PGH Minnesota Expo: Team 1 standouts (part 2)

After back-to-back weekends of watching some of the best freshmen and sophomores in Minnesota strut their stuff at two Prep Girls Hoops showcase events, it was the juniors and seniors who had their turn in the spotlight this past Sunday. More than 75 prospects took to the floor at Jefferson High school in Bloomington. Tony Ragulen, Ally McGinnis and I are doing individual evaluations of the top performers on each of the eight teams this week. Here are the best of Team 1, part 2.    Size and strength mean a ton when college coaches are evaluating players for their programs. Regardless if we're talking about elite Division 1 athletes, prospects bound for junior college or any level in between, it helps to be big even if the definition of ‘big' varies greatly at each level. Betsy certainly checks that box and it gets her noticed quickly at showcase events like the PGH Expo. She has a good size frame and an even bigger motor and owns a work ethic and commitment to the game that is impressive. Betsy is relentless on the boards and makes hustle plays all over the floor. She's also agile and mobile and has no problem running the floor at pace. Down low, Joyce can bang with the best of them and has the footwork and patience to score the basketball. She was one of our bigger stock risers this summer.     Savannah brings a lot to the table, something we were reminded of once more at the PGH Expo on Sunday. She is a highly versatile competitor who will find ways to contribute to her team's success in many different ways depending on the day. She moves well, which helps her a lot defensively. She's strong, with a solid build and good athleticism. Savannah is smart, possessing a quality basketball IQ and the understanding of where to be and when to be there. And she's vocal on the court, too. Belongia is an accomplished shooter who takes good shots and makes her fair share. Last winter, she was Champlin Park's leading scorer at over 12 points per game. Add it all up and you have a player whose stock is rising.     If there's one attribute that Swanson is most known for, it is her shooting. She has had a ton of success dropping bombs out on the perimeter thanks to a solid setup, good mechanics, ready hands and the kind of confidence that comes from having put in the work from three-point range. Not only can she shoot it on the basketball court but Journey is also an accomplished trap shooter who has competed at the state level. Like so many of the quality athletes in Greater Minnesota, Swanson also plays volleyball and softball. She is long and athletic, quick and fast, and is capable of guarding multiple positions successfully. Journey continues to deliver and never stops working. The end result is going to be a good one.     Ashlynn has helped to put the Opportunity AAU program on the map over the past couple of seasons, using her high-energy style of play and superior physical presence to good effect in summer ball. She's was a key piece at Woodbury, too, but transferred mid-season last year to St. Croix Prep, the charter school in Stillwater that is sneaky good in a variety of sports. As a result, Ashlynn won't be eligible to play varsity until January. Spong has a big body, with broad shoulders and a solid lower half. The value of that can't be overstated because it enables the junior to make life difficult for opponents at both ends of the floor. Combined with her work ethic, continuous investment in skill development and growing knowledge and experience level, that's going to open doors to play beyond high school.     Nora is a pass-first guard who takes a lot of pride in her role as a distributor. Getting her own shot off and scoring the basketball never seems to be a priority, but the fact is Anderson can shoot it. This summer with [program_tooltip program_id='713021' first='West' last='Central United'] she improved substantially to the point where she was her team's most efficient 3-point shooter. Nora also has a nice floater on the baseline that she can utilize from either side. Despite being undersized, Nora isn't shy about setting good screens and competing for rebounds. Defensively she is a pest who knows how to employ her quickness and athleticism to make life difficult for opposing ball handlers. We loved Nora's vocal leadership on the floor, as well, which is one of the most underappreciated assets for players who want to make it at the next level.

After back-to-back weekends of watching some of the best freshmen and sophomores in Minnesota strut their stuff at two Prep Girls Hoops showcase events, it was the juniors and seniors who had their turn in the spotlight this past Sunday. More than 75 prospects took to the floor at Jefferson High school in Bloomington. Tony Ragulen, Ally McGinnis and I are doing individual evaluations of the top performers on each of the eight teams this week. Here are the best of Team 1, part 2.