Mason’s Top 10 Performers: Prep Girls Hoops Live
This past weekend was the biggest qualifying stop on the Prep Girls Hoops Circuit in its first year. There were teams from all three regions represented as well as quite a few non-circuit teams. The event brought together some of…
Access all of Prep Girls Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingThis past weekend was the biggest qualifying stop on the Prep Girls Hoops Circuit in its first year. There were teams from all three regions represented as well as quite a few non-circuit teams. The event brought together some of the best teams from across the Midwest and welcomed some teams from other reaches of the country as well. It was well attended by non-D1 coaches as close to 50 watched the event in person and dozens of D1’s watched online. The talent level was high and below are the best 10 performers that I saw this past weekend, from the teams I was able to catch, as I spent my time at Iowa West Fieldhouse.
Joy Bergstrom – 5’11 SG – 2022 – Wolverinas 2022
Bergstrom was on fire this weekend as she was a consistent force for the Wolverinas in their four games. She scored the ball well, combining for 87 points in four games, and had one 30 point performance where she was automatic from beyond the arc. Bergstrom proved to be one of the best shooters in the event as she can knock down shots in a multitude of ways. She not only scored the ball well this weekend but also showed aggressiveness on defense and was a leader on the floor. To the average person watching, Bergstrom does not stick out on the floor surrounded by high level talent but she is certainly the one who keeps the team cool in the pressure spots. She goes about her business in a way that is not at all flashy but continuously gets the job done. She is definitely a kid who has the potential to be a huge producer at the next level in all facets of the game.
Gracy Wernli – 5’9 SG – 2023 – Team Griffin 2023
Wernli stuck out to me very quickly on Saturday night with her shooting ability. She continued that hot shooting performance into Sunday as well with two very good games to wrap up their trip. She’s deadly off the catch where she has the ability to catch it and get her shot off right away. Wernli runs off screens really well and can get her shoulders square to the basket very quickly to shoot the ball. However, she is not just a shooter. Wernli is a very good communicator on the defensive end and can turn defense into offense with relative ease. She is also a great leader on the floor who leads her team. If anyone is out of place, she is going to let them know what they need to coach. She is in essence a coach on the floor and her ability to take charge does not go unnoticed. Whichever team that Wernli is on is a better team because of it.
Mya Babbitt – 5’8 PG – 2023 – Nebraska Attack 2022 UAA
Babbitt had impressed me all weekend and was going to find herself on this list regardless, but then she dropped 26 points on Sunday and really solidified herself as a top performer from the event. She’s a really nice point guard who has the ability to change the game with her game management and defense. Babbitt is a really smart player who let the game come to her and does not get sped up with the ball in her hands. This weekend she played against some of the best guards in the Midwest and excelled against that competition. She has a smooth shot from beyond the arc and has the ability to get herself into open space for an open shot. What stood out to me in her 26-point game was how well she moved into space after her team got an offensive rebound. She got to a spot and was ready to shoot the ball. Every time she is on the floor she showcases such a high basketball IQ.
MaKenzie Drout – 5’8 G – 2023 – Let It Rain 2023 Black
Drout has performed really well this spring as she continues to see her stock rise and this past weekend at the Prep Girls Hoops Live event was no different. She was one of the best attacking guards at the event and has the ability to hurt you in so many different ways. She can break her defender down and get into the paint quickly and once she gets by her defender, the defense has already lost. She can hit the pull-up jumper or can pivot out into a fadeaway jumper. Really good feel for where the defense is and is very crafty with the ball in her hands. She pulls a lot of attention from defenders on the drive and has shown really good court vision to find the open man on the 3-point line or the cutter. Drout also is very good in transition where she runs the floor really well. She can play any guard spot on the floor right now and will be a very solid off ball creator at the next level.
Emilee Fox – 5’8 G – 2024 – SD Attack 2023
I fondly remember seeing Fox in Des Moines last summer and I was very excited to see her again at this event. She seems to have gotten a little taller and a bit stronger but her game hasn’t changed all that much. She is a very crafty guard capable of taking you off the bounce but she’s also a player who you do not want to give any space to. This weekend see was on fire from beyond the arc nailing 3-pointer after 3-pointer. She is really smooth with the ball and cuts to the basket really hard taking advantage of wandering eyes this weekend multiple times. Fox is also really quick on the defensive end and has gotten much more physical on that end from last year. Take into account that she is playing a year up and you have a player who at times dominated the competition at the older level. She poured in 33 points in one game where she made it look simple. High level scorer from either guard spot.
Emily Dreckman – 5’10 G – 2022 – United Sports Academy 2022
Dreckman isn’t going to be a player who comes out and scores 25 points a game, although she definitely has that capability. This past weekend I thought that her ability to play multiple positions on the floor made her one of the weekend’s top performers. She’s quick and athletic enough to play the lead guard spot but she’s got such a strong base she can play down in the post if needed. She’s a true five position player and can handle all five spots pretty well. She’s best when she has the ball in her hands however, as she creates for herself and others. Dreckman has the potential to blossom into a really nice wing at the college level who will be able to switch onto and position they need her at. I really liked her ability to pull down rebounds and look to immediately push it up the floor whether it be handling the ball or seeing her floor and making a pass. I think that she really caught the attention of a few colleges in attendance this past weekend.
Samantha Koeberer – 5’11 G – 2021 – State 38 Basketball 2022
I had caught glimpses of Koeberer in some past events but this was the first where I was able to sit down and really watch her and evaluate her. The 2021 product stood out very quickly for how smooth with the ball she was at her length. She’s a long 5’11 guard who handles the ball really well in space and gets to the rim with the ability to finish. Koeberer was really efficient with everything she did this past weekend. She has the ability to string points together relatively quickly from both the perimeter and by getting to the rim. She cuts to the basket really well and reads the ball screen solidly. Koeberer is going to continue to improve and gain strength at the next level with her well-built frame that she holds. She can make high level plays on both ends of the floor with ease and did so in each game this past weekend.
Audi Crooks – 6’2 C – 2023 – CY Select 2022 Alpha
Crooks has continually developed her game and is a matchup nightmare on the offensive end on the floor. This past weekend she was able to do a lot of really nice things with the ball as she scored really well in the paint. She also showed the ability to knock down a few mid-range jumpers as well showing that she is starting to expand her game out. She’s got really soft hands and has shown the ability to finish at the rim at a very high level. Crooks has the ability to also change the game on the defensive end of the floor as she has a very good ability to turn people away at the rim. She has gotten a lot better over the past year of reading the defense and passing out of the pressure to open players. Very skilled post player with the ability to take over a game on both ends of the floor.
Hilary Behrens – 6’1 W – 2023 – SD Network 2022 Sean
Behrens can score the ball at a really high level as evidenced by some of her games this weekend but she can also defend and do all of the little things at a very high level as well. She’s one of the top 2023’s in the Dakota’s and seems to have gotten better each time that I have seen her. She made a 19-point performance this weekend look effortless while showing the ability to score at all three levels through the weekend. She has the ability to break her defender down off the dribble or seal off her defender for the easy post entry pass. Her versatility is excellent and can provide a ton of mismatches on both ends of the floor. Her hands are quick giving her the ability to snag steals and knock the ball loose. She’s a really tough player as well as she does not mind getting into the post and going to work both offensively and defensively. Really high level athlete who will see her stock go up this summer.
Cora Olsen – 5’8 G – 2023 – Nebraska Attack 2022 UAA
Olsen is the glue that holds Nebraska Attack together. She won’t be the one to score 20+ points a game but will always be the one that is a steady presence on the floor. Olsen’s calling card is her tough defense as she seems to pride herself on locking down the best player on the opposing team. She is very smooth in all directions and always is step-for-step with her man. She can turn her defense into offense really well a she gets the ball and gets it up the floor in a hurry. Olsen displayed great court awareness this weekend and was always one step ahead of the other team. She’s one of my favorite players to watch because of how hard and how smart she plays the game. Offensively she was very solid as usual scoring in different ways each game and keeping the defense off balance. She was able to drive and finish with both hands this weekend and was one of the main reasons Nebraska Attack 2022 UAA went 4-0.