Minnesota Top 250 Expo: The Best of Team #5

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Minnesota Top 250 Expo is a great opportunity for a bunch of young ballers to come out and test their chops against some of the best hoopers Minnesota and surrounding states have to offer. There were plenty of big personalities with big game on display Saturday. Take a ride with me as I highlight some of the talent put on display on team 5. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":781144,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/10/Myah-Maull-crop-3115x2046-1696822853.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-781144" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='212488' first='Myah' last='Maull']</strong>- Myah makes her money driving hard to the basket daring anyone to step in her way. She has a strong frame, quick feet and is determined to break the defense down to finish at the rim. In years past she has gotten herself into a little trouble by over-penetrating which would lead to offensive fouls or tough shots. At the Expo she still attacked the paint, but when the defense converged, she gathered herself and kicked out to open teammates for wide open looks. Ranked in the top 100 in the PGH 2025 class, Maull is entering her junior season at Eastview where she is setting herself up to have a breakout season looking to increase her 6 ppg average from a year ago. Adding a consistent outside shot to her bag will make Maull even that much more a problem for opposing teams. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":781732,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/10/Celia-Lind-1.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-781732" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='453768' first='Celia' last='Lind']</strong>- Lind's stock has been rising since an impressive showing coming off of a successful AAU season playing for Minnesota Stars Peterson and will be looking to play a bigger role for Holy Angels this upcoming high school season. Currently ranked 74th in the class of 2025, Lind was all business at the Expo getting it done on both sides of the ball. She's a willing passer putting the ball right on the numbers for teammates to finish with ease. She showed the ability to shoot the ball from the outside and finished at the rim with consistency. Lind has good size and length and guarded her position well, but will need to continue to get stronger as being able to finish through contact which will make her just that much tougher to guard.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='396427' first='Madelyn' last='Malmgren']</strong>- Of all the players that I watched at the Expo, Malmgren (pictured above) was one of the ones that I've known and watched the longest. Where her game is now from where she started is nothing short of impressive. She has always been a hard-working, rebounding, shot-blocking machine, but now she's grabbing the rebound and starting the break! Along with that, she's improved her ball handling and confidence to do so as unsuspecting defenders at the Expo found out as she was hitting them with Eurosteps and mid-range jump shots. The 2025 post from St. James High School, who is currently ranked 73rd in the class, didn't forget where she came from as she still rim ran to beat her defender down the court for easy buckets. Her ability to "rise" to the occasion is one of the many things that makes her a very intriguing prospect. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":781685,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/10/Siri-Konkel-1.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-781685" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='633286' first='Siri' last='Konkel']</strong>- I have always been a fan of the small guards, and in today's game where everyone wants to be a scorer, Konkel is sort of a throwback to the old traditional point guards; pass first, pass second, shoot when needed. Representing the class of 2026 out of Spring Grove, Konkel plays with good energy and pace. Her vision at her size in transition is remarkable and her ability to thread the needle and hit recipients in stride for easy buckets at the Expo was fun to watch. Konkel was nothing short of fearless navigating among the trees to create opportunities for herself and teammates alike. Adding a consistent 3-point shot to her repertoire will make her a very compelling prospect. [program_tooltip program_id='712352' first='Air' last='Minnesota'] is well aware of what they have and some of us are a bit late to the party, but better late than never. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":781999,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/10/Marissa.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-781999" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='675882' first='Marissa' last='Tusler']</strong>- Tusler is as tough as they come. She has a nice balance of finesse and grit that's not all that common in someone her age. Currently ranked in the top 100 of the Prep Hoops Girls rankings, the 2026 [program_tooltip program_id='712722' first='North' last='Tartan'] guard by way of West Lutheran loves to mix it up in the paint, but can also shoot with range. Tusler displayed both attributes throughout the day at the Top 250 Expo and did it with a smile on her face. It's always a joy to watch these young athletes work as hard as they do and enjoy themselves in the process, after all, it is a game and one that she plays very well. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":782029,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/10/Swanson.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-782029" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='502541' first='Journey' last='Swanson']</strong>- Another Southern Minnesota player on the rise! Yes, the [program_tooltip program_id='712699' first='MN' last='Rise'] are pumping out quality players hand over fist and Swanson is no exception. She is a versatile guard/wing who gets it done in different facets of the game. She knocked down threes at the Expo with ease and crashed the offensive glass for easy put-backs when the defense relaxed. She has a wide wingspan that helps create deflections and errant passes on the defensive side of the ball and as mentioned earlier, is a pretty good rebounder. I don't know what they have in the water down there in St. James, but they may want to bottle it up and sell it because players like Swanson seem to be all the norm in those parts! Currently ranked in the top 80 in the Prep Hoops Girls 2026 rankings, Swanson is poised for a big coming out party this high school season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->