Class of 2023: Aim Ambitions Above All

This 2023 class is another full-fledged bucket of extraordinary talent and players with a nice all-around game. Once again; from the top, to the middle, and to the bottom of the rankings; I see a lot of similar skill set, and this immediately pops into my mind when seeing them play. Solid upbringing we have here in this class with kids who have a great feel for this game. With the COVID-19, these 2023 players lost out on some opportunities to hoop at prestigious events in 2020 in preparation of their sophomore year. They are now getting revenge this spring and summer making themselves pivotal prospects. I am now going to cover five kids who have some great versatility and who do a lot of instinctual, natural, and innate stuff on the court. Wham! <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-212278" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2020/10/101-Bryar-Duwe-200x300.jpg" alt="" width="200" height="300" /> [player_tooltip player_id="63021" first="Bryar" last="Duwe"], 5’8, G, Decorah, 2023 Not sure on the exact number of kids that I have covered since the end of March, however, I know there has been a lot. With that being said, I have come across loads of players with so much natural talent, skill, and ability. To top it off, these kids also have the basketball savvy, high IQ, and athletic ability to put the icing on the cake to their full package game. Miss [player_tooltip player_id="63021" first="Bryar" last="Duwe"] is a flat out baller. To be honest, she is probably in one of my top ten most talented kids in all three classes. She has that “knack” that you identify in kids right after seeing them for just a minute or so. Her handle is outrageously good, she can get to the rim and finish well, can hit the runner and floater, can shoot the 3 ball with a beautiful stroke, and can also pass the ball; as she displays great court vision and awareness. She flows with the game at a smooth pace; and you know that she just has “it.” She is listed as a point guard, however, I see her also being able to slide over to the 2 guard position; as she has lethal skills that can be utilized on the wing. I see high-level potential in this kid, and the sky is the limit. <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/13906704/Bryar-Duwe">https://www.hudl.com/profile/13906704/Bryar-Duwe</a> https://www.ncsasports.org/womens-basketball-recruiting/iowa/decorah/decorah-high-school/bryar-duwe [caption id="attachment_293851" align="alignnone" width="353"]<img class=" wp-image-293851" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/06/Aubrey-Luvan-2-300x169.jpg" alt="" width="353" height="199" /> Credit: Sean Donohue | Echo Images[/caption] [player_tooltip player_id="160554" first="Aubrey" last="Luvan"], 5’5, PG, CR Jefferson, 2023 This is another kid with high-level talent and is a scoring point guard. We talk about point guards on every level of basketball who are “pass first” point guards, as well as players who are also “scoring” point guards. There are some hoopers that fall within each category. Aubrey is definitely a scoring point guard. She has the ability to slice and dice her slick handle into the lane and finish some tricky drives. I like her capability to also finish with contact and get the And 1, as this proves her talent to finish the shot while drawing the foul. You cannot go under screens, give her space, or lose sight of her on the weakside; as there will be consequences resulting in a 3-point basket. She can shoot the 3 ball with great consistency, displaying range and a nice little step back move to throw off defenders. Her athleticism is second to none, as she has great quickness and speed that is utilized in her favor on both ends of the floor. She is a great passer, and has terrific vision. I see her scoring average drastically moving up these next two seasons for sure. Great things in store. <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/12890659/Aubrey-Luvan">https://www.hudl.com/profile/12890659/Aubrey-Luvan</a>   [player_tooltip player_id="160555" first="Grace" last="Hennessy"], 5’10, W, Denver, 2023 I like Grace’s game, and I believe she has a natural skillset. I see her as a 2 guard, wing, who can produce significant damage on both ends of the floor. What caught my eye right from the get go about her was the energy and passion she brings to the table. She can shoot the 3 ball with a pure stroke, can drive to the basket, and gets a lot of easy points running the floor in transition and picking up the bunnies. A kid who is always finding ways to get those easy buckets; utilizing their athletic ability establishing a track meet; is going to be finding ways to rally up the scoreboard and make that final score a high one. I think Grace fits this above description perfectly. She has good passing skills as well. She can also put a damper on defenses by getting steals and racking up the rebounds. Outstanding upset in this kid. <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/13655435/Grace-Hennessy">https://www.hudl.com/profile/13655435/Grace-Hennessy</a>   [player_tooltip player_id="160556" first="Maggie" last="Criswell"], 5’5, PG, Waukon, 2023 This hooper is another kid who has a fiery, fierce, and competitive drive to do whatever it takes to come out on top. I can tell this right after watching her play for a couple of possessions. Maggie is a very passionate kid with a mentality to win each game. She has a great 3-point shot, can maneuver around defenses easily with a quick first step to finish off the glass, can hit the mid-range jumper, and excites the crowd with electric open court finishes in transition. If there were 50 loose balls on the floor, there is no doubt in my mind she would be on the floor grabbing all 50 of them. Her athletic ability is one of her main strengths, and it’s very fun to watch. Her passing skills are top-notch, and she gets some great assists (dimes) to fellow teammates. Her tenacity on the defensive end to notch up the steals make her an elite defender. Her quick hands can cause enormous disruption for every opposing team out there. I see a tremendous stock riser in this kid. <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/13877321/Maggie-Criswell">https://www.hudl.com/profile/13877321/Maggie-Criswell</a>   [player_tooltip player_id="63027" first="Emma" last="Hampton"], 5’10, SG, Johnston, 2023 Emma is what I would call a future off guard, most likely a 2 or 3 guard. However, she is a solid point guard too. Her shooting skills are great, as she can shoot the 3 ball with a nice stroke. With her handle, she can get to the rim and finish. Displays a high IQ and good knowledge for the game. She is a phenomenal defender, as she can utilize her 5’10 height frame to block shots and cause havoc for guards driving to the basket. A good rebounder as well. Strong upside in this kid. <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/13736604/Emma-Hampton">https://www.hudl.com/profile/13736604/Emma-Hampton</a>