Nike TOC Day 4: Top 2023’s and 2024’s
Mia Laube
I spent the first half of Day four in Des Moines watching younger players, and the future is bright. Minnesota Fury 2024 is a special team, and All Iowa Attack has gems sprinkled all throughout its program.
All Iowa Attack 2023’s and 2024’s
My first mention goes to 2023 Iowa City High guard
Kelsey Joens
Kelsey
Joens
5'10" | SG
West Liberty | 2023
State
IA
. Everyone knows the Joens name— one sister at Illinois, two sisters at Iowa State— but I finally got to see the next in line for myself, and she’s the real deal. Her drives are smooth, and she’s explosive. She’s already a long, high-level guard prospect, so the dynasty continues at City High. 2023
Molly Noelck
Molly
Noelck
5'9" | PG
Johnston | 2023
State
IA
will play a bigger role for Johnston this year, and she’s proven to be solid in AAU. She is a good shooter, and she silently does all the right things. 2023 Des Moines Roosevelt point guard
Ke’Ayla Madiso
Ke’Ayla
Madiso
5'11" | PG
Roosevelt | 2023
State
IA
n is another silently solid member of the 9th grade Attack. Madison is a great passer who pushes the ball hard and draws defenders on the drive-and-kick. 2024 Aili Tanke will join Noelck at Johnston to continue what the successful senior class left behind. Tanke is a driver who protects the ball and goes right through contact for the power finish. She was the standout scorer for the 8th grade Attack, and she stands at a strong 5’10”.
Minnesota Fury 2024’s
This team impressed me yet again, even though they were on the last of a lot of games. First of all,
Olivia Olson
Olivia
Olson
6'1" | CG
Benilde-SM | 2024
State
MN
from Benilde-St. Margaret’s High School is a legit high-level player. She has good court vision and flow, and really does it all. I like New Prague’s
Katie Vasecka
Katie
Vasecka
6'1" | CG
South Dakota | 2024
MN
, but she doesn’t stand out in the same way that Olson does. She is very unselfish and does the little things like rebounding and cutting. I didn’t think she was flashy until she executed a backwards layup that made me stop and say, “yep, she’s good.” On the defensive end, Centennial’s Marisa Frost and St. Michael-Albertville’s
Kaylie Cox
Kaylie
Cox
5'7" | CG
St. Michael-Albertville | 2024
State
MN
lock it down. In the half court, Frost is a good on-the-ball defender. Strong and quick Cox can shut point guards down full court. This entire group is worth the watch.
Two 2024 Guards Who Could Breakout
When I watched the 2024 Metro Stars group, Eagan point guard Drew Buslee stood out to me. She makes sharp, hard passes, and they get right to the shooting pocket or the hands of a post in transition. She has good length and athleticism, and she showed rebounding and shooting abilities as well. She still needs to develop her instincts, but she’s a guard to keep an eye on. 2024 guard/forward combo Gabby Wilke from Wisconsin Impact moves very well for any position. She’s always in the right place at the right time— at the hoop in transition, on the block to get the rebound, cutting often— and she will be a great scorer if she keeps it up. I like her overall game, and she’s a hard worker.
Kelsey
Joens
5'10" | SG
West Liberty | 2023
State
IA
. Everyone knows the Joens name— one sister at Illinois, two sisters at Iowa State— but I finally got to see the next in line for myself, and she’s the real deal. Her drives are smooth, and she’s explosive. She’s already a long, high-level guard prospect, so the dynasty continues at City High. 2023
Molly Noelck
Molly
Noelck
5'9" | PG
Johnston | 2023
State
IA
will play a bigger role for Johnston this year, and she’s proven to be solid in AAU. She is a good shooter, and she silently does all the right things. 2023 Des Moines Roosevelt point guard
Ke’Ayla Madiso
Ke’Ayla
Madiso
5'11" | PG
Roosevelt | 2023
State
IA
n is another silently solid member of the 9th grade Attack. Madison is a great passer who pushes the ball hard and draws defenders on the drive-and-kick. 2024 Aili Tanke will join Noelck at Johnston to continue what the successful senior class left behind. Tanke is a driver who protects the ball and goes right through contact for the power finish. She was the standout scorer for the 8th grade Attack, and she stands at a strong 5’10”.
Minnesota Fury 2024’s
This team impressed me yet again, even though they were on the last of a lot of games. First of all,
Olivia Olson
Olivia
Olson
6'1" | CG
Benilde-SM | 2024
State
MN
from Benilde-St. Margaret’s High School is a legit high-level player. She has good court vision and flow, and really does it all. I like New Prague’s
Katie Vasecka
Katie
Vasecka
6'1" | CG
South Dakota | 2024
MN
, but she doesn’t stand out in the same way that Olson does. She is very unselfish and does the little things like rebounding and cutting. I didn’t think she was flashy until she executed a backwards layup that made me stop and say, “yep, she’s good.” On the defensive end, Centennial’s Marisa Frost and St. Michael-Albertville’s
Kaylie Cox
Kaylie
Cox
5'7" | CG
St. Michael-Albertville | 2024
State
MN
lock it down. In the half court, Frost is a good on-the-ball defender. Strong and quick Cox can shut point guards down full court. This entire group is worth the watch.
Two 2024 Guards Who Could Breakout
When I watched the 2024 Metro Stars group, Eagan point guard Drew Buslee stood out to me. She makes sharp, hard passes, and they get right to the shooting pocket or the hands of a post in transition. She has good length and athleticism, and she showed rebounding and shooting abilities as well. She still needs to develop her instincts, but she’s a guard to keep an eye on. 2024 guard/forward combo Gabby Wilke from Wisconsin Impact moves very well for any position. She’s always in the right place at the right time— at the hoop in transition, on the block to get the rebound, cutting often— and she will be a great scorer if she keeps it up. I like her overall game, and she’s a hard worker.
