Quick hits: 7 freshmen small forwards who aren’t so small
Size matters. On Saturday we brought you video and analysis of some of the top players in the class of 2023 who have reached or exceeded the 6-foot mark. Today we offer up one more freshman who has hit the magic 72-inch mark and six more who are nearly there. Four of them are in the top 25 in the Prep Girls Hoops 2023 prospect rankings, all are in the top 50. That means they are scholarship-level talents you should know going forward. The players are listed in the order of their PGH ranking.
Teresa Kiewiet Teresa Kiewiet 5'10" | SF Mankato West | 2023 State MN – Mankato West, Fury 2023 UAA (#9)
On Teresa’s highlight reel you’ll see a ton of three-pointers, but there is so much more to her game than that. The 5’11 forward is a solid all-around player with length, size and strength. With really nice mechanics she gets her shot off so smoothly and quickly leaving most defenders flat-footed. Her mid-range game is impressive, too. Kiewiet is versatile. She can score, rebound and defend and she plays hard. Teresa is barely scratching the surface of what’s possible.
Kennedy Klick Kennedy Klick 6'0" | CG Maple Grove | 2023 State MN – DeLaSalle, North Tartan 2023 Elite (#10)
You can call her a small forward or a guard or a wing. We’re calling her a top 10 prospect. The 5’11 lefty is long, smooth, graceful and athletic. She is a very natural player with a nice feel for the game. Her feet are so light, enabling her to put a quick step on the defender for the open look. Kennedy also has great intangibles. She plays the game with a rare combination of joy, enthusiasm, competitive spirit and fire. This is a player with high-end potential who is only going to get better.
Ashley Schuelke Ashley Schuelke 5'10" | SF Chaska | 2023 State MN – Chaska, Fury 2023 UAA (#14)
Chaska is a team loaded with high-end prospects like Kaylee Van Eps Kaylee Van Eps 5'11" | SF Chaska | 2021 State MN , Mallory Heyer Mallory Heyer 6'1" | PF Chaska | 2022 State #36 Nation MN and Kennedy Sanders Kennedy Sanders 5'8" | CG Chaska | 2023 State MN so the 5’11 Schuelke may not have the profile you would expect for a player of her caliber. Ashley impacts the game in so many different aspects. She drives hard to the basket, finishes well in multiple ways and can shoot it from distance. She’s got nice size and rebounds well. Schuelke had a breakout second half last summer and her rise continued all winter long.
Sophie Lahti Sophie Lahti 6'1" | SF Pine City | 2023 State MN – Pine City, North Tartan Wolkow (#22)
We first spent time watching Lahti carefully about a year ago after it became obvious that she was going to be a player to reckon with in the Class of 2023. Since then she has acquired two important things: First, an inch or two that put her at the 6-foot mark, and second a Division 1 scholarship offer. Lahti is filling out fast now, and getting so much stronger. She is mobile, athletic and long and has a motor to match. Sophie averaged 13 and 5 this winter and shot 59% from two-point range.
Watch her video and be sure to click the ‘continuous play’ button.
Emily Christenson Emily Christenson 5'11" | SF East Ridge | 2023 State MN – East Ridge, Stars 2023 Hersch (#41)
One look at Emily’s stats and it isn’t difficult to see what she’s good at. The super-long, 5’11 freshman shot 40% from three with 76 makes, and if you watch the video you’ll see that her range extends well beyond the arc. That’s not the only thing the left-hander can do, however. She gets to the rim frequently, using her long strides to slip past defenders and finishes with nice touch. She is also a quality defender. Christensen needs to fill out and get stronger but she is a player on the way up.
Allison Milbrandt Allison Milbrandt 5'10" | SF Buffalo Lake-H-S | 2023 State MN –BLHS, Minnesota Rise Busse (#42)
The 5’10 Milbrandt was pretty raw in 2019 when we first watched her but you could see the athleticism and basketball instincts right away. Fast forward one year and the Buffalo Lake-Hector-Stewart prospect is an emerging star in this class. She runs the floor at pace and handles the ball well. Her athleticism and superior ability to power up to the hoop with long strides and nice elevation is just too much to handle for most class A defenders. Milbrandt also has a big motor and a strong desire to be great.
Chloe Brunsberg Chloe Brunsberg 5'11" | SF Southwest Christian | 2023 State MN – Southwest Christian, North Tartan 2023 Elite (#50)
At 5’10 Brunsberg is a long and lanky forward who emerged this year as a scholarship-level prospect. Chloe averaged 12.2 points and 4.3 rebounds per game, earning All-Conference honors and demonstrating very nice overall improvement. She handles the ball well, runs the floor and finishes at the rim. She can also fire it as you’ll see on the video with her 6-triple performance against St. Agnes. Chloe is getting stronger and quicker as she grows into her body. She carries a 4.21 GPA.