'23 Rankings Update: Criteria and Top 5 Breakdown

This week will focus on the updated rankings for the class of 2023. Similar to the ’22 rankings, I tried to watch as many players as I could in person this spring, and the games I did miss,I ran back on the tournament’s live stream broadcast. The purpose of doing this was to learn more about the individual players and how they play this spring compared to their class peers. Essentially, these rankings are one massive evaluation of the prospects’ spring from my vantage point. I put a premium on an individual’s impact on a game. All these players are super talented and skilled, so to separate the players, I have to dig a little deeper to determine what skills translate to winning and what players are using these skill sets to elevate their team and put them in a position to win.   That said, the class of ’23 is stacked with elite prospects, and I wanted to break down the top 5 specifically because from what these players have shown me this spring, I can make a case for each one of them being the top player. Let’s take a look below: #5 [player_tooltip player_id="184007" first="Abigail" last="Wright"] - MCW Starz/Newton North - 6’1’’ - SG <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-297369" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/05/IMG_0189-crop-964x633-1623676196-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /> Wright is the most versatile player in the ’23 class. I have seen her throughout a game defend guards, wings, and posts at a high level, not once backing down from a matchup. One of my favorite games that I watched of Wright was MCW vs. New Heights, where Wright had to guard one of the nation’s top recruits, 6’6’’ forward Aalyah Del Rosario. Wright was not only putting forth a tremendous effort on defense but also had the responsibility of being a primary scoring option on the other end. That game was just an example of what Wright had to do all spring long. No one on this list has the physical gifts and skill set to impact the game at a high level in the manner that she can. In my opinion, Wright is the most valuable player on her MCW team because of her ability to play inside/out, defend any position and use her skill set to make up for the team’s weaknesses. Additionally, she is one of the toughest players physically and mentally that I have seen thus far. https://x.com/ihoopcrazy/status/1398084124703870978 #4 [player_tooltip player_id="184116" first="Lizzy" last="Gruber"] - Maine Attraction/Gardiner - 6’4’’ - PF <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-297371" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/05/26743296_Unknown-crop-1254x824-1623676361-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /> What Gruber did during the New England Showcase was one of the most dominant weekends by an individual all spring. Maine Attraction was down two critical pieces to their rotation, and Gruber took everyone to the cleaners. No one had an answer for her in the post. Right and left hooks galore while displaying the sweetest touch around the basket. Gruber has the best footwork of any big I have watched, and when she got the ball on the block, she put on a clinic. Gruber has been consistent scoring on the interior all season, but she was deadly from three during the New England Showcase, which took her game to another level. There was no way of slowing her down in any aspect of the game. On the glass, she always got inside position and racked up second-chance points. On defense, Gruber protected the rim well, showed high defensive IQ, and was quick to react. If Gruber can continue to be that impactful throughout July, then she can be higher on this list. A 6’4’’ big, fundamentally sound, runs the floor well, dominant on the block, efficient outside shooter, and defends at a high level is every coach’s dream. #3 [player_tooltip player_id="267052" first="Oluchi" last="Okananwa"] - Lady Rivals/Worcester Academy - 5’10’’ - SG <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-297372" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/05/IMG_0180-crop-1148x754-1623676504-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /> Okananwa put a stamp on the "best rebounding guard in the ’23 class” title this spring. What you cannot do against the Rivals is give them second and third chances to score, and with Okananwa on the court, she makes it impossible for opposing teams to be one and done. She is relentless on the boards, and her vertical leap is mindblowing; Okananwa made a living racking up putbacks all spring long. Okananwa also displayed how efficient an outside shooter she can be. Spookynook and the Philly Showcase were two tournaments where her perimeter shooting was the difference in the outcome of games. When Okananwa is consistently lighting it up for the outside, it opens up the floor for her to slash and penetrate which is what she does best. Down the stretch of games, Okananwa displayed the ability to hit timely and clutch shots to elevate the Rivals to victory and hitting these shots at all three levels. #2 [player_tooltip player_id="266805" first="Sophia" last="Vital"] - Bay State Jaguars/Tabor - 5’3’’ - PG <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-297374" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/05/26743536_Unknown-crop-1639x1076-1623676620-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /> Vital is easily one of the most electric and exciting players to watch in New England, no matter the class. She is so fast with the ball that when in transition with a full head of steam, you are at her mercy. What is most impressive about Vital is that when most players are intimidated by pressure, she embraces and encourages it. I watched multiple teams try and pick up Vital full court and get left in the dust as she weaves in and out of defenders making jaw-dropping play after jaw-dropping play. Vital manages the game and can control the tempo as well as anyone. When she isn’t burning defenses on press breaks and in transition, I like how Vital can facilitate the offense in the halfcourt. She has a high IQ and does not need to dominate the ball to be effective. Vitak keeps the offense flowing with her constant movement off-ball when deferring to [player_tooltip player_id="183910" first="Shay" last="Bollin"] or [player_tooltip player_id="183929" first="Megan" last="Olbrys"] to make plays. Lastly, in every game, Vital brings the same intensity and compete, which shows on defense. Her energy trickles down to the rest of her teammates and spearheads a winning team atmosphere. https://x.com/SophiaVital1/status/1394815273690091520 #1 [player_tooltip player_id="266710" first="Aoibhe" last="Gormley"] - MA Huskies/Thayer - 5’9’’ - CG <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-297377" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/05/26743552_Unknown-crop-1080x709-1623676976-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /> From a physical standpoint, there is no guard built like Gormley. She is a big guard at 5’9’’, insane wingspan, massive hand size, and one of the most well-conditioned athletes. A few things catch my attention when I watch Gormley. First, she is, without a doubt, the best playmaker in the class. Some of the plays she makes and the degree of difficulty of them are eye-popping. Second, no one keeps the defense off-balanced more than Gormley. She makes getting into the paint look easy and initiates contact constantly. Most importantly, what makes Gormley the best player, by my estimation, is that she is the only person in her class who, when inserted in the lineup, can maximize the talent around her and turn the team into an absolute force. In the last couple of weeks, [player_tooltip player_id="263815" first="Ana" last="Von Rumohr"], [player_tooltip player_id="183991" first="Ellen" last="Angwin"], [player_tooltip player_id="263806" first="Taylor" last="Lambo"], [player_tooltip player_id="183924" first="Nina" last="Minicozzi"], and [player_tooltip player_id="263840" first="Katie" last="Kissell"] have played their best basketball of the spring. As a whole, the Huskies have been one of the best teams during that period. What changed in those two weeks that caused all this to occur? Gormley joined the team for her first taste of spring action. Her presence completely changed the dynamics of the group, and everyone on the roster benefited from it. Her teammates’ stock rose exponentially, but above all, the Huskies have been winning. Gormley is dominating individually, but her impact affects her teammates, making the Huskies one of the toughest teams to face. The frightening part is that Gormley is just getting her feet wet. I think after a few more weeks, she can shake off more rust and make it even more challenging to dethrone her from the top spot. https://x.com/GormleyAoibhe/status/1382812864679919622 https://x.com/GormleyAoibhe/status/1399497499371618312 https://x.com/BashHoopsNE/status/1401248052204257282 https://x.com/BashHoopsNE/status/1403835877520969731