Handicapping the 2018s

NOTE: Our summer team rankings are located under the “Grasssroots” pull-down menu as “Team Rankings.”

The AAU has a new method of seeding teams for the upcoming (May 2017) state championships. The top 6 seeds are simply the top 6 finishers in last year’s tournament. If any of the top 6 drop out for any reason, then the #7 and #8 finishers from last year move up, but they otherwise do not automatically get the #7 and #8 seeds. The #7 and #8 seeds (and so on) will be determined based on play in AAU events (the Midwest Kickoff this coming weekend, the Spring Showdown April 2l-13, and the Mill City Invitational April 29-30) during the month of April.

Here is our 1st cut at the top 15 class of 2018 teams for the summer of 2017. There are rosters we haven’t seen yet, there are undoubtedly some teams who will be in the top 10-top 15 this summer who are not included here yet. If you’re one of those teams, chances are we couldn’t find your roster. But, anyway, here’s our 1st cut along with a comparison with the AAU seedings that were previously announced.

1. North Tartan 11 EYBL. Defending state champs, #1 seed. It is almost inconceivable that this team would not win the state title. They’ve upgraded a team that has won the state title every year but one since it was formed with Destinee Oberg (Holy Angels, playing up a year), Megan Walstad (Eastview) and Syd Stapleton (Centennial).

2. Metro Stars Black. Finished 3rd a year ago, moves up to #2 due to the demise of last year’s runner-up 43 Hoops. They can match Tartan’s size with the addition of Zoe Hardwick (Tonka), Kira Mosley (Eden Prairie), Haley Moore )Cretin) and Allie Spaulding (Annandale). A little lacking in depth at the guard spots.

3. Fury 2018 Elite. Finished 5th a year ago, moves up to #4 due to the demise of 43 Hoops, but moves up one additional spot here. Added guards Sommer Blakemore (Park Center) and Audrey Gadison (St. Croix Lutheran) from outside, and Maddie Loder (Orono) from their own 2nd team. Also has the size to compete with Tartan and the Black.

4. Stars Hersch. Finished 4th last year, moves up to the #3 seed. Our #2, #3 and #4 are pretty much indistinguishable. We stick with the Black and then the Fury ahead of the Stars just based on their continuity. Here, Josh Hersch inherits what was Willie Taylor’s team. Also has size with the additions of Taylor Brown and Ke James (both Lakeville North). Point guards Heaven Hamling (Grand Rapids) and Claire Orth (Centennial) are the secret weapons, however.

5. Taylor Hill Elite 2018. Finished 7th and moves up to the #6 seed. This roster has not been published, but based on last year’s roster we almost moved them up to #2—i.e. Morgan Hill (Mpls. South), Masengo Mutanda (Armstrong), et al. But, like I say, we haven’t seen this year’s roster, so we’ll park them here.

6. North Tartan 11 Elite. Finished 8th, moves up to the 1st alternate slot. Got a big infusion of talent from their sisters at NT 11 EYBL—specifically Angie Hammond (Hopkins) and Annika Hoff (Northfield) in the post. Taytum Rhoades (Minnehaha) also joins and is playing up a year.

7. Fury 2018 Gold. Finished 5th last year and moves up to the #4 seed. They’re loaded in the post, too, with Monika Czinano (Watertown-Mayer) and Jordan Ferrand (WBL), and at the 1 with Sommer Blakemore and Meghan DuBois (both Park Center), Maddie Loder (Orono) and Audrey Gadison (St. Croix Lutheran). It’s just that there’s a lot of talent in this age class so, from where we sit, they drop to #7.

8. So Minn Fury 2018 Elite. Finished 10th last year and out of the seeds so far this year. They, too, have the bigs to mix it up inside—Syd Schultz (Owatonna), Haley Dessner (PEM), et al. And the wings might be loaded, but that depends on Rachel Garvey’s (Shakopee) return from an injury. Sidney Blandin (Farmington) and Wynter Bergner (Rochester Lourdes) are there, too.

9. Comets 11 Elite. The Comets have hemorrhaged talent—Nicholson, Spaulding, Washington, D’Heilly, Sieben, Steichen, Autumn Thompson, Strand—since last year, and yet there’s some talent. Just not enough to climb into the top 8. Claire Wolhowe (Staples-M), Shea Oman (NLS), Emma Schmidt (Wheaton) and newcomer Annika Sougstad (Mahtomedi) will lead the way.

10. Suns 11 R. Long. Strong at the 1 and in the post. What else do you need? Jada Hood (Roseville), Ty Longs (Cooper), LeRae Maxey-Moore (Hopkins) at the 1, and Olivia Travis (DLS) and Stephanie Miller (St. Croix Lutheran) inside.

11. Stars 11 DeSart. Strong inside with Bren Fox (NYA) and Lily Schoknecht (ANoka), and at the 1 with Kiley Post (Maranatha) and Emily Smith (Anoka). The 3 spot is also strong with Noelle Josephson (Anoka) and Dacoda Speidel (DLS).

12. Stars 11 Walters. Strong in the backcourt with K’Lynn Lewis and Adiya Sandifer (both St. Agnes), Chanel Anderson-Manning (Cretin) and Bailey Berge (Kasson-M), and also have Lizzie Karp (Andover), Riley Thalhuber (Holy Angels) and more up front.

13. Rise 11 Purple. Another team with good 1s but who are they going to throw the ball to? They are Madi Heiderscheidt (Sleepy Eye) and Grace Amacher (Faribault).

14. Nice Lady Balla’s 2018. This is purely a bow to Yokie Lee (Byron). There’s not yet much of a supporting cast, and I mean that literally. The published roster so far has just 6 names.

15 (tie). Crossfire 11 Willey. It’s not so much that I can’t decide is that I decided that all 3 should be mentioned—Crossfire 11 Willey, Heat 11 Vang and Suns 11 Wilson, that is. CF Willey is led by Annika Simonson (Heritage) and Allison Eide (Christian Life).

15 (tie). Heat 11 Vang. Heat Vang is led by point guard Sophie Findell (Irondale) and wing Thea Kluge (Chisago).

15 (tie). Suns 11 Wilson. Suns Wilson will show off Sam Husting (JFK) at the 1 or 2 guard.