Top Five Power Forwards for the Class of 2023
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Arizona prep girls basketball has an outstanding number of power forwards. Here’s a look at five from the class of 2023 with two from the same high school – Sunrise Mountain. Reena Bhakta Reena Bhakta 5'11" | PF Sunrise…
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Continue ReadingArizona prep girls basketball has an outstanding number of power forwards. Here’s a look at five from the class of 2023 with two from the same high school – Sunrise Mountain.
Reena Bhakta Reena Bhakta 5'11" | PF Sunrise Mountain | 2023 State AZ is a 5-11 junior to be power forward for Sunrise Mountain High School in Peoria who also plays for Arizona Elite, her grassroots team. Playing for Head Coach Jennifer Tolle, Reena averaged 10.2 points per game last season and 6.6 rebounds. The Lady Mustangs finished with an overall 16-5 record, 10-1 in their division. Sunrise Mountain lost to Verrado in the state championship game, 53-40. They were runner-up as well in the 2020 season, losing to Millennium in the state final. But their overall 26-5 record in 2019-2020 was the best in the history of the program.
Competing in the 5A Northwest Region, Reena was selected as an ‘Undergraduate to Watch’ by the Daily Independent. Spanning her freshman and sophomore years, Reena has played in 44 games for the Lady Mustangs, averaging 7.6 points and 5.3 rebounds. In both seasons, she shot over 50% from the floor. She was selected as one of the top stars for the week of January 18th by scoring 21 points in a 79-34 rout of Centennial. She has size, athleticism, gives 100% effort, and had a breakout sophomore season. She should continue to improve as she gets ready for her junior year.
Hanna Young is a 6-foot junior to be at Xavier Prep in Phoenix. She also plays for AZ Select, her grassroots team which is coached by her mother, Ruth Young. Last season, Xavier Prep finished 13-4 overall and 6-2 in their region. Playing in a total of 40 games in her freshman and sophomore years, Hanna averaged 2.6 points per game and 3.5 rebounds per game. Xavier lost in last March’s playoff to Vista Valley, 54-46.
Ruth refers to Hannah as a ’diamond in the rough.’ She has improved her in-the-paint skills, plays very physical defense, is mentally tough, and has a high basketball IQ. She is also very coachable, a leader, with a tireless work ethic. Hanna has immeasurable, mechanics with her length and wingspan improving considerably. She has worked over the summer with former WNBA player Bridget Pettis, now an assistant coach in the league. Her Xavier Prep Head Coach, Jennifer Gillom, feels that “in four years she will be D-I ready. Hannah is very coachable and eager to get to the next level.”
Britany Kogbara Britany Kogbara 5'11" | PF Peoria | 2023 State AZ is a 5-11 power forward for Peoria High School. As a freshman, she was selected as Player of the Game on three separate occasions by Max Preps. The teams were Copper Canyon, Sunnyslope, and Desert Edge. As a freshman, she averaged 2.6 points per game and 6.3 rebounds. As a sophomore, her numbers improved to 14.2 points per game and 18.8 rebounds per game. Additionally, she averaged 3.8 blocks per game.
Britany finished fourth in the state in rebounding, fifth in blocks, and tied for fourth in double-doubles. She was selected to the 4A West Valley first team and named Defensive Player of the Year. Against Buckeye Union High School she nearly had a triple-double in February with 21 points, 13 rebounds, and nine steals. Britany is athletic, has a strong presence inside, plays well in the low post, doesn’t shy away from contact, and has a high basketball IQ. There’s plenty of upside for her as she gets ready for her junior year.
Rian Martinez Rian Martinez 6'2" | PF Cibola | 2023 State AZ is a 6-2 power forward for Yuma Catholic High School. She also plays for Cobra Venom, her grassroots team. Under Head C0ach Bobby McGalliard, the Shamrocks finished last year 13-2 overall and 7-1 in their region. Yuma Catholic lost to Page in the playoffs last March, 57-25. The team finished 21-6 in the 2019-2020 season. Rian, as a sophomore, averaged 5.7 points per game, 6.3 rebounds per game, and 3.1 blocks per game in the 3A conference.
She was selected for the Honorable Mention team by AZPreps 365. One scout referred to Rian…” as a versatile basketball player with many skills. She is long, athletic, and talented. To some degree, she lacks experience but her talent level will make her a major part of the team.”
Mackenzie Dunham Mackenzie Dunham 6'0" | PF Sunrise Mountain | 2023 State AZ is a 5-11 power forward for Sunrise Mountain High School in Peoria. She also plays for the AZ Mustangs, her grassroots team. The Lady Mustangs, under Head Coach Jenn Tolle, finished 16-5 overall this past season and 10-1 in their conference. Mackenzie averaged 5.9 points per game, 9.3 rebounds a game, and 2.5 steals per game. Over her first two seasons at Sunrise Mountain – in 44 games – she averaged 6.1 points and 9.0 rebounds.
She was second-team All-Region as a freshman and as a sophomore had a game-high 19 points against Verrado. The Lady Mustangs lost to Verrado in the 5A state playoffs. In a game in March, Mackenzie had 20 rebounds, one short of the Sunrise Mountain record. She is an athletic wing player with tremendous upside. She is also very mobile with an outstanding career ahead of her.