A Look Back at the Mighty 2013s

EDITED January 10, 2013
EDITED January 18, 2013
EDITED March 28, 2013
EDITED April 4, 2013
OH WAIT! ONE MORE EDIT AFTER THE ALL-STAR GAMES April 28, 2013

2013

Long regarded as one of the great Minnesota classes ever, the Mighty 2013s are now history. Several under-exposed kids took good advantage of the MGBCA all-star games to move up in the rankings especially Tarah Cleveland, Abby Manitz, Sydney Larson, Bridget Audette, Drew Sannes, Alexis Tappe and Kenzie Kane. Meanwhile a few head-to-head match-ups changed my mind. I moved Allina Starr, MC McGrory and Joanna Hedstrom up, for example, and some other point guards down, and I moved Erin O'Toole up as well.

1. Tyseanna Johnson, DeLaSalle, 5-11, wing. Dynamic player both offensively and defensively. Scores from anywhere, anyway, moves the ball, creates turnovers, pounds the boards. Going to Iowa State, where she will be a star comparable to Brittney Chambers at Kansas State.

2. Nia Coffey, Hopkins, 6-1, wing forward/guard. A lock-down defender, a terrific rebounder, an excellent finisher at the rim, and an improving shooter from beyond the rim and out beyond the 3-point line. Moved up fro #41 to #24 in Hoopgurlz ranking. A Northwestern verbal.

3. Rebekah Dahlman, Braham, 5-9, combo guard. A gutsy kid who just refuses to lose. Obviously a terrific offensive player, especially adept at getting to the rim. All-time leading scorer in Minnesota girls basketball. #16 in Hoopgurlz. Going to Vandy.

I've had all 3--Johnson, Dahlman, Coffey--at #1 at 1 time or another. It just depends on who I saw last. All 3 are terrific. When you hear about the great class of 2013, we're talking about these 3. But, seriously, who was/is the best.

Well, Dahlman will certainly be remembered for her 5,000 points. And she also played in 3 state championship games, winning 1 and losing this month in an instant classic. But of course she was overshadowed her last 2 state tournaments by the best of the next gen, Carlie Wagner. Johnson played in 4 state title games and won 3, and also goes down in the history books as the 1st basketball player, boys or girls, ever to make all-state tournament 5 times. Coffey was the obvious star on the 1st 3-peat girls champion at the highest level.

If it's pure athleticism that you crave, Coffey is your girl. Or if it's rebounding and vertical lift, or quickness on defense, the Coffey is the best of the 3. If you're looking for the 3-pointer or a jumper, generally, from the mid-range on out, then it's Johnson. Neither Coffey nor Dahlman is anything special in that area. If it's an all-around game with no obvious weaknesses, that's Tyseanna. But if you want somebody with an Attitude, who just refuses to lose, Dahlman's the one.

So it depends on what your particular definition of greatness is. But, then, there's this: Which one is going to be the best collegian. Coffey at Northwestern, Dahlman at Vanderbilt and Johnson at Iowa State are all going to be facing solid BCS-type opposition, presumably for 4 years, so this will be a fair test of what the 3 of them are really about. My personal opinion is that Johnson's all-around no-weakness game will play better than Coffey's game at the rim and Dahlman's hard-nosed refuse-to-lose game at the next level. Both Coffey and Dahlman are going to have to develop a mid-range game a little bit, while Johnson merely needs to refine the elements she's already got. And Dahlman is going to have to learn to play defense, something that Coffey certainly has already mastered and that Johnson is at least adequate at.

So finally, how you rank them as high schoolers is a matter of personal taste. How they do at the next level will reveal itself and I expect it to reveal Johnson, Coffey and Dahlman in that order.

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EDIT April 4, 2013. NOTE that Kevin Anderson has selected Tyseanna Johnson as his Player of the Year. He had Rebekah Dahlman as his PoY 2 years ago, when the Mighty 2013s were sophomores. He had Nia Coffey as his PoY last year, when they were juniors. Now they're seniors, and it's Tyseanna. Like I said up above, I've had all 3 of them as the #1 rated 2013 at one time or another. I feel your pain. Bottom line is that Tyseanna has a higher PP100 rating--that is, Points Per 100 Possessions--and he attributes it to the ability to finish layups. Dahlman and Coffey and Carlie Wagner, he said, don't finish enough layups. For whatever reason, Tyseanna does. That's what Kevin says and he would know.

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4. Allina Starr, DeLaSalle, 5-9, point guard. Strong, a natural pass-first/shoot-second point guard, but can score inside or out, especially inside. Posts up bigger players and finishes. Still, a great passer. Came into her own with a terrific state tournament. An Auburn verbal.

5. Jade Martin, Bloomington Kennedy, 6-0, forward/wing. Once rated #1 in her class, then slipped a bit but, hey, she's a Georgetown verbal. Highly skilled in every facet of the game . Not as mobile or as aggressive as Tyseanna Johnson, but much more so so far in 2013. One wonders if her slippage and her disappearances are simply a reflection of the fact that she plays for the most part without the ball. In other words, are her teammates looking for her as much as they probably should?

6. MC McGrory, Edina, 5-8, combo guard. First earned her stripes as an on-ball defensive pest, but developed into an all-around guard who can score especially inside, despite her size. Hard-nosed. Going to Creighton which is a terrific fit for her strengths. Will do well.


7. Joanna Hedstrom, Minnetonka, 5-9, point guard. Savvy point guard, can pass or shoot. Could protect the ball a little better. A U of M verbal was announced in May.

8. Jessica January, Richfield, 5-8, combo guard. Very athletic, has won 3 state 100M hurdles track titles. Does it all on the basketball court, plays under control but with aggression. A surprising #74 on Hoopgurlz after not appearing in the top 100 as a junior. Going to DePaul.


9. Tesha Buck, Red Wing, 5-10, combo guard. A scorer and Wisconsin-Green Bay recruit.

10. Phyllis Webb, Osseo, 5-10, off guard. Very athletic, strong, a great defender. Not a consistent offensive threat but great around the rim and it seems she focused more on what she can do toward the end of her career instead of trying to do things she couldn't. In other words, she moved up in my estimation in her final month of play. Verballed Eastern Michigan.

11. Talayiah Rich, Robbinsdale Cooper, 5-10, forward. Undersized for the next level but the skills are there, though obviously I am the only one to hold her in this type of regard.

12. Mikaala Shackleford, Hopkins, 5-11, forward/off guard. Tore an ACL late in her junior year and had always gotten lost among Hopkins many offensive weapons. A lock-down defender, so-so scorer. But like a Jade Martin, she will excel at the next level at Illinois.

13. Savanna Trapp, Esko, 6-8, post. Whatever else she is--a project, perhaps--she is 6-9. Better than Amber Dvorak but more defensively oriented rather than offensively. Still I am of 2 minds concerning Trapp, I really don't know what to expect of her at the next level. But she certainly had an impact at this level. If she had been healthy, Esko would have beaten Braham in the section final, and Braham after all lost the state championship by 1 point. Attending UCLA.

14. Taylor Anderson, Hopkins, 5-7, point guard. Quick on quick and in fact she'll be running track rather than playing hoops at UConn. Very small/slight of build, which would have been a challenge at the next level.

15. Erin O'Toole, Hopkins, 6-3, post. U. of North Dakota recruit. A big strong kid who uses her body inside. Improved dramatically as a senior.

16. Janay Morton, Osseo, 5-8, point guard. Her skills are more advanced while her athleticism is not off the charts like Webb's, but still pretty darn good. Verballed Eastern Michigan.

17. Leah Szabla, Providence, 5-9, point guard. Providence looks like five interchangeable pieces most of the time. But look closer and you'll realize that Szabla is the glue that keeps them together. A good ball handler and distributor, excellent defender, can score and is now looking to do so as a senior. U. of North Dakota recruit.


18. Clarissa Ober, Glencoe-Silver Lake, 6-2, post. Joins a huge stable of Minnesota bigs at South Dakota State. Not clear how she'll be better than those who are already there.

19. Jacqlynn Poss. Roseville, 5-8 combo guard. Great head for the game and hits the 3. Denver U. recruit.

20 (tie). Simone Kolander, 6-0, wing and Taylor Stewart, 5-8, point guard, both Lakeville North. Kolander is a superb athlete, but a better soccer than basketball player (a Gopher soccer recruit). But she finally showed some aggression on the basketball court as a senior. Stewart is not the most athletic, but good skills and a good nose for the game. Illinois State recruit.

22. Sade Chatman, St. Paul Central, 6-1, post-big forward. Big upside, but a long way to go to realize her considerable potential. I was never that high on her due to a lack of motor. But she added size and played well during her final season. Verballed UAB.

23. Larissa Lurken, Park, 5-10, combo guard. Fluid, a scorer, but needs to get stronger mentally and physically. Verballed Kent State.

24. Rachel Doll, Rochester Mayo, 6-1, center-power forward. Aggressive, plays hard, uses her size. Will play at Moorhead State.

25. Kaytlin Kuefler, Annandale, 5-7, combo guard. A St. Cloud State recruit.

26. Paige Waytashek, Centennial, 5-11, forward-guard. Improving dramatically. A Northern State verbal.

27. Angie Davidson, Maple Grove, 5-8, point guard. Has started to take over games. Northern Iowa recruit.

28 (tie). Natalie Ratliff, Providence, 5-10, wing. Does all of the not so little things. And, Taylor Finley, Providence, 6-1, forward. Verbaled Harvard.

30. Emily Spier, Buffalo, 6-0, post-power forward. An NDSU verbal.


31. Kristina White, Woodbury, 5-9, wing. Excellent 3-point shooter. Verballed Vermont.

32. Lashay Holt, St. Paul Humboldt, 5-10, forward. Coming on strong, big, strong, athletic but still raw. Going to St. Catherine's.

33. Jessie Mathews, Faribault Bethlehem Academy, 5-9, point guard. Does it all, pushes the ball, handles and protects it in traffic, scores inside and out, rebounds, goes on the floor for the loose ball. She will be the best freshman in the MIAC at St. Mary's.

34. Onye Osemenam, Maranatha, 6-2, post. Still rough around the edges but big, strong, agile, a terrific defender, and an improving scorer--in the paint, anyway, there's no range there. Verballed Missouri State.

35. Aimee Pelzer, Upsala, 5-9, point guard. Quick, athletic, great ball handler and distributor. Scores 20+ ppg but her future is as a "1." Going to Jamestown.

36. Allyson Harris, Northfield, 6-2, post. Steady. UMD recruit.

37. Macy Weller, Sauk Centre, 5-10, forward. Utterly unspectacular, but does all of the little things, if you consider solid defense to be a little thing. A great defender. And she can score if needed.

38. Katie Schultz, Wayzata, 5-10, forward-guard. Nice athlete, does it all. Going to UW-Breen Bay to play soccer.

39. Betsy McDonald, St. Paul Central, 5-5, point guard. Savvy, fun to watch, but she is tiny. A St. Cloud State recruit.

40. Katie McDaniels, Mounds View, 5-7, point guard. Reminds me of Katybeth Biewen though of course not that good. But plays bigger than she is just by virtue of her toughness. And her team follows her.


41. Chelsey McGee, Cooper, 5-6, point guard.

42. Minisha Childress-Frederick, Mankato East, 5-8, point guard. U. of Detroit recruit.

43. Drew Sannes, Hawley, 6-2, post. A Moorhead State verbal.

44. Kenzie Kane, Grand Rapids, guard. Going to UMD.


45. Sierra Ford-Washington, Richfield, guard. Lost her moment on the big stage to a knee injury in the 1st round of the state tournament. Going to Northern Iowa.

46. Megan Kolness, Ada-Borup, 5-9, forward. Led her team to Class A runners-up.

47. Tatum Sheley, Pine River-Backus, 5-9, combo guard. Tore her ACL this past summer but she is back and scored her 2,000th point in early January.

48. Taylor Winjum, Caledonia, 5-8, guard. Going to Viterbo.

49. Brynn Lilljander, Cambridge-Isanti, 5-8, guard.

50. Larissa Graham, Roseville, 6-2, post. Verballed Western Michigan.

51. Tyra Johnson, Eastview, 6-1, post-power forward. Improved a ton the past year. Mankato State.

52. Alexis Tappe, Frazee. 5-10, a Northern State recruit. A scorer.

53. Sarah Pease, Dover-Eyota, guard.
54. Tarah Cleveland, Menagha, 5-7, combo guard. Going to Valley City State.
55. Nathalie Van Whye, St. Michael-Albertville, 5-9, guard. A Moorhead State verbal.
56. Greta Walsh, Litchfield, 5-8, point guard. Steady.
57. Tiffany Flaata, Prior Lake, 6-2, forward. Active. South Dakota State verbal.

58. Abby Manitz, forward, Kasson-Mantorville. Going to U of M as a volleyball walk-on.


59. Emily Pratt, Albany, 5-11, forward-guard. A St. Cloud recruit.

60. Madison Dorn, Parkers Prairie, 5-7, combo guard.

61. Ashton Haider, Sartell-St. Stephen, guard.
62. Brigette Audette, Big Lake, guard. Going to St. Mary's.
63. Christina Wakeman, Spring Lake Park, 6-0, post. Wisconsin-Milwaukee recruit.


64. Sydney Larsen, Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City, forward. Going to Presentation.

65. Nicole Nipper, Minnehaha, forward. Going to Carleton.

66. Arei Stokes, Bertha-Hewitt, guard. One of 4 Minnesotans going to Jamestown.
67. Annie Dittberner, New Prague, 5-7, guard.
68. Tori Davidson, Northern Freeze, forward-post. Going to Northland CC.
69. Jenna Goldsmith, St. Anthony, 6-2, post/power forward. Active.

70 (tie). Lauren Shifflett, 5-9, shooting guard. A Concordia-St. Paul recruit.


Becca Smith, shooting guard. Both Chanhassan.

72. Emily Miron, Wadena-Deer Creek, 6-2, post

73. Haley Fogarty, Belle Plaine, 5-8, guard. A Mankato State volleyball recruit.
74. Claire Ziegler, Mankato East, 5-10, forward.
75. Stephanie Dressen, Waconia, post. Northern State verbal.
76. Tamera Curtis, St. Paul Central, 5-9, combo guard.
77. Tyaneka Cage, Mpls. Roosevelt, 5-8, guard. Can score. Does score. Sometimes Big.
78. Audrey DeVaughn, Mpls. Washburn, 5-9, guard.
79. Alexandra Erickson, Warren-Alvarado-Oslo, forward. Going to Concordia (Moorhead).

80. Paige Erickson, Wetbrook-Walnut Grove, forward.

81. Jenna Langer, center-forward, Long Prairie-Grey Eagle. Going to St. Ben's.

82. Reilly Johnson, Wayzata, 6-2, forward. Active.
83. Sammie DelZotto, Eagan, guard. Mankato State verbal.
84. Lashondra Curtis, St. Paul Central, 5-11, post/power forward. Chatman and Sherow get all the attention but Curtis uses her body to get things done around the basket.
85. Paige Erickson, Westbrook-Walnut Grove, forward.
86. Allison Newton, Pine Island, 5-8, guard.
87. Lexi Reuhling, New Prague, center.
88. Maria Freuchte, Caledonia. Volleyball phenom, 36" vertical.
89. Marisa Shady, Esko, 5-7, guard. Very steady.

90 (tie). Katie Miller, Waseca. Going to Bemidji State.
Allison Cordes, Roseville, 5-7, guard. A Bemidji State recruit.
Hannah Zerr, Shakopee, 5-8, combo guard. Going to Bemidji State.

93 (tie).  Kelsey Carpenter, small forward and Tailor Raymond, 5-10, power forward, both St. Peter.
95. Macy Kelly, Red Wing.
96. Lexi Erpenbach, Norwood-Young America, guard.
97. Deanna Busse, Prior Lake, 5-5, guard. Adjusted from supporting to starring role.

98. Dani Braund, Braham, 5-10, power forward.
99. Cede Finstuen, Pine Island, guard

100. Theresa Moenkedick, Verndale, guard.

Special Mention in no particular order

Shaina Schultz, Rocori, guard.
Jess Yost, Bemidji, forward.
Taylor Frederickson, Minnetonka, forward.

Ebony Wilson-Sinkfield, St. Paul Harding.

Krista Hassing, Blue Earth, guard.

Ali Zopfi, Champlin Park, forward.
Kayla Swanson, Hibbing, guard.
Kathy Ostman, Mountain Iron-Buhl, 6-2, center. Going to Mesabi Range CC.
Kelsey Saugstad, Marshall, guard.
Abby Notch, St. Cloud Apollo, guard.

Jordin Koppolow, Adrian, guard.
Claudia Turner, Esko, guard. Eskomos are much more than just Savanna Trapp.
Tracy Herzog, Upsala, forward.
Bryn Parsons, Eagan, guard.
Aislinn Cornell, Hopkins, 6-0, forward-guard. One big night, then back to the bench.
Breeyana Brittain, Mpls. Roosevelt, 5-10, power forward. Uses her body well.
Rebekah Walk, Heritage Christian, guard.
Breanna Semanko, Spring Lake Park, forward.
Melissa Weisbrick, Hibbing, center.
MaKenzie Miller, Chatfield, 6-1, forward/post.

Traci McDonald, Chatfield, 6-1, center.
Erica Melbie, Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City, guard.
Erin Schlotthauer, post, Kasson-Mantorville.
Hana Palmer, Bethlehem Academy, 5-11, center. A bit undersized.
Courtney McClay, Rogers, forward.
Brook Schramm, Esko, forward.
McKenzie Becker, Andover, forward.
Mikaela Hunter, Woodbury. Going to UW-Superior.
Jenna Januschka, St. Cloud Cathedral.

Hannah Swenson, Fergus Falls, 6-2, center.

Mackenzie Bebo, St. Michael-Albertville, guard. Going to Jamestown.
Kirsten Whitney, St. Anthony, guard.
Danni Renner, White Bear Lake, 6-2, post/power forward.

Kate Theisen, Watertown-Mayer, forward.
Hailey Wixo, Moorhead.
Amber Pater, Southwest Minnesota Christian, center.
Katie Simonet, 5-5, Park Center, guard. Gets the most out of her assets.
Ellen Blacklock, Winona, center.
Casey Haugdahl, Henning, forward.
Janelle Morem, Blooming Prairie, guard.

Natalie Sill, Blake, forward.
Marissa Evans, Swanville
Ali Clark, Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg.
Hannah Howard, Cretin-Derham Hall, 5-10, forward. Super hard worker, much improved.
Courtney Dilley, Eden Valley Watkins, post.
Joelle Ertl, Holdingford.
Sarah Anderson, forward, Marshall
Laurel Kabat, Apple Valley, guard.
Nicole Borstner, St. Francis, guard.
Anna Soenneker, St. Cloud Tech. Going to South Dakota Mines.

Mandy Mercil, Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton, guard.
Angie Wahl, Cherry, forward.
Chloe Gunderson, Minnehaha, guard.
Kalli Zimmerman, Champlin Park, gorward.
Jessica Jennings, LeRoy-Ostrander, guard.
Tayler Reller, Melrose.
Jamie Jenks, Little Falls.
Megan Olson, Red Lake Falls, post.
Abbie Mercil, Warren-Alvarado-Oslo, post.
Carly Masloski, Underwood, forward.

Noelle Elodhjem, Mora, post.
Rachel Cheadle, Fulda, center.
Alicia Nopola, Silver Bay, center.
Jenna Schammel, Southland, forward.
Stephanie Jensen, Redwood Valley, going to Jamestown.
Tia Diggins, Montevideo.
Kiana Nickel, Wayzata, guard.