A Look Inside Our Class of 2020 Player Rankings

<p><span style="font-size:16px"><u><strong>Why Our Top 10 Players Are Our Top 10 Players</strong></u></span></p> <p><strong>1. Paige Bueckers, 5-9, combo guard, Hopkins and North Tartan. </strong>No change. Why would there be?</p> <p><strong>2. Kenzie Kramer, 5-6, point guard, St. Michael-Albertville and Tartan.</strong> Up from #4. Earned some pretty positive notices out east already this summer.</p> <p><strong>3. Liza Karlen, 6-2, post, St. Paul Central and Tartan. </strong>Up from #5. Playing up a year for Tartan 10th EYBL. Aside from Bueckers, had the best high school season in her class.</p> <p><strong>4. Ysareia Chevre, 6-0, power forward, Tartan and Fury. </strong>Up from #6. The offensive game is coming around.</p> <p><strong>5. Mallory Brake, 5-11, combo guard, Hastings and Tartan.</strong> Down from #2. Still a great ball player, we have no complaint, but this is shaping up as a monster class.</p> <p><strong>6. Emily Russo, 6-2, post, New Prague and Stars. </strong>Up from #15. Aside from Karlen, Russo is emerging as the next best post among a great group of 2020 posts.</p> <p><strong>7. Lauren Jensen, 5-9, shooting guard, Lakeville North and Tartan. </strong>Up from #8. More of a 2 than a 1 but a worthy successor to Temi Carda.</p> <p><strong>8. Mia Curtis, 5-8, combo guard, Minnehaha and Tartan. </strong>Down from #3. Struggled in the state tournament, but the upside has not changed.</p> <p><strong>9. Alyssa Ustby, 5-10, wing, Rochester Lourdes and Fury. </strong>Up from #29. Long, athletic wing with long arms. The only question is whether basketball will be her #1 sport. She is a star in several sports.</p> <p><strong>10. T.T. Danso, 5-11, power forward, Simley and Tartan.</strong> Remains at #10. Along with Chevre, a pair of great 2020 power forwards. Like I said, this could be a great class.</p> <p> </p> <p><u><span style="font-size:16px"><strong>Biggest Gainers</strong></span></u></p> <p><strong>1. Ustby. </strong>Moves from #29 to #9.</p> <p><strong>2. Ravyn Miles, 5-7, point guard, Simley and Fury. </strong>Moves from #23 to #11. Having a productive summer.</p> <p><strong>3. Cianna Selbitschka, 5-10, combo guard, North Branch and Heat. </strong>Moves from #35 to #12. A couple years ago she told me, “I’m a volleyball player.” I decided not to hold that against her in our rankings anymore, though someday it could of course become a factor if that stays true.</p> <p><strong>4. Kayla Cox, 5-3, point guard, Park Center and Tartan. </strong>Moves from #78 to #28. Another productive summer.</p> <p><strong>5. Alaina Brenning, 5-9, point guard, Rogers and Crossfire. </strong>Moves from #79 to #33. Has been dominant for the Crossfire.</p> <p><strong>6. Amme Sheforgen, 5-9, shooting guard, St. Francis and Heat. </strong>Moves from #68 to #40. A great scorer.</p> <p><strong>7. Ali Hustad, 6-0, post, Zumbrota-Mazeppa and So Minn Fury. </strong>Moves from #72 to #44.</p> <p><strong>8. Riley Polomny, wing, Moorhead and Comets. </strong>Moves from #76 to #56.</p> <p><strong>9. Zhane Thompson, point guard, Burnsville and E1T1. </strong>Moves from #26 to #18.</p> <p><strong>10. Tori Peschel, forward, Sauk Centre. </strong>Moves from #38 to #30. If you saw her at the state tournament, you know what I mean.</p> <p> </p> <p><u><span style="font-size:16px"><strong>Newcomers</strong></span></u></p> <p>1. Nurjei Weems, 6-0, power forward, DeLaSalle and Energy. New at #29. Another potentially great 4. More raw than Chevre and Danso, but strong, mobile, athletic, lots of upside.</p> <p>2. Megan Haugo, 5-8, wing, Moorhead and Tartan. New at #41. Very athletic though the offensive game’s not quite there yet.</p> <p>3. Sarah Kuma, 5-7, combo guard, Lakeville North and Fury. New at #42.</p> <p>4. Anica Thomas, small forward, St. Anthony and Heat. New at #47. Has been up and down but when she is up, she is a great scorer.</p> <p><s>5. Ellie Hasz, wing, Pine City and Tartan. New at #48. Good all-around basketball skills, great basketball IQ. </s>CORRECTION: Ellie Hasz is of course 2021.</p> <p>6. Sam Sibbet, 5-6, point guard, St. Anthony and Heat. New at #50. Had a totally awesome game in the section upset win over Como.</p> <p>7. Sam Pogatchnik, shooting guard, Proctor. New at #55.</p> <p>8. Alexis Cochrane-Starr, combo guard, DeLaSalle and Energy. New at #58. Can shoot it.</p> <p>9. Josie Haug, power forward, Roseville and Tartan. New at #62.</p> <p>10. Colie Justice, point guard, Austin and So Minn Fury. New at #65.</p> <p>11. Kaelynn Kudis, 5-8, point guard, Cherry and High Impact. New at #66. MIB coach Jeff Buffetta speaks very highly.</p> <p>12. Sydney Jackson, combo guard, St. Paul Como and Energy. New at #68. Athletic, still getting her basketball skills together.</p>