The Expo: Team 5 evaluations

The previous two weekends of Prep Girls Hoops showcase action put the spotlight on the freshmen and sophomores. This weekend at The Expo the focus shifted to the juniors and seniors – players looking for their opportunity, their next level, and a chance to show what they can bring to a program.   For the Class of 2027, this is an important stage in the recruiting process, where continued development and increased exposure can open doors. For the Class of 2028, it's another opportunity to build momentum and establish themselves as prospects to follow.   Team 5 featured a group of players who competed, showcased their abilities, and gave evaluators plenty to take away from the weekend. Here are my evaluations from The Expo.    Whited pushed the pace and became more aggressive as the day went on, really finding her rhythm in the final game of The Expo. When you're playing alongside ball-dominant guards, sometimes it takes a minute to find your footing, and Whited did just that. She picked her spots, attacked the paint and used good footwork to put herself in position to show off her nifty finishing ability around the rim. The Edina guard played her role well, understanding when to be assertive and when to let the action come to her. What she may lack in size, she more than makes up for with a tenacious and relentless approach. Her head was always up, probing the floor and reading what was in front of her. Whited didn't force much. She simply made timely decisions and found ways to impact the game.     Wunsch had one of the quickest crossovers in the gym, and more than a few defenders found that out the hard way. On several occasions she had the defense leaning one direction, hit them with a quick right-to-left crossover and before you knew it, she was at the rim. In transition, she was a blur, covering the floor from end to end in the blink of an eye and putting immediate pressure on the defense. Wunsch also did a good job spacing the floor with her ability to knock down shots from the outside, making it tough to simply play her for the drive. She was pretty consistent throughout The Expo, sticking to her strengths and playing with confidence. Whether it was in the open floor or attacking off the bounce, Wunsch wasn't afraid to challenge anyone who stepped in her way.     The guard out of Brainerd is aggressive offensively and puts constant pressure on the defense from the perimeter and the wing. Black Lance did a great job breaking the defense down, drawing extra defenders and finishing around the basket at a high clip. When the defense was late with the closeout, Beth made them pay from beyond the arc. She also chased down her own misses, earning extra opportunities with her effort. Defensively, she smells blood in the water when she senses an advantage, attacking ball handlers and forcing them to pick it up or give it up. Something else I appreciated was her accountability. If she made a mistake, she owned it and communicated with her teammates. That goes a long way in building trust. We've been covering the junior for what seems like forever, and her game continues to elevate every time we see her. Another big season is in store for the All Iowa Attack guard, and we're here for it.     Ross has a physical presence that can't be denied. Known for her toughness on the defensive end, and her ability to guard at a high level from the perimeter to the wing, she's putting everyone on notice that she's far from a one-sided player. During The Expo, Ross showed she's been in the gym. Her ability to take defenders off the bounce and use her strength to finish at the rim was impressive. Don't get it twisted though, she's still a menace defensively. Ross uses her speed and strength to stand up would-be drivers, and when they hit her in the chest, they're usually the ones bouncing backward. Seeing the offensive side of her game continue to develop only adds another dimension to what she already brings. Just another feather in the cap for Minnehaha Academy heading into the upcoming season.     She's not the traditional post presence we've seen from her sisters. There's a lot more inside-outside motion to Malmgren's game. She can catch and shoot, put it on the deck and attack the paint, but has no problem setting up on the block and going to work when the opportunity calls. During The Expo, she rebounded and pushed the pace herself, while also showing a nice touch around the basket. Don't let the perimeter skill fool you, though. She still has the size, strength and physical presence to dominate around the rim when she wants to. What may separate Reese most is the edge she plays with. She brings a level of intensity and grit every time she steps on the floor that simply can't be taught. She competes, plays hard and has a game that can impact you in several different ways.     A healthy [player_tooltip player_id='804247' first='Brielle' last='Gray'] is a problem for anyone who has to lace them up and try to check her. We saw a healthy Gray on Sunday at The Expo, and it was impressive. Her ability to break the defense down, play off two feet in the lane and get to her patented mid-range shot gives defenders another thing to worry about. She got to her spots and finished more times than not. When the defense collapsed, Gray (pictured above) didn't force the issue and had no problem finding the open teammate. Lose track of her beyond the arc and she showed she could make you pay from there as well. She played with confidence, looked comfortable and showed just how tough she can be to contain. This season feels like it could be a coming-out party for Gray, and we can't wait to attend.

The previous two weekends of Prep Girls Hoops showcase action put the spotlight on the freshmen and sophomores. This weekend at The Expo the focus shifted to the juniors and seniors – players looking for their opportunity, their next level, and a chance to show what they can bring to a program.