2023 Rankings: Top-10 Breakdown

<span data-preserver-spaces="true">As the rankings update process begins, I want to break down the top-10 in each class. Today we start with the class of 2023, and I’ll highlight what makes these ten kids stand out.</span> <strong><span data-preserver-spaces="true">[player_tooltip player_id="155940" first="Kamorea" last="Arnold"]-5’10 G-Germantown (UCONN COMMIT)</span></strong> <span data-preserver-spaces="true">The best of the best make the most challenging things look simple, and that’s what Arnold does. She doesn’t need anything flashy to get by her initial defender. All she needs is one strong hesitiation dribble, and her first step and accelartion will take care of the rest. The future UCONN guard has put together an incredible resume at Germantown, with a state title in 2021. Arnold’s senior season will likely be unique, just like her first three seasons. I can’t wait to see what her next 12 months have in store for her.</span> <strong><span data-preserver-spaces="true">[player_tooltip player_id="156050" first="Grace" last="Grocholski"]-5’10 G/F-Kettle Moraine</span></strong> <span data-preserver-spaces="true">In my year writing for PGH Wisconsin, watching high school games, and even traveling on the PGH Circuit, I haven’t seen a player dominate the way Grocholski did in the Division 1 state title game. What she did against Appleton East was borderline criminal. To win the Lazers their second state title (first since 1999), Grocholski scored 34 points and grabbed nine rebounds, and she felt even more dominant than those numbers. It felt like she either scored or got to the free-throw line the entire second half. I highly suggest watching the Lazers as a possible repeat champ this winter.</span> <strong><span data-preserver-spaces="true">[player_tooltip player_id="157531" first="Avree" last="Antony"]-5’10 G/F-Sun Prairie</span></strong> <span data-preserver-spaces="true">There are very few kids with the pure athleticism that Antony possesses. Her change of direction on the defensive end is out of this world. She’s a versatile offensive piece who can fit in most roles a coach would want her to play. Even though her high school team seemed to play a healthy amount of zone, I think she has tremendous upside as a one-on-one defender at the next level. Offensively, she played in a few different ways, such as a roamer or cutter against the plethora of zones the Cardinals played against in the Big Eight. However, the more she plays transition, the better she looks using her instincts and physical tools. </span> <strong><span data-preserver-spaces="true">[player_tooltip player_id="156071" first="Macy" last="Donarski"]-5’7 G-Aquinas (MONTANA COMMIT)</span></strong> <span data-preserver-spaces="true">Donarski is one of my personal favorite pure point guards in the class. She makes maneuvering through good defenses look easy, seems to find her teammates on time, and gets them the ball in the easiest possible way to score. Donarski has one of the quickest first steps in the state and uses it to attack the basket ruthlessly. The Montana commit has all the tools to uplift any offense she runs.</span> <strong><span data-preserver-spaces="true">[player_tooltip player_id="206728" first="Beautiful" last="Waheed"]-5’9 G-Milwaukee Academy of Science</span></strong> <span data-preserver-spaces="true">Ask me what Waheed doesn’t have to succeed at the college level, and I’ll keep my mouth shut. The Milwaukee native has everything a college coach could want. Defensively she’s a quick, rangy, and athletic 5-foot-9 wing I rarely see get beat off the dribble. Offensively, she can attack off the dribble and finish through contact, shoot off the catch or dribble, and create for teammates. The more I see Waheed’s game, the more college-ready she looks on the floor.</span> <strong><span data-preserver-spaces="true">[player_tooltip player_id="206575" first="Lexi" last="Bugajski"]-6’0 G/F-New Berlin Eisenhower</span></strong> <span data-preserver-spaces="true">I’ve seen everyone on this top-10 list play in high school in person or on stream. I almost wish I waited to watch Bugajski play for Wisconsin Impact. She essentially plays a point-forward for her Impact team and looks like a natural playing that role. For Eisenhower, the junior was a stationary passer who picked out cutting teammates from the mid and high post. On the defensive end, she’s always could defend on the perimeter and in the paint. She’s the most distinctive talent in this class, in my opinion.</span> <strong><span data-preserver-spaces="true">[player_tooltip player_id="156066" first="Julianna" last="Ouimette"]-5’10 G-Lakeland (LEHIGH COMMIT)</span></strong> <span data-preserver-spaces="true">The Lehigh commit has an excellent set of tools to play at the next level. Ouimette isn’t the quickest kid in this class, but she understands how to attack gaps at certain angles. I’ve seen her use her strength and IQ to get by kids, and it’s a beautiful thing to watch. She can shoot the lights out if she gets the space. Defensively, the Minocqua native uses her size to stay in front of quick wings. I love how she uses her physical tools to maximize her skillset and get the most out of herself.</span> <strong><span data-preserver-spaces="true">[player_tooltip player_id="206574" first="MaKenzie" last="Drout"]-5’9 G-Kimberly</span></strong> <span data-preserver-spaces="true">If you ever talk to the Kimberly guard about basketball, you’ll understand how she’ll be a good college player. She loves the game and understands it better than 99.9% of people on earth. She pairs that knowledge with the skills to exploit defenses, and you have one of the most challenging assignments in Wisconsin. Drout will attack someone who she thinks can’t defend her every time, and there’s a chance her defender doesn’t see the same move twice in a game. The Kimberly native can get to any spot she wants on the floor, and at her best, it doesn’t matter if you have a hand in her face or foul her. She’s going to score.</span> <strong><span data-preserver-spaces="true">[player_tooltip player_id="156085" first="Meghan" last="Schultz"]-6’4 C-New Berlin West (GREEN BAY COMMIT)</span></strong> <span data-preserver-spaces="true">The future Phoenix is more than just a back-to-the-basket center. Schultz sees the floor well and can knock down some 15-foot jumpers. The New Berlin native also is extremley proficient in the post. Schultz uses her strength to move people out of her way and finishes with both hands around the basket. She changes the game plan for guards who attack the basket. I’ve seen her do an excellent job defending the rim without fouling. She doesn’t get a ton of blocks, but the way she deters kids going to the basket is an elite skill in its own right.</span> <strong><span data-preserver-spaces="true">[player_tooltip player_id="206576" first="Ellie" last="Magestro-Kennedy"]-5’9 G-Janesville Craig (WRIGHT STATE COMMIT)</span></strong> <span data-preserver-spaces="true">The Janesville native can create her shot in a phone booth. The future Raider has the quickness to create space whenever she wants. I think she’ll impress the Wright State staff in every one-on-one drill she’s in when she gets to school. She shoots over 43% from the 3-point line and isn’t afraid to attack the glass and rebound. Magestro-Kennedy makes winning plays and will continue to do so to earn playing time at the next level and to maximize her senior season at Janesville Craig.</span> &nbsp;