The Expo: Evaluating the best of Team 7

Teams come in all different shapes and sizes at Prep Girls Hoops showcase events. With lineups determined without human intervention, it's luck of the draw. At The Expo for juniors and seniors held Sunday in Maple Grove, Team 7 had to be one of the most varied we've seen despite having just six players. From grinding defenders to all-around contributors to elite prospects with Division 1 potential, here's our take on Team 7.    I find it difficult to describe just how good Sherill was on Sunday. Simply put, Jailynn was dominant from start to finish at The Expo, looking every bit like a player ready to make a significant move up the 2028 rankings. The 6'1 forward, who recently transferred from Hermantown to Proctor, played with pace, finesse and physicality, gliding up and down the floor and using her strength to create space around the basket. Give her room and she can knock down the three, pressure her too much and she has the quickness to get past you. Without a doubt, though, the biggest difference in what we saw Sunday versus what we watched two years ago is confidence. Tons of confidence. We've always believed Sherill possessed the tools to become an outstanding player. Now she appears to believe it, too. Currently ranked #35 in the class, Jailynn deserves a big bump up the list and D1 coaches need to get In on the conversation.     Gothmann seemed to be in the middle of everything Sunday. The 5'10 guard from Milaca attacked everything at The Expo with tremendous energy and aggressiveness, making one impactful play after another while wearing the same all-business expression throughout. Annabelle competes with one of the highest-revving motors in the class and combines that effort with legitimate skill. Gothmann attacked the rim, confidently fired from the perimeter and showed off her vision by threading passes through narrow openings. Defensively, her quick hands and physical approach continually created problems. A top-25 prospect who averaged 20 points per game last winter, Annabelle never seems rattled and never quits on a possession. That combination makes her an attractive proposition at the next level. Whether that turns out to be in D1 remains to be seen.     Honestly, in all the years we've watched her compete, I don't recall McGriff ever really having a bad day. What you see is what you get and Sunday was no exception. The 5'10 forward from Roseville punishes defenders inside, bullies her way through contact for powerful finishes, then steps outside and knocks down shots from deep. Try matching her physicality and Kiyanah shows you the skill set of a guard. McGriff is particularly impressive when pressure increases, taking responsibility as a ball handler and making composed decisions rather than waiting for someone else to solve the problem. She plays every matchup with an edge and combines strength with skill, bounce and a relentless motor. Ranked among Minnesota's top 50 juniors, Kiyanah showed at The Expo exactly why she's such a difficult opponent.     Like Miles, Timm made herself noticeable almost immediately because of her work on the defensive end. The 5-foot-7 guard from Minneapolis looks longer than her listed height and uses that length exceptionally well, anticipating passes and timing deflections rather than simply gambling for steals. Timm moves laterally with purpose, plays with pace and can get from one end of the floor to the other in a hurry. She's more than a defensive specialist, however. Timm can operate on or off the basketball and showed a willingness to go on the attack when opportunities presented themselves. She averaged 14 points per game last winter for Hope Academy so we know Malia can put the ball in the basket. But it was her defensive mindset that separated her on Sunday.     Martinson provided a pretty good snapshot of her game almost immediately on Sunday. The pesky 5'7 guard from BOLD (Bird Island-Olivia-Lake Lillian District to be precise) opened 5-on-5 action by intercepting a long pass and turning defense into offense. Soon afterward, she attacked the basket and finished with a smooth reverse layup – a difficult play she made look remarkably easy. That combination of effort and skill has always defined Erika. She's scrappy, constantly hustles and rebounds well for her size, but she can also handle the basketball and land shots from considerable distance. Martinson has added strength, improved as a playmaker and become more disciplined with her shot selection over time. She remains a dangerous outside shooter but it is the growth in her overall game that is the most important.     We didn't remember seeing Miles previously, but it didn't take long for her to make an introduction. The Park Center senior, who played AAU for Forward Thinking, immediately caught our attention with her defense, getting right into an opponent's kitchen and making every dribble uncomfortable. Miles has quick feet and excellent lateral movement, allowing her to stay in front of ball handlers while applying constant pressure. She also handled the basketball well, hustled relentlessly and brought positive energy throughout the day. Nathavia's numbers from Park Center won't wow you, but her value isn't adequately measured by scoring. With Park Center replacing a large graduating class, there should be considerably more opportunity for this defensive bulldog as a senior. We'll certainly be watching.

Teams come in all different shapes and sizes at Prep Girls Hoops showcase events. With lineups determined without human intervention, it's luck of the draw. At The Expo for juniors and seniors held Sunday in Maple Grove, Team 7 had to be one of the most varied we've seen despite having just six players. From grinding defenders to all-around contributors to elite prospects with Division 1 potential, here's our take on Team 7.