Scott undeniably checks that box; adding that on top of the combo guards’ talent makes her one of the best in the class.
@alana_scott11 with a team high 18pts today vs @DXSF_GBBall ! pic.twitter.com/khxptytleT
— BCA GVBB (@BCAGirlsVBB) February 28, 2021
#3: Jayda Johnson Jayda Johnson 6'0" | SG Hamden Hall | 2023 State New E – Hamden Hall/NYC Exodus – 6’0’’ – SG/SF
Johnson is a physical force who gives opposing defenses nightmares. At 6’0’’, Johnson possesses a 21-inch vertical combined with one of the most daunting wingspans in the region. She can score at will and is innovative off the bounce, whether she blows by the defense and scores at the rim or settling into a hesitation dribble pull-up. She makes shot-creation and shot-making look easy because she has mastered how to utilize her athletic gifts to score at the most consistent level. Johnson will seal in the post and power up and over defenders once receiving the ball. She face cuts hard and is so strong that she can finish through contact better than anyone. Overall, Johnson has tremendous feel and command on offense, and when you tack on her unselfishness and willingness to pass, it makes her a complete offensive player. I also really like Johnson as a weak side defender. She anticipates passes well and can cover so much ground in a short amount of time, allowing her to disrupt passing lanes along with getting in the correct position around the key to alter shots at the rim. Johnson is the best two-way wing in her class.
#2: Chinenye Odenigbo Chinenye Odenigbo 6'6" | C Noble & Greenough | 2023 State New E – Walpole/Boston Showstoppers – 6’6’’ – C
No one can dominate both sides of the floor like Odenigbo. She not only is the most intimidating presence standing at 6’6’’, but she is also one of the most active bigs on offense and defense. Her instincts on defense are top-notch, and she is not just a big body inside who stands in the paint with her hands up. Odenigbo slides her feet well and muscles up opposing post players and makes it nearly impossible to score at the rim on her. The Walpole center single-handedly changes the dynamic of a game with her defensive dominance. As an opposing team, you have to adjust your whole game plan and philosophy based solely on the fact that Odenigbo refuses to allow anything easy in the paint. On offense, she buries defenders under the basket when getting post position, where she showcases her strength and touch around the rim. A tireless worker on the glass, Odenigbo wears her opponents down by being so active rebounding, throwing her muscle around, and going back up for second-chance points. Odenigbo is easily the most dominant force in New England from the class of 2023.
Congratulations to 6’6 Chinenye Odenigbo(2023) on her recent Scholarship offer from West Virginia University #SorrySallieMae @ASGR1995 @NYGHoops @ShaneLaflin @PBRhoops @InsiderExposure @GthingBBall @MarkWilliamsBB @BrandonClayPSB @3StripesCircuit @exposurebball_ @BluePrintScouts pic.twitter.com/HEH1SD5QCJ
— Boston Showstoppers (@B_Showstoppers) January 29, 2021
#1 Oluchi Okananwa Oluchi Okananwa 5'10" | CG Worcester Academy | 2023 State New E – New Hampton/Lady Rivals – 5’10’’ – PG/SG
There is no one I want to build my team around more than Okananwa. She immediately jumps out at you when watching New Hampton play. The way she can control the game and dominate at the guard position is nothing short of spectacular. As a primary facilitator, she has terrific size. At 5’10’’ and athletically built, Okananwa will expose any defender. Guards are too small and will get overpowered by Okananwa, while forwards are not quick enough to stay in front of her and challenge her defensively. She is the best rebounding guard in her class and not because she can sky and rip down boards with authority. After the rebound, she immediately looks up the court to make a play in transition. The one-woman fast-break changes pace better than anyone and eludes defenders with her agility and shiftiness on the way to the rim. I like the way Okananwa uses the combination of her athletic gifts and footwork to create separation off the ball to get open on the wing. She does an excellent job setting up her defender before exploding hard out to the wing where she can spot up and shoot or rip through and attack the basket. She is a tenacious defender, especially on the weak side. Her high basketball intelligence allows her to make up for defensive lapses or breakdowns because she is always alert and knows what position to be in at all times. Okananwa is one of the most complete players regardless of class, and what is frightening is that she is only going to get better.
🚨Player to Watch🚨
Oluchi Okananwa (2023)
New Hampton/Lady Rivals
5’10’’
Combo guardWhere does @oluchi_okananwa fall in the 2023 PGH-NE rankings?🤷🏾♂️🤷🏾♂️ …
We will find out tomorrow at noon 👀👀👀 pic.twitter.com/No2WK7Pscg
— Bash Hudson (@BashHoopsNE) April 1, 2021