Top 250 Expo: 10 more 2023 defensive difference-makers

Over the weekend we brought you the rundown on junior guards whose defense made a difference at this year’s Prep Girls Hoops Top 250 Expo. Today, in the name of equal time, we bring you 10 forwards who did the same. The Class of 2023 has a solid group of next-level forwards to choose from. Recruiters may want to consider these 10. <img class="alignnone wp-image-338630 size-thumbnail" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/10/257-Jenna-Kluxdal-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" /> [player_tooltip player_id="186134" first="Jenna" last="Kluxdal"] – 6’1 power forward, Jordan Jenna has had a terrific last 12 months, having evolved her game in a significant way. Last winter was her coming-out party as the then-sophomore became a go-to scorer at Jordan where she averaged over 14 points per game. That, and a great start to the AAU season, earned her a big bump in the rankings. Over the summer we saw more of the same. Jenna has a big frame and long arms, both terrific assets for the next level. In the long run she’s probably a stretch 4, a strong player who can overpower defenders inside or knock down threes from the perimeter. <img class="alignnone wp-image-338646 size-thumbnail" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/10/275-Jessica-Oberlander-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" /> [player_tooltip player_id="339130" first="Jessica" last="Oberlander"] – 6’3 power forward, Wayzata Jessica’s emergence continues as she is gradually becoming the quintessential late bloomer. Last month we named Oberlander one of the 5 most improved players we had seen at AAU tryouts and she just keeps on getting better. At the Top 250 Expo we saw more of the same. At 6’3, Jess’ length is a potent weapon. I mean, how many players are there in any given class with those dimensions and the ability to move, rebound and finish? You can count them on one hand. Oberlander is becoming more active, is running the floor well and is gaining confidence by the day. Minutes will be hard to come by at Wayzata this winter, but once she finds her footing Jessica may become a fixture on the court. <img class="alignnone wp-image-338543 size-thumbnail" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/10/155-Hannah-Stark-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" /> [player_tooltip player_id="186143" first="Hannah" last="Stark"] – 5’9 small forward, Yellow Medicine East Is she a guard? Is she a forward? Does it really matter? After watching Hannah get after it a few weeks ago at Minnesota Rise tryouts we were reminded just how gritty she is, what a tough competitor she is, how effective she can be. At the Top 250 it was more of the same. Stark is not the fastest or most graceful or most athletic player on the court, but she is solidly built and strong, too. She has a nice mid-range game and also shoots the three. And she can defend, either inside or out, offering a physical presence, a high degree of energy and a healthy dose of sandpaper. That will get you noticed every time, whether playing at guard or forward. That’s why she’s ranked in the Top 125. <img class="alignnone wp-image-338622 size-thumbnail" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/10/247-Audrey-Jakway-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" /> [player_tooltip player_id="302286" first="Audrey" last="Jakway"] – 6’0 power forward, Mounds Park Academy Speaking of significant improvement... Like Oberlander, Audrey’s enhanced abilities over the past few months earned her a spot in our roundup of most improved players in August. All she does is work and now the results are there. Honestly, it was Audrey’s improved play on offense that really drew notice this summer but her defense is a huge asset as well. At 6 feet, with a bigger frame, she has the strength and size to make life difficult for opponents inside. Her improved foot speed and mobility has made her more effective farther away from the basket, too. In the end, it is Jakway’s tenacity, desire and tireless level of effort that will get her to the next level. Who knows how much better she’ll be in two years. <img class="alignnone wp-image-338599 size-thumbnail" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/10/217-Ella-Hopkins-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" /> [player_tooltip player_id="186116" first="Ella" last="Hopkins"] – 6’3 forward, Rochester Lourdes As they say, you can’t teach height. You can, however, teach players what to do with their good fortune having been born with size. Clearly someone has been teaching Ella because she has learned what to do to make life miserable for those with the misfortune to be up against the 6’3 post from Rochester. Hopkins’ ball-handling is much improved. She can bring it up the floor, withstand defensive pressure and shoot it with plenty of range. Defensively the type of assets Ella offers are just so hard to find. After playing up a year with Southern Minnesota Fury in 2021, Ella has taken it up another notch against top competition and is playing with more grit than ever. 5 MORE DEFENDERS WHO MADE A DIFFERENCE <img class="alignnone wp-image-338569 size-thumbnail" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/10/183-Molly-Garber-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" /> [player_tooltip player_id="220845" first="Molly" last="Garber"] – 5’11 small forward, Blaine At the next level Molly is probably a small forward. She has a ton of length, and tends to play much bigger than her listed height. Like many players with her type of frame – long and lanky – it took some time for her to grow into her body and put it all together, which is exactly what she has done. As she has become stronger, Molly has become more aggressive, more physical, and more confident while parlaying her length into a defensive weapon. She has a great sense of timing in the paint to pull down rebounds in traffic over bigger, stronger players at both ends of the floor. She will often grab the board in heavy traffic, navigate the chaos quickly and move the ball to an open teammate or dribble her way out of the trees. All in all, it’s a most attractive package. <img class="alignnone wp-image-338587 size-thumbnail" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/10/204-Christina-Wagner-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" /><img class="alignnone wp-image-338586 size-thumbnail" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/10/203-Elizabeth-Wagner-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" /> [player_tooltip player_id="339134" first="Christina" last="Wagner"] & [player_tooltip player_id="339135" first="Elizabeth" last="Wagner"] – 6’0 small forwards, Luverne Luverne is a little off the basketball beaten path, so we haven’t seen a ton of the Wagner twins live and in person since first encountering them a couple of years ago at a showcase in St. James. That’s why it was particularly nice having them in the gym at the Top 250 Expo where they were able to demonstrate their development against quality opponents in front of the right audience. What they showed is the fact that they have improved a lot over the past couple of years. Both girls use their length effectively inside and out. It helps, especially on the perimeter, to have a substantial wingspan. When you can combine that with good anticipation, quality basketball intelligence and the type of surehandedness coaches covet, you have a very attractive package. Well two actually. <img class="alignnone wp-image-338628 size-thumbnail" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/10/255-Maraya-Wiltrout-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" /><img class="alignnone wp-image-338625 size-thumbnail" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/10/251-Evelyn-Wiltrout-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" /> [player_tooltip player_id="220837" first="Maraya" last="Wiltrout"] & [player_tooltip player_id="220838" first="Evelyn" last="Wiltrout"] – 6-foot + power forwards, Cambridge-Isanti Unlike the Wagners we have seen a ton of the Wiltrouts. We have watched them in high school. We have watched them in AAU. We have watched them in small group training sessions with Barry Peterson of Boost Basketball. And we have watched them demonstrate a level of maturity that is seldom seen in high school basketball players. Best of all, every time we have watched the Wiltrouts the twins have had more to offer. That’s because their work ethic and desire is second to none. Both girls have leaned out, become quicker and faster and more mobile. Their strength and compete level is never questioned, and it is particularly fun watching them go head-to-head as only sisters can do. Evelynn and Maraya made it obvious at the Top 250 that they are embarking on a breakthrough season. Top photo: [player_tooltip player_id="339134" first="Christina" last="Wagner"] of Luverne engages is some post-game pleasantries.