2023 rankings update: Meet the 33 newcomers

Exposure is important. Without it very few prospects will emerge from the hinterlands and make it to college basketball. That's why events like the Prep Girls Hoops Top 250 Expo matter so much for outstate players who may not have the chance through high school basketball to get the kind of exposure they need to generate the type of next-level opportunities they want. This year's Top 250 produced a flurry of prospects who showed up and showed out and now their names are showing in the rankings. In last week's update, the Class of 2023 rankings were expanded to include 180 players. Of the 33 newcomers to the list, over half hailed from Greater Minnesota. Four of the top five were from the Southwest or West Central part of the state – Morris, St. James, Pipestone and Wheaton-Herman-Norcross – where the teams don't travel much out of their region and the programs aren't making it to the state tournament on a regular basis. Thanks to the Top 250, however, these players are now visble, their names are known, and now they are officially ranked prospects. Meet the top 5 newcomers and the rest of the 33 fresh faces in the Class of 2023. <strong>TOP 5 NEWCOMERS</strong> <img class="alignnone wp-image-338633 size-thumbnail" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/10/261-Brylie-Schultz-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" /> <strong>#68 –</strong> [player_tooltip player_id="339102" first="Brylie" last="Schultz"] <strong>– forward, Wheaton-Herman-Norcross</strong> Nobody made more of a splash at the Top 250 Expo than Schultz. We must confess that our knowledge of Brylie was very limited prior to the event. We just hadn't had the opportunity to watch the 6'2 power forward in person, but her presence simply couldn't be missed at the Expo. She was a big factor in the paint, displaying the kind of strength and positioning that is difficult for opponents to manage and match up with. She also ran the floor, handled the ball in transition, make smart choices on the court and demonstrated a solid skillset. Brylie returned to the Twin Cities for the Featured 40 and turned in another strong performance. Next year she'll suit up for North Tartan meaning she will no longer be a well-kept secret well beyond the borders of Minnesota. <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" /> <strong>#80 –</strong> [player_tooltip player_id="337626" first="Jessica" last="Oberlander"] <strong>– forward, Wayzata</strong> Jessica did not have to travel far to get to the Top 250 from the West Metro, but she has been hiding in plain sight for some time now. Oberlander appears to be a solid late bloomer who has now become accustomed to her 6'3 frame and is learning what to do with it and when to do it. She really impressed us during the tryout season. At the Expo she took it up another notch and has been solid ever since. With that kind of size and length, Jessica is a defensive weapon no matter how she is employed in game situations. As her mobility improves, along with her knowledge of the game and how she fits within it, Oberlander's presence will continue to bloom. She's more active, is running the floor well, and you can see her confidence rising. Consistency is the logical next step. <img class="alignnone wp-image-338511 size-thumbnail" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/10/117-Aubrea-Kor-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" /> <strong>#116 –</strong> [player_tooltip player_id="339203" first="Aubrea" last="Kor"] <strong>– guard, Pipestone</strong> The Arrows have produced a number of solid players in recent seasons and Aubrea appears to have learned well in Pipestone. This fall she turned in an impressive showing not only at the Minnesota Top 250 Expo but also in the Dakotas version of the prospect showcase. Our colleague in South Dakota, Spencer Christianson, said this of Kor:  “Aubrea had an impressive showing. A sound and aware defender, turned defensive rebounds into fast-break opportunities. Constantly moving without the ball, looking to cut and set screens for teammates. Has some skill with the ball and was effective going baseline.” Sounds about right. One thing Spencer didn't mention is Kor's shooting, which was very good in Minnesota. She has nice mechanics and a quick release, and she showed plenty of range. <img class="alignnone wp-image-338568 size-thumbnail" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/10/181-Maddy-Grove-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" /> <strong>#118 –</strong> [player_tooltip player_id="339158" first="Maddy" last="Grove"] <strong>– forward, Morris Area</strong> Maddy was another solid outstate performer who made the most of her trips to city this fall. Grove has been doing nice work for some time in Morris, where her dad Tim coaches the University of Minnesota-Morris squad. She averaged 11 points and 4 rebounds per game as a sophomore and made All-Conference. At the Top 250 Expo Maddy made it clear she could perform at a similar level against a stronger field of players. Listed at 5'11, Maddy is long and lean. Like many players with those dimensions it took her some amount of time to grow into her body and put it all together in a coordinated way. Now she shows nice footwork, good mobility and the ability to create her own space/shot. She is a solid rebounder who has the fundamentals of that particular skill under control, with good positioning, good timing, attention to ball security and simple execution. That will carry her a long way. <img class="alignnone wp-image-338610 size-thumbnail" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/10/234-Taylor-Sodeman-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" /> <strong>#123 –</strong> [player_tooltip player_id="339225" first="Taylor" last="Sodeman"] <strong>– forward, St. James</strong> Versatility is the key word with Sodeman. At 5'11 she has the size and build of a power forward. But she  also has the ball-handling skills of a guard. That's a nice combination! We have her listed as a forward but she plays point guard for her high school team. She averaged 13 points and 7 rebounds per game last year, leading the Saints in scoring and landing a spot on the Big South All-Conference team. That's not surprising based on what she showed at different events this fall. The key now will be focusing more on basketball to continue gaining skill and experience at a more rapid pace. Taylor has played a lot of softball in recent summers but will return to AAU action in 2022 with the Minnesota Rise. If her plan is to play college basketball then Sodeman is now on the most logical path. If she puts in the time, this is a player who could rise another 60-70 spots and earn a scholarship. <strong>THE OTHER 28 FRESH FACES</strong> <ul> <li>#134 – [player_tooltip player_id="339125" first="Hailey" last="Dirksen"] – forward, Montevideo</li> <li>#136 – [player_tooltip player_id="339134" first="Christina" last="Wagner"] – forward, Luverne</li> <li>#136 – [player_tooltip player_id="339135" first="Elizabeth" last="Wagner"] – forward, Luverne</li> <li>#152 – [player_tooltip player_id="339138" first="Ella" last="Kadlec"] – forward, Rochester Century</li> <li>#159 – [player_tooltip player_id="339120" first="Kloey" last="Lind"] – forward, Pine City</li> <li>#160 – [player_tooltip player_id="352770" first="Caroline" last="Hemann"] – guard, Bloomington Jefferson</li> <li>#161 – [player_tooltip player_id="352771" first="Maddie" last="Prondzinski"] – guard, Minnetonka</li> <li>#162 – [player_tooltip player_id="343697" first="Ivy" last="Fasching"] – guard Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted</li> <li>#163 – [player_tooltip player_id="338783" first="Lily" last="Manning"] – guard, Monticello</li> <li>#164 – [player_tooltip player_id="339207" first="Lauren" last="Cooper"] – guard, Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial</li> <li>#165 – [player_tooltip player_id="339166" first="Savannah" last="Schlueter"] – guard, Hutchinson</li> <li>#166 – [player_tooltip player_id="352772" first="McKenzie" last="Wells"] – forward, Benilde-St. Margaret's</li> <li>#167 – [player_tooltip player_id="352774" first="Sage" last="Ganyo"] – guard, Mountain Iron-Buhl</li> <li>#168 – [player_tooltip player_id="352775" first="Claire" last="Pepin"] – forward, Eastview</li> <li>#169 – [player_tooltip player_id="352776" first="Tamia" last="Brack"] – guard, Osseo</li> <li>#170 – [player_tooltip player_id="352777" first="Emma" last="Felt"] – guard, Bloomington Jefferson</li> <li>#171 – [player_tooltip player_id="339201" first="Jenna" last="Boos"] – guard, Rocori</li> <li>#172 – [player_tooltip player_id="352778" first="Estelle" last="Bass"] – guard, DeLaSalle</li> <li>#173 – [player_tooltip player_id="352779" first="Mylin" last="Lemke"] – guard, St. Michael-Albertville</li> <li>#174 – [player_tooltip player_id="339139" first="Allyson" last="Misoi"] – guard, Maple Grove</li> <li>#175 – [player_tooltip player_id="353081" first="Macaya" last="Copeland"]– guard, Hopkins</li> <li>#176 – [player_tooltip player_id="339190" first="Amayah" last="Brown-Grindeland"] – guard, Richfield</li> <li>#177 – [player_tooltip player_id="352780" first="Emma" last="Stork"] – guard, Byron</li> <li>#178 – [player_tooltip player_id="352781" first="Chloe" last="Turner"] – guard, Sartell</li> <li>#179 – [player_tooltip player_id="352782" first="Josie" last="Lakosky"] – guard, Chaska</li> <li>#180 – [player_tooltip player_id="352783" first="KJ" last="Tharp"] – forward, Centennial</li> </ul>