The Expo: Evaluating the best of Team 2

Every player has different reasons for attending an event like The Expo hosted by Prep Girls Hoops. Some who played on Sunday at Maple Grove Middle School are attempting a comeback and want to test themselves in a competitive environment. Others feel they have something to prove. Some are there to show off the results of the work they've been putting in as they continue to prepare for the next level. We saw all that and more at The Expo. PGH scouts Ally McGinnis, Tony Ragulen and I are evaluating the players on a team-by-team basis. Here's my take on Team 2.    Without a doubt, Johnston was the feel-good story of The Expo. After two hip surgeries cost her most of the past two seasons, on Sunday the Orono guard said she couldn't remember the last time she played 5-on-5 basketball. You never would have known it. Zoey immediately took control, attacking the basket and launching her patented mid-range jumper with a smooth step-back, tremendous elevation and beautiful body control. She looked every bit as quick as we remembered, changing speeds masterfully and creating for teammates with excellent vision. Even after losing a fingernail (ouch!) and beginning to tire by the third game, Zoey kept on battling which wasn't a surprise if you know her. We held our breath when Zoey dove into a scrum in pursuit of the basketball but she quickly popped back up. Honestly, it was great to see Johnston back. If she stays healthy this winter the junior is going to make some noise.     The Amari of old. That's what it looked like on Sunday at The Expo. The 5-foot-11 guard entered attack mode almost immediately, playing with confidence and flashing the elite physical tools that have always made her such an intriguing prospect. Amari elevated effortlessly, attacked off the bounce and used her length to create shots that are extremely difficult to contest. Johnson also reminded us that she's much more than just a scorer, delivering a couple of beautiful post-entry passes to [player_tooltip player_id='1209369' first='Kenley' last='Evers'] that demonstrated excellent vision and feel. Defensively, a dialed-in Johnson can be disruptive with her length, anticipation and athleticism. After a difficult couple of seasons, Sunday offered an encouraging reminder of just how high Johnson's ceiling remains. We're excited to see what she does at Totino-Grace. This is a D1 prospect.     Konz wasted no time putting her stamp on The Expo. The 5'8 guard/forward from Morris was assertive and authoritative from the outset, forcing turnovers, creating opportunities and bringing the blue-collar effort that earned her a coveted spot this summer on our PGH Hard Hat All-Star Team. That honor fits her perfectly. Samantha is the ultimate workhorse, competing with maximum effort and providing whatever her team needs without worrying about making things look fancy. Her skill level continues to catch up with her toughness, too. Konz is getting quicker and more polished off the bounce while becoming an increasingly confident perimeter shooter. Coming off an excellent AAU summer with [program_tooltip program_id='756457' first='Opportunity' last='Basketball'], the three-sport athlete continues to raise her stock by making winning plays all over the floor.     The key for Schultz is assertiveness, and we saw glimpses Sunday of what happens when Carley decides to impose herself on the game. The 5'9 competitor from Underwood has a powerful frame, plays with toughness and consistently finds herself around contested possessions. Schultz chased loose balls, battled on the glass and quickly recovered whenever something went wrong. She also moved the basketball well and demonstrated the shooting range that makes her more than simply a physical presence. Schultz can occasionally blend into the action, but her game rises noticeably when she takes greater ownership of possessions. Added to our 2028 rankings this summer, Schultz has the strength, shooting ability and competitiveness to continue moving upward. She just might end up as one of the surprise late-bloomers in the Class of 2028.     Unfortunately, illness cut Evers' Expo appearance short – she wasn't the only one who had to bow out for the same reason – but we still saw some encouraging signs from the 6'3 power forward/center from Andover. Most notably, Kenley's comfort handling the basketball continues to improve. There are still decisions to refine regarding when and where to put it on the floor, but the progress is evident. Evers' combination of size and a big frame naturally commands attention, yet her development into a more contemporary post prospect is what makes her increasingly interesting. She has good footwork around the basket, improved mobility and can step outside and knock down threes with a smooth stroke. Ranked just outside our top 50, Evers has an opportunity to play at a high level as her skill set evolves to turn considerable physical potential into consistent production.     Moua needed little encouragement to let it fly Sunday. The diminutive St. Cloud guard launched one of her trademark high-arcing threes early in her first game of the day and watched it drop through with a sweet swish. From that point on Kambria's results were varied, but her confidence in her own abilities never seemed to waver. Moua has serious range, a quick release and a knack for finding spaces where teammates can locate her. She also used her quickness to create shots, force turnovers and generate steals while battling much taller opponents. Standing out among the talented prospects at The Expo isn't easy for a guard her size, but Moua found ways to do it. Continuing to develop as a distributor will make her shooting ability even more valuable.

Every player has different reasons for attending an event like The Expo hosted by Prep Girls Hoops. Some who played on Sunday at Maple Grove Middle School are attempting a comeback and want to test themselves in a competitive environment. Others feel they have something to prove. Some are there to show off the results of the work they've been putting in as they continue to prepare for the next level. We saw all that and more at The Expo. PGH scouts Ally McGinnis, Tony Ragulen and I are evaluating the players on a team-by-team basis. Here's my take on Team 2.