Class of 2023 Final Rankings: Top 5

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The rankings for the Class of 2023 have been updated for the final time -- Seniors who have had remarkable careers and memorable performances now say goodbye to their High School playing days with hopefully a full heart. While some will hang their shoes up for good, others have the opportunity to further their careers. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here is the top 5 for the class of 2023 with explanations -- Offers, statistics and awards -- as to why they are ranked where they are. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Checking in as the number one overall player in the 2023 class, is [player_tooltip player_id='353909' first='Leilani' last='Love'] of Albuquerque High. A dynamic forward that has great length and the ability to register a double-double on a nightly basis. Love, the 2023 NM Gatorade player of the year, is a Colorado State University-Pueblo signee. The Thunderwolves are a Division II program that competes in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference. Last season, CSU-Pueblo hovered around .500 finishing 14-15 overall with a 11-11 conference record. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://x.com/Leilanilove2023/status/1633508503720718337","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true,"align":"center"} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed aligncenter is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://x.com/Leilanilove2023/status/1633508503720718337 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:table {"className":"is-style-stripes"} --> <figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"><table><tbody><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">GP</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">PTS</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">PPG</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">FG%</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">RPG</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">APG</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">SPG</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">BPG</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">86</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">1464</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">17.0</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">54%</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">9.6</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">1.0</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">2.2</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">2.0</td></tr></tbody></table><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Career Stats via MaxPreps</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:table --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>5A "All-State" Honors: 1st Team (2023), 2X 2nd Team (2021, 2022)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>5A "All-Star" (2023)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='353927' first='Emma' last='Christiano'] from Las Cruces, is the second ranked player for the 2023 Class. A lightning quick point guard with a high basketball IQ, that is a playmaker on both ends. Like Love, Christiano will be joining a Division II program in the RMAC. Emma is a University of Colorado Colorado Springs signee. UCCS went 10-18 overall with a 9-13 conference record. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://x.com/ladydawgsbball/status/1640856844276228097","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true,"align":"center"} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed aligncenter is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://x.com/ladydawgsbball/status/1640856844276228097 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:table {"className":"is-style-stripes"} --> <figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"><table><tbody><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">GP</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">PTS</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">PPG</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">FG%</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">RPG</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">APG</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">SPG</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">BPG</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">98</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">1094</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">11.2</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">40%</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">4.0</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">3.9</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">3.4</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">0.1</td></tr></tbody></table><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Career Stats via MaxPreps</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:table --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>5A "All-State" Honors: 2X 2nd Team (2022, 2023)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>5A "All-Star" (2023)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Clocking in at number three, is two-way star, [player_tooltip player_id='353908' first='Aspen' last='Salazar'], who went absolutely bananas in her Senior season at Centennial. Salazar nearly averaged 20/5/5/5 — 19.8 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 4.5 apg &amp; 4.2 spg — a remarkable stat line! Aspen could join the likes of Love &amp; Christiano and sign to play Division II ball in the RMAC, at New Mexico Highlands. The Cowgirls went just 8-14 during conference play but did finish .500 for the season, 14-14. As of today, Aspen has YET to make an official decision. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:table {"className":"is-style-stripes"} --> <figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"><table><tbody><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">GP</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">PTS</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">PPG</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">FG%</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">RPG</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">APG</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">SPG</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">BPG</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">79</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">1233</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">15.6</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">41%</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">5.1</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">2.9</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">3.4</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">0.6</td></tr></tbody></table><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Career Stats via MaxPreps</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:table --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>5A "All-State" Honors: 1st Team (2023)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>5A "All-Star" (2023)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://x.com/CHSLadyHawkBBal/status/1637650162104549376","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true,"align":"center"} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed aligncenter is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://x.com/CHSLadyHawkBBal/status/1637650162104549376 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Next up at number four, is [player_tooltip player_id='391179' first='Lila' last='Ashida']. A multi positional player that can score inside the arc and well beyond it. Ashida, who had a phenomenal State Tournament and senior year, has multiple offers to play at the next level — Northern NM College, a NAIA program out of the Continental Athletic Conference, Cornell College a Division III program in the Midwest Conference, (10-14, 9-7) &amp; Trinidad State, a Juco out of the NJCAA Region 9 conference (13-17, 5-5) — </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:table {"className":"is-style-stripes"} --> <figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"><table><tbody><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">GP</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">PTS</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">PPG</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">FG%</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">RPG</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">APG</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">SPG</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">BPG</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">56</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">833</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">14.9</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">38%</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">5.9</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">2.0</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">2.1</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">0.2</td></tr></tbody></table><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Career Stats via MaxPreps</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:table --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>5A "All-State" Honors: Honorable Mention (2023)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>5A "All-Star" (2023)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://x.com/ladydawgsbball/status/1635345475225403392","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true,"align":"center"} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed aligncenter is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://x.com/ladydawgsbball/status/1635345475225403392 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rounding out the top five is paint beast, [player_tooltip player_id='391172' first='Kathleen' last='Obisike']. A relentless rebounder that is one of the few players that has the potential of recording a 20/20 game — 20 points &amp; 20 rebounds — Kathleen was the only player to record 500+ points &amp; grab 400+ rebounds this past season!!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:table {"className":"is-style-stripes"} --> <figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"><table><tbody><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">GP</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">PTS</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">PPG</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">FG%</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">RPG</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">APG</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">SPG</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">BPG</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">35</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">1000+</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">19.9</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">n/a</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">15.7</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">1.9</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">2.9</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">1.2</td></tr></tbody></table><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Career Stats via MaxPreps (only 35 games entered)</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:table --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>4A "All-State" Honors: 2X 1st Team (2022, 2023)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://x.com/bigtimehoops/status/1612585044798742528","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true,"align":"center"} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed aligncenter is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://x.com/bigtimehoops/status/1612585044798742528 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed -->