Shyanne who? Crosby-Ironton junior turns some heads at Minneapolis event

There is no shortage of showcase events these days, opportunities for players to display what they've got and market themselves as potential college prospects. The thing is, you tend to see a lot of the same kids at all of the events. At the Adidas-sponsored ”Created to be a Champion” Elite Camp on Sunday in Minneapolis, that was certainly not the case as Torrey Bates and Javonne Stanfield of Innerman Academy in Atlanta went out of their way to invite athletes from all corners of Minnesota. The camp was a partnership with Roger Ross and Robert Ware of Urban Ventures Athletics, and the concept was a winner. Case in point: 6'1" junior Shyanne Loiland from Crosby-Ironton. Shyanne who? Maybe I am the only one out of the loop here. I saw 147 high school teams last winter, but the Rangers were not among them. If Sunday's performance is any kind of barometer, Loiland won't be a well-kept secret for long. She has a beautiful shooting motion and tremendous range, and is a terrific ball-handler. She used her quick feet, long stride and nice athleticism to blow past several defenders for relatively uncontested baskets. "Shyanne has the kind of length that Division I coaches love," Bates said. "I really liked her film, and seeing her in person validated for our staff that she can become a position-less player because she has a great handle and a smooth stroke." After watching her for a couple of hours, I'm thinking to myself that she might just be having a really good day. A little homework on Shyanne suggests that she has had a lot of really good days. Loiland averaged 18 points and 10 rebounds a game last winter for Crosby-Ironton. She scored 31 in a game against Detroit Lakes. In 20 games played, she also collected 114 assists, 82 steals, and 33 blocks. The 2019 rankings won't be updated for some time, but based on what we saw Sunday she may end up in the top 50. I'm guessing there will be some college visits on the schedule before too long. Some names to know: Allie, Emma, Brooke and Katie Loiland wasn't the only polished performer at the event. Several players we have documented in recent weeks – Zareia Chevre (2020 #10) of Tartan HS, Ashley Schindele (2019 #80) of Kimball and Desiree Ware (2022) of Maranatha, for example – were very good. Here are some others who stood out: Ally Negan is a 5'10" forward/wing from the talent factory at Mountain Iron-Buhl. Ranked #48 in the class of 2019, Negen's game continues to evolve despite some knee issues, and she just keeps on improving. Negen has always been a junkyard dog on defense, and a great rebounder, but she is fast becoming a reliable scorer, as well. "Allie is a really smart ball player that is a mid-major candidate if she gets the right exposure," said Bates. "I really liked her overall skill set and her consistent ability to create space off 2-3 dribbles and to shoot from midrange. I would definitely like to see her defend against four-star athletes." Junior Emma Schultz (#66), a 5'10" guard from Eden Valley Watkins, demonstrated her athleticism time and again. She's got really quick feet and can score inside and out. Hustle plays are her bread and butter. "Emma was hard to guard all day," Bates observed. "Her really quick handles allowed her to get anywhere she wanted. Emma is a really unselfish player and an exceptional passer, with an array of offensive moves." Brooke Sinning (2020 #87) of Pine Island is a 5'7" point guard who did a lot of things well. The Southern Minnesota Fury guard knows how to push the pace and get the ball to open teammates in a timely fashion. She showed that on Sunday. Guard/wing Katie Tornstrom (2019 #57) of Caledonia has vaulted 75 spots up the rankings this year and is doing everything at a much higher level than before. "Katie played with good rhythm, which is one of the most important qualities for a young player," Bates said. "I really liked her size and ability to stretch the defense beyond the 3-point line." Best of the youngest In addition to the aforementioned Desiree Ware of Maranatha, these four youngsters stood out on Sunday: Jasmine Dupree – The 7th grader from Hopkins is long and athletic. Her size and ability to handle the ball were quite evident, and she competed hard on both ends of the floor. Grace Massaquoi – The 8th grader from Minnetonka is a strong, sturdy forward with great footwork. She is an aggressive rebounder who would contribute at the varsity level right now at most high schools. Of course Minnetonka is not most high schools! Haley Mulberry – The 8th grade lefty is a physical, hard-nosed defender with tremendous potential. She's from Centennial where the competition for playing time is always fierce. Jersey Castillo – Andover 8th grader is a very quick combo guard with great size and good handles. She got to the basket at will and finished with both hands equally well. She also showed the ability to slow the game down and make the correct pass. She is fearless! Asked if there might be some varsity minutes in her near future, Jersey seemed pretty confident. "I sure hope so!" she said.