2023 rankings update: Meet the newcomers of note

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>When we published the updated Prep Girls Hoops Class of 2023 rankings this week, there were 18 new players added bringing the total number of prospects on the list to 225. That's a lot of players, but by our standards we believe every last one of them is capable of playing college basketball of some level. That is the minimum qualification to make the cut. By our count around 90 of those have already announced their college commitment. A couple of others have agreed to jump on board with a program next fall but have elected not to make their choice public just yet. And a few more are in the final stages of decision making. Several have announced their commitment in a different sport. And a few have made it clear they don't intend to play at the next level. That still leaves more than 100 prospects available to recruit. Here are some of the newcomers of note.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#104</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='569462' first='Maggie' last='Jones'] <strong>– guard, North St. Paul (NIACC)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Coaching matters. A ton. There are numerous reasons why North St. Paul is undefeated at 7-0 going into the Christmas break. It wasn't long ago that they barely had enough players to put a team on the court and wins were few and far between. Since coach Patrick Leslie arrived from Texas, the program has done a complete 180. The numbers are good. The work ethic is great. The culture is positive. And kids are starting to see their own potential. Jones is a great example. This year her game has grown exponentially thanks to a combination of direction from her coach, self-directed skill development and some helpful exposure. The 5'7 point guard is a terrific shooter from distance, has outstanding handles and is a solid defender. Work = opportunity and Maggie has combined all of these things to earn a college scholarship to North Iowa Area.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#113</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='569458' first='Kylie' last='Silus'] <strong>– forward, Chaska</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We talk about players being in the shadows of others waiting their turn. Well Kylie was really in the shadows – of a 6'1 power forward <strong>Mallory Heyer</strong> now playing at the University of Minnesota and 6'6 <strong>Jessica Heir</strong>, who was more than an adequate backup for the Hawks. Silus made an appearance here and there in the past but now that those two have graduated Kylie's time has come. She is making the most of her opportunity. As the 6'2 senior has demonstrated throughout the fall and during the first month of the high school season, she is well-prepared. Silus has shown good mobility, the ability to claim space and rebound the basketball, knock down the occasional mid-range jump shot, drive to the basket to finish and vacuum up rebounds and turn them into putback scores. That's the job description and she is meeting expectations. Silus enters the rankings at #113.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#138</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='520272' first='Hope' last='Carlson'] <strong>– guard, Proctor (St. Scholastica)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>How Hope wasn't in the rankings before now is beyond me. In fact, for a long time I thought she was included but somehow we had neglected to fill out the virtual paperwork to make it official. My bad! With apologies all around, let's just say the nearly 6-footer has the tools to be successful at the next level. She's long and athletic, can get up and down the court with ease, has plenty of elevation and knows how to score the basketball. She is a very good three-point shooter and gets to the rim, too. Perhaps her best asset, however, is her defense. Hope usually draws the other team's most-skilled player as her assignment and more often than not she gets the job done. This summer her experience with Starks Elite propelled her to a new level. Welcome to the Top 150 Hope. Sorry it took so long.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#169</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='569487' first='Megan' last='Corkery'] <strong>– guard, Minnetonka</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With change comes opportunity. When Minnetonka made a coaching change, that was Megan's opportunity. Let's just say she knows how to cash in when the cards are dealt in her favor. Corkery finished off the AAU season with a bang and then took advantage of the playing time she received in fall league as new coach Bryan Cosgriff tried to figure out what he had to work with. Now, as a big-time contributor in the Skippers rotation, Corkery has shown college coaches that she has the goods to be successful at the next level. Megan's got speed and skill, she sees the floor and moves the ball, and she defends with passion. For small guards that is a recipe for success.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":288109,"width":512,"height":341,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2021/05/Kaylee-Ruberg-scaled.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-288109" width="512" height="341" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Ruberg</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here are the rest of the newcomers:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>#184 [player_tooltip player_id='569459' first='Breanna' last='Goeresh'] – forward, Spring Lake Park</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>#204 [player_tooltip player_id='569460' first='Lily' last='Riley'] – guard, Pierz (Mayville State)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>#205 [player_tooltip player_id='569463' first='Angelina' last='Chappele'] – forward, Jefferson (Dakota State)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>#214 [player_tooltip player_id='569461' first='Lauren' last='Modrynski'] – guard, Rosemount</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>#215 [player_tooltip player_id='220839' first='Bryn' last='Nesvold'] – guard, New Ulm</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>#217 [player_tooltip player_id='569464' first='Abbi' last='Steiner'] – guard, Maple Grove</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>#218 [player_tooltip player_id='361473' first='Belle' last='Iten'] – forward, Eagan</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>#219 [player_tooltip player_id='569466' first='Ellie' last='Keenan'] – guard, Minnetonka</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>#220 [player_tooltip player_id='569467' first='Kaylee' last='Ruberg'] – guard, Rushford-Peterson (photo above)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>#221 [player_tooltip player_id='339193' first='Emma' last='Walsh'] – guard, Centennial</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>#222 [player_tooltip player_id='569465' first='Anna' last='Kivimagi'] – guard, Chatfield</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>#223 [player_tooltip player_id='569470' first='Carly' last='Rekstad'] – guard, East Ridge</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>#224 [player_tooltip player_id='569490' first='Samantha' last='Mucangi'] – guard, Anoka</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>#225 [player_tooltip player_id='569494' first='Macey' last='Littlefield'] – guard, Centennial</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list -->