Winter Rankings Update: 2023 stock risers

Minnesota’s Class of 2023 is a good one. We’ve known this for a long time, of course, but with the group about to enter their final summer of AAU competition it is becoming even more obvious. Led by [player_tooltip player_id="108298" first="Taylor" last="Woodson"] (Michigan), [player_tooltip player_id="108348" first="Nunu" last="Agara"] (Stanford) and [player_tooltip player_id="108301" first="Kennedy" last="Sanders"] (Colorado), a dozen of them have already made college commitments, a number that is certain to double before it’s all said and done. The winter rankings update for the 2023s has now been posted and it offers a couple of important changes in the Top 10, a half dozen notable movers in the Top 40, and 10 double-digit improvements in the Top 100. These are the biggest 2023 stock risers. TOP 10 STOCK RISERS [player_tooltip player_id="108302" first="Molly" last="Lenz"] of Eden Prairie has long been a mainstay of the upper echelon in this class. The 5’8 guard is a great ball-handler with a high basketball IQ and the kind of toughness you simply can’t teach. She has a well-rounded game with a proven ability to perform under pressure, whether that’s on the high school stage or in AAU competition. Lenz has verballed to Illinois State. Her continuous improvement deserves to be recognized which is why Molly rises two positions to #5. When the Class of 2023 was first ranked by Prep Girls Hoops, [player_tooltip player_id="108321" first="Aby" last="Shubert"] was at #25 but she didn’t stay there for long. The 5’8 combo guard from Kasson-Mantorville has made a steady progression from good to great over the past two and a half years, rising in successive rankings to #23 to #19 to #10 to #9. Now Aby moves up another two positions to #7. She is a highly-skilled, super-intelligent floor leader who can shoot the lights out. With plenty of options on the table, Shubert will be a strong D1 player. [caption id="attachment_328041" align="alignnone" width="300"]<img class="wp-image-328041 size-medium" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/09/Shantell-Harden_MN-Suns-300x219.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="219" /> [player_tooltip player_id="108317" first="Shantell" last="Harden"], St. Louis Park (Photo: <a href="https://x.com/MNSunsbball" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Twitter/MNSunsbball</a>)[/caption]  MOVING UP IN THE TOP 40 #16 – [player_tooltip player_id="302256" first="Avery" last="Koenen"] – The 6’2 guard/forward from Montevideo burst onto the front pages last summer and immediately cashed in with a commitment to Division 1 North Dakota State. Since last summer, Avery has risen from #54 to #25 to #16. She’s just scratching the surface of what is possible. #17 – [player_tooltip player_id="108317" first="Shantell" last="Harden"] – The silky smooth wing from St. Louis Park has come into her own over the past year. She has long been projected as a D1 talent and now all of the pieces are coming together for the 6-footer on a consistent basis. This multi-dimensional performer moves up two more positions to #17. #23 – [player_tooltip player_id="148340" first="Shannon" last="Fornshell"] – For the 5th rankings period in a row, the long and lanky forward from Wayzata has once again been elevated, this time by 3 positions to 23rd. She made her debut in January 2020 at #73 rising to #42 last summer and another 19 spots since then. #27 – [player_tooltip player_id="148338" first="Grace" last="Counts"] – The Providence Academy power forward has played a huge part in the Lions’ rise to the upper echelon of Class 2A. She’s big and mobile, strong and smooth and a veritable force at both ends of the floor. Grace’s growth has been steady, and now she’s up another 9 positions to #27. #33 – [player_tooltip player_id="108341" first="Anna" last="Lenzen"] – The scrappy 5’9 guard from Chaska waited patiently for her turn to shine at the varsity level and that patience has paid off. The grit, willingness to attack and utter fearlessness we saw in AAU now plays out on the biggest high school stage. Anna rises four more spots to #33. #40 – [player_tooltip player_id="148328" first="Hannah" last="Hanson"] – The 5’9 guard from Rochester Mayo might be the most athletic player in the class as any ball-handling guard who has been defended by her on the perimeter can attest. Her defense changes the game play after play, night after night. Her offensive ability is now on full display, as well, which is why she moves up four more spots. [caption id="attachment_338538" align="alignnone" width="300"]<img class="wp-image-338538 size-medium" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/10/148-Isa-Nelson.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" /> [player_tooltip player_id="220830" first="Isa" last="Nelson"], Edina[/caption]  DOUBLE-DIGIT STOCK RISERS IN THE TOP 100 +73 – [player_tooltip player_id="339120" first="Kloey" last="Lind"] – forward, Pine City The 6’1 forward is one of Minnesota’s most-improved prospects this year. She’s got size and length and now she is developing the skillset to match. Kloey’s footwork has improved dramatically, and she’s displaying nice touch around the basket. Defensively Lind is a force. She moves from #159 to #86. +49 – [player_tooltip player_id="302264" first="Hannah" last="Compton"] – guard, Legacy Christian The 5’8 junior has been putting up serious numbers all winter in small-school competition, including a 45-point performance last week. Hannah’s game has blossomed in the past 12 months. She’s playing with confidence, energy and presence. That’s why she moves up 49 positions from #145 to #96. +46 – [player_tooltip player_id="302283" first="Olivia" last="Walsh"] – forward, Austin Olivia is an incredible multi-sport athlete who can run and jump with the best of them while utilizing excellent body control to take advantage of opponents all over the court. The lengthy 5’10 forward’s finishing ability has improved dramatically this year. She now elevates from #122 to #76. +26 – [player_tooltip player_id="186113" first="Aalayah" last="Wilson"] – guard, Osseo Aaliyah has always been able to score and she has been doing that as well as anyone this season. At the same time she has grown her overall game. Wilson is moving the ball more, involving her teammates to a greater degree and making herself more valuable in the process. That’s why she rises 26 positions to #52. +22 – [player_tooltip player_id="302273" first="Abby" last="O’Reilly"] – forward, Plainview-Elgin-Millville Abby is a rising star in the Class of 2023. The improvement in her game has been dramatic in the past 18 months as she has grown into her body. The results speak for themselves. On Saturday Abby recorded her 10th straight double-double and 19th of the season. The 6-footer rises from #84 to #62. +18 – [player_tooltip player_id="220832" first="Jordan" last="Munson"] – guard, Tracy-Milroy-Balaton Jordan’s talents have been front and center in high school basketball for the past few seasons. In 2021 Munson proved she could be equally successful at the higher AAU level. She was rewarded with a commitment to D2 Augustana. The 5’8 guard rises accordingly from #92 to #74. +16 – [player_tooltip player_id="220830" first="Isa" last="Nelson"] – guard, Edina Nelson remains one of Minnesota’s most underappreciated players. She is the glue that holds Edina together, the one player who can be counted on to get it done in the trenches while displaying skill and savvy at the same time. The 5’9 guard is strong, quick, smart and versatile. She’s up 16 to #88. +10 – [player_tooltip player_id="302286" first="Audrey" last="Jakway"] – forward, Mounds Park Academy When we last updated the 2023 prospect rankings in November Audrey made a meteoric rise from #149 to #81 which is indicative of just how much she has improved. Now she moves up another 10 places to #71, which is well within scholarship territory. The stretch 4 has earned the promotion in a big way.