Standout Performers from the Dakotas Top 250 Expo

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Dakotas Top 250 Expo, held in Sioux Falls, SD is a highly anticipated event that has become a meeting ground for existing as well as emerging basketball talent in the region. Held annually, this expo gathers the most promising young athletes to showcase their skills and vie for the attention of scouts and college recruiters. This article will spotlight some of the top performers who left an impacting mark at the 2023 Dakotas Top 250 Expo.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='378553' first='Tesa' last='Olson'] - "A Walking Bucket"</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='378553' first='Tesa' last='Olson'], a sharpshooting 5'10" guard/forward from Valley City North Dakota and in the 2024 Class, was a standout at the Dakotas Top 250 Expo. Tesa consistently hit shots from beyond the arc with remarkable precision. Her ability to create space and release the ball quickly left me in awe. With her knack for finding open spots on the floor, Tesa is poised to be a scoring sensation this upcoming season. She wasn't afraid of the big shot and helped her team stay in and win games with her play-making ability. She was seen by many as the possible MVP of the entire event.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='464291' first='Whitney' last='Welk'] - "A Superb Leader"</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Defense is often an underappreciated aspect of basketball, but not at the Dakotas Top 250 Expo, where [player_tooltip player_id='464291' first='Whitney' last='Welk'], a Class of 2025 5'7" guard from Legacy High School in North Dakota, wowed attendees with her exceptional defensive abilities on the perimeter. Whitney showcased impressive footwork, anticipation, and tenacity in locking down opponents. She disrupted passing lanes, forced turnovers, and started fast breaks with her steals. Whitney's defensive skills paired nicely with her ability to attack the basket and finish as well as knock down the outside shot. Her ability to be vocal and lead her squads stood out to me as she showed off great maturity and composure in all moments from tip to the buzzer. She was one of the most well-rounded athletes attending the event.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='525670' first='Blake' last='Thompson'] - "The Sniper"</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='525670' first='Blake' last='Thompson'], a Class of 2026 5'6" guard from Mobridge-Pollack, South Dakota, made a lasting impression with her versatility at the expo. She demonstrated the ability to play both find her own shots and create for others, handling the ball with finesse while hitting clutch shots from deep. Blake's basketball IQ was on full display as she made smart decisions, whether it was distributing the ball or taking high-percentage shots. With her defensive prowess and on-ball defensive abilities, Blake is a prospect poised for greatness. She was one of the most exciting prospects to watch as she knocked down one deep ball after another showing off her immense range.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='404951' first='Grace' last='Peterson'] - "The Do It All Forward"</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='404951' first='Grace' last='Peterson'], a Class of 2025 6'0" forward from Sioux Falls, South Dakota, embodied the essence of an elite basketball player at the Dakotas Top 250 Expo. Her court vision and passing ability for a six-footer were second to none as she found open teammates with precision. Grace's ability to read the defense, create scoring opportunities for her teammates and herself, and control the tempo of the game garnered praise from coaches and scouts. On defense she plays with an intense level of smarts and can alter shots with her length and insticts. She is seen as a potential future star in her class as she contributes in every single element of the game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='782585' first='Skotti' last='Beck'] - "A Star in the Making"</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>No basketball expo is complete without an athlete that screams future star and has loads of raw potential, and Scotti Beck, a Class of 2026 5'11" forward from South Prairie High School in North Dakota, fit that role perfectly. Her athleticism was simply awe-inspiring as she soared through defenders to find her way to the basket with ease. Scotti also showcased a solid mid-range game and relentless defensive hustle, solidifying her status as a well-rounded prospect. Many outcomes of games were decided by the smooth jump shot, elite first stem, and impressive length of this young lady.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='343332' first='Sloane' last='Keszler'] -</strong> <strong>"A Dynamic Floor General"</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Respresenting St. Thomas More High School of South Dakota is [player_tooltip player_id='343332' first='Sloane' last='Keszler'], a Class of 2025 5'6" versatile and dynamic guard on the court. She showed off her agility and high basketball IQ, exceling in both scoring and creating opportunities for teammates. Her ability to drive to the basket and decide on the spot whether to score or kick is extremely advanced. She creates opportunities for teammates, grabs rebounds, and shows great tenacity on defense. Sloane was one of the most impressive point guard prospects at the expo.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='488325' first='Ava' last='Kellenberger'] - "A Scoring Machine"</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='488325' first='Ava' last='Kellenberger'], a 5'8" Class of 2026 guard from Brandon Valley, SD was another standout on the day as she showed off her impressive shooting range and constiency in knocking down outside shots. Her quickness and ball-handling skills allowed her to penetrate defenses all day long and create scoring chances for herself and others. Her offensive versatility alone makes her a player to watch as she is a go-to scorer all game long, but scouts shouldn't sleep on her defense either. She has great length, lateral quickness, and a desire to get stops in a 1 on 1 setting. Her most impressive attribute of the day had to be the variety of tough finishes she made on the day on the basket, getting everyone's attention all day.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='342177' first='Isabella' last='Anderson'] - "Dynamic Competitor"</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='342177' first='Isabella' last='Anderson'], a Class of 2025 5'7" guard from Milbank, SD is another force to be reckoned with in the Dakotas. Her athleticism and aggressiveness make her a formidable presence on both sides of the ball. Her ability to get to the rim with strength and finsh in traffic sets her apart from others. Her intensity on defense and gifted length allow her to get steals, block shots, and be an overall contributor on defense as well. Her play-making ability showed up all day long and she was one of the most competitive athletes on the day.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='527479' first='Mya' last='Kochuten'] - "Game Changer"</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mya is an immensely talented guard who vaulted up the leaderboards last season at the 2022 Dakotas Top 250 Expo. She's a Class of 2025 5'6" guard from Spearfish, SD with a high motor and passion for the game. Mya is a skilled and composed player who excels in nearly every facet of the game. She is a talented ball-handler and playmaker, often initiating her team's offense. Her decision-making and unbelivable shooting range have garnered her much deserved praise. Her ability to read the defense and find the right play make her an invaluable asset to a team's success.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='317858' first='Alexa' last='Goertz'] - "The Versatile Forward"</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='317858' first='Alexa' last='Goertz'], a Class of 2025 5'9" forward from James Valley Christian High School in South Dakota showed out at the expo and demonstrated her very solid all-around game. She possesses a well-rounded skill set, with the ability to score, rebound, and play solid defense. Her versaility allows her to play multiple positions and guard multiple positions, making her a valuable asset on both ends. Her work ethic and commitment to the game were put on full display. Keep an eye on [player_tooltip player_id='317858' first='Alexa' last='Goertz'] to be a big-time game changer for her squad this winter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Dakotas Top 250 Expo continues to be an asset for unearthing basketball talent in the Dakotas. These top performers are just a few of the promising athletes who captivated the audience and scouts alike. As they continue their basketball journeys, we eagerly await the 2023-24 season to see what they can do for their squads. Look for full breakdowns of each team as well more top performance highlights to come!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->