The Expo: Team 1 evaluations, part 2

The stakes felt a little higher on Sunday at the Prep Girls Hoops Minnesota Expo, a showcase event where juniors and seniors took the court at Maple Grove Middle School with their futures in mind. Many are still searching for the scholarship offer or opportunity that will allow them to continue their basketball careers at the next level, and they competed with a clear sense of urgency. With every possession serving as another chance to gain exposure and make an impression, several prospects showed they have the talent, toughness and determination to help a college program. Here's part 1 of our Team 1 evaluations.    If her feet were set, count it. Rodriquez was one of many players whose game seemed to get better as the day went on. She never forced the issue and played a great all-around team game, taking what the defense gave her and making the right play. She stayed active, engaged and found ways to contribute on both sides of the court. Defensively, she more than held her own, playing much bigger than her 5'9 frame would indicate. She battled, competed and wasn't afraid to mix it up when needed. Offensively, that outside shot was money when she had time to get her feet underneath her. The Waseca guard was fun to watch and proved to be a really nice piece for Team 1. She understood what her team needed and fit in perfectly.     Mrnak (pictured above) set the tone from the jump ball and never took her foot off the gas. She was aggressive, locked in and came out hunting buckets. The first two possessions found her slicing through the defense and getting all the way to the rim, and that was just the beginning. She had all three levels working, knocking down jumpers, getting into the paint and finishing through contact. As the day went on, she seemed to gain more energy. Mrnak used her strong frame to ward off defenders and consistently got to her spots without being knocked off course. The West Lutheran guard brought an edge all day long and made her presence felt every time she stepped on the floor. She's heading into her senior year with some serious momentum, and I'm looking forward to seeing her cap it off with a bang.     The Jamestown, ND native took her time getting a feel for things early, looking for where she could make an impact and fit in. Once she got comfortable, her game started to open up. Serfoss displayed good court vision and used her length to get to her spots and create quality looks. She found plenty of success in the mid-range, rising up and shooting over the top of smaller defenders. As the day went on, the confidence grew, the range stretched out and she started finding her way into the paint with more consistency. I liked how she didn't force the issue early and allowed the game to come to her. By the end of the day, Braylee had shown several different pieces of her game and can head back to Jamestown knowing she put together a productive day with plenty to build on.     Bailey has great size and used every bit of it to make her presence felt Sunday at The Expo. She battled on the glass, creating second-chance opportunities for herself and her teammates, and consistently rim ran to put pressure on the defense. The junior forward really started picking up steam as the event went on. Her confidence grew, she started hunting her shot and just flat out made plays. What I liked was that it wasn't always about scoring. Bailey showed good feel, firing nice, tight passes through traffic and making the extra pass that eventually led to a bucket. She found different ways to impact the game without needing the ball in her hands. As the day progressed, Bailey got more comfortable, more aggressive and more productive. There's a lot to like about what she brings to the floor.

The stakes felt a little higher on Sunday at the Prep Girls Hoops Minnesota Expo, a showcase event where juniors and seniors took the court at Maple Grove Middle School with their futures in mind. Many are still searching for the scholarship offer or opportunity that will allow them to continue their basketball careers at the next level, and they competed with a clear sense of urgency. With every possession serving as another chance to gain exposure and make an impression, several prospects showed they have the talent, toughness and determination to help a college program. Here's part 1 of our Team 1 evaluations.