Newcomers we liked at the Top 250 Expo

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There's no strict definition of what constitutes a newcomer. Sometimes it's a relatively established player we haven't seen before. Often it's someone who is new to the AAU circuit and showcase events. Frequently it's a player we've encountered a time or two who, perhaps, didn't really stand out before but has now grabbed hold of our attention. In this case it's all of the above. Here are five newcomers we liked at the Top 250 Expo.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_634621f656424","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["520264"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"We're weren't unfamiliar with Cady entering the weekend. After all she plays on a strong Minnesota Diamond Elite squad with the likes of [player_tooltip player_id='339197' first='Olivia' last='Wren'], [player_tooltip player_id='418240' first='Rebekah' last='Gendler'], [player_tooltip player_id='461348' first='Jaida' last='Walker'], [player_tooltip player_id='461369' first='Raina' last='Hartman'] and [player_tooltip player_id='461383' first='Bella' last='DeHaan'] that competed this summer on the Prep Girls Hoops Circuit. We certainly noticed her, particularly at the Legacy Classic in Omaha, and we have been keeping an eye on Davis ever since. What we saw on Saturday at the Top 250 was clearly Cady 2.0. This girl has improved! Davis is kind of old school. She's built low to the ground with a solid frame, plenty of strength and a quality skill set. She is aggressive, plays with poise and maturity, and has good fundamentals. Davis just has this presence about her. Cady was the third-leading scorer on Diamond Elite this summer, averaging 9 points per game along with a whopping 9 rebounds.  On Saturday she worked effectively with the likes of [player_tooltip player_id='215969' first='Nicole' last='Maenke'], [player_tooltip player_id='339107' first='Jordyn' last='Schmittdiel'], [player_tooltip player_id='396427' first='Madelyn' last='Malmgren'] and [player_tooltip player_id='339128' first='Steph' last='Cink'], established players who all had really good days. Cady isn't likely to be a headliner but she's going to do all of the little things that make the headliners look their best and bring smiles to the coach's face.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["520282"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Olivia wasn't exactly a stranger prior to the weekend. It's hard to miss a solidly built 6-footer who can fire the basketball. We had seen her with Crossfire Schuck and were familiar with her from Spring Lake Park. But this version of Kesti? Nope. This was something new. It's no secret that players who spend the summer busting their tails on skill development often show up in the fall looking like a new and improved version of themselves. That's what Kesti has done and it's paying off. While Olivia was effective defensively during last year's high school season, offense was a bit of a struggle at times. Today she is a more complete player who handles the ball better, shoots the ball better and plays with a ton more confidence than she did six months ago. The reward? An enhanced role that will likely see her be a key piece for Coach Randy Eatherton's Panthers. Playing on [player_tooltip player_id='205298' first='Jordan' last='Ode']'s undefeated squad last Saturday she fit right in with the more familiar faces and looked ready to take her own game to new heights.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["509007"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_player_featured_image":522188,"_player_evaluations_2_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"We had certainly seen Anna play before. As a member of North Tartan Southeast out of Rochester, we had made note of her potential more than once or twice. But because she is from Bangor, Wisconsin near LaCrosse, we have never formally evaluated or written about Fronk before. We were leaving that to our esteemed Cheese Head colleague Brady Peterson. Come to the Top 250 Expo, however, and you're going to get some publicity if your play warrants it regardless of your home address. In Anna's case, it is definitely deserved. She is a true point guard, a floor leader who sees the court well, takes care of the basketball, executes effectively under pressure, and has a solid understanding of how to control tempo. Her handles are nice and she is athletic enough to beat defenders one-on-one to get to the basket or draw a crowd and then kick it outside. She's also a really good shooter off the dribble and can defend opposing ball handlers mano-a-mano. Hey Brady! Are you paying attention?","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["396759"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_player_featured_image":522251,"_player_evaluations_3_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"There are so many talented players emerging out of Maple Grove. From the four Division 1-level starlets in the starting lineup to a pipeline of young talent on each of the lower Crimson squads, the depth is such that it's easy to get lost in the shuffle a little. That's our excuse in any case when it comes to Kaitlyn. We had seen her a little bit with Crossfire this summer but, to be honest, we really had not paid much attention prior to the Top 250. On Saturday, however, Clough made us sit up and take notice time and time again. Beyond her long arms, it was Kaitlyn's aggressiveness that stood out. She was diving after every loose ball, fighting for every offensive and defensive rebound, and using her strength and physical presence to make life difficult for opponents at every turn. The kid is a warrior! She showed us decent handles, good movement, and the ability get open and knock down jump shots consistently. Her Expo team was shorthanded, finishing the day with just five players, which gave Kaitlyn every opportunity she needed to demonstrate what she can do. Let's just say she made the most of it!","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["520275"],"_player_evaluations_4_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_4_player_featured_image":522293,"_player_evaluations_4_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"The incoming junior from Farmington is 6'1. That kind of height will get you noticed immediately. And so it was on Saturday during the warmup period prior to the commencement of this year's Top 250 Expo. I noticed Smith immediately, said a quick hello, and made certain to circle back later for a closer look. What I saw was a ton of potential just waiting for some elbow grease. Smith is very long, with a near-perfect build for basketball. She's got size and strength and she can shoot the basketball with success out to the arc. What she lacks is experience and the kind of confidence you earn through endless repetition and long hours on the court. That's an investment that requires special focus. Kailey will no doubt see minutes this year as backup to [player_tooltip player_id='396429' first='Magi' last='Bjornson']. They were teammates on Saturday, too, and Magi had a terrific day showing clearly how hard work and perseverance pays off. Smith could take page out of another Expo teammate's book, big [player_tooltip player_id='215981' first='Kylie' last='Waytashek'] of Royalton. Waytashek parlayed her size, strength, tireless effort and ability to rebound the basketball into scholarship-level opportunities. Smith has the potential to do the same thing.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":5,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"preview"} /-->