A Glance at Our 1st-Time Ever Listing of Class of 2021 Prospects

We soon will be publishing our 1st listing of prospects in the class of 2021. It’s not the usual ranking. It’s a list of 30 prospects on what we call a “watch list.” Girls to watch. I would think an actual ranking might be realistic at the end of the summer, and an expansion from 30 names to, maybe, about 50.

For now, here on the editorial page, we’re going to list a slimmed down watch list of a dozen names, listed in alpha order.

Julia Bengtson, Becker, PG. The successor to Kenzie Kramer. A year younger, Bengtson inherited the Kramer role at Becker when Kenzie transferred to St. Michael. Kramer is regarded as a top 5-10 type player and perhaps the state’s #2 2019 point guard behind Paige Bueckers. Bengtson could be as good as Kramer. She scored 10 ppg on 44-78-36 percent shooting with 6 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals as an 8th grader against an AAA schedule.

Katie Borowicz, Roseau and Stars, 5-3, CG. Played in the state tournament in 2016 as a 7th grader and again in 2017 as an 8th grader. Her physical strength was vastly improved, and she played with much more purpose and confidence, and she played very much in the mold of big sisters Kiley and Kacie Borowicz. She is 5-3 as of now, and it’s of course unknown if she’s going to get bigger or how much. But, she’s got game and even at 5-3 is going to be a force.

Kendall Coley, St. Louis Park and North Tartan, PF. Chase Coley’s little sister, and right now it’s not obvious that she’ll be as big as Chase. But she looks like she has some of Chase’s inside game and maybe a little more of a perimeter game. She’s long and athletic and she’s a Coley, so expectations are high.

Kendal Cox, St. Michael-Albertville and North Tartan, W. Kelsie’s younger sister (the family moved from Elk to St. Michael), Kendal started and played a lot of minutes for St. Michael this year. She is not a star, yet, but she held her own against bigger and more experienced opponents with 7 ppg along with 3 rebounds and an assist.

Ellie Dague, Henning and North Tartan, CG. The state’s highest scoring 8th grader during the just-completed winter season with 23 ppg.

Nora Francois, DeLaSalle, 6-0, C-PF. Was a force sometimes for the Islanders. A solid 6-0 but runs the floor and handles the ball on the perimeter like a smaller player.

Jade Hill, Mpls. South and Tayler Hill Elite, 5-9, PG. The younger sister of Tayler and Morgan was our class of 2021 player of the year in the high school season.

Erin Lamb, Stewartville and So Minn Fury, 6-1, C-PF. Lamb was the only other candidate, along with Jade Hill, for our class of 2021 player of the year award during the high school season. Averaged almost 20 ppg scoring inside and out. And, when I saw out, I mean that she stepped outside and hit some bombs. Does it all.

Alexis Pratt, North St. Paul, SG. Her class’s top wing-type scorer, so far. Scored 16 ppg for North St. Paul last winter, mostly off the bounce.

Macy Smith, Maranatha and Stars, 5-7, SG. Quick, very athletic, a penetrator but also a solid jump shooter. A diamond in the rough with plenty of upside.

Kylee Van Eps, Chaska and Fury, 5-10, W. Big and strong, and a highly skilled player all around. Right now maybe more of a threat in the lane than on the perimeter, but she has both skill sets.

Frankie Vascallero, Holy Angels, 5-10, CG. Played a lot of minutes this past year and appears ready to step in at the now-vacant point guard spot for the 2016 AAA state champs. Long and very athletic, good perimeter shooter.