A Look Inside Our 2020 Player Ranking Update

1. Paige Bueckers, Hopkins, 5-11, combo guard, remains at #1 The interesting thing about updating our player rankings in all four age groups is how little discussion there has been about the #1 position. It's been pretty much cut and dried in all four age groups, no more so than in the Class of 2020 where Paige Bueckers is an undisputed #1. Any observer who would beg to differ at this point is clearly in need of professional help. Bueckers is the best. End of discussion. 2. Mackenzie Kramer, St. Michael-Albertville, 5-9, point guard, moves up from #3 Kenzie's brightest moment in the sun was at the 2016 state tournament when she undressed a defender so stylishly as to make ESPN's Plays of the Week. That led to more notoriety but not more playing time for North Tartan 2020 where Bueckers is queen. This year, Kenzie makes a bold move to Fury 2020 Blue where coaches will more frequently observe her ample skills, smarts and style. She's a solid second-best. 3. Alyssa Ustby, Rochester Lourdes, 6-0, guard/wing, moves up from #7 From the moment we first laid eyes on Alyssa Ustby, we knew she was special. Since that time, the 2020 stalwart has kept on getting better and she is the biggest mover in the top 10. Ustby is long and athletic, and can play any position you want. She can also score as 32 more against Stewartville this week can attest. Ustby is difficult to guard, can handle the rough going, and has D1 skills. In short, Ustby is for real. 4. Mallory Brake, Hastings, 6-0, wing/forward, moves up from #6 Mallory is a joy to watch. The Hastings forward is smooth yet so powerful, combining the size of a forward with the length and skills of a point guard. She can handle the ball like a 1 and crash the boards like a high-end 4. Brake's growth and maturity has been a big factor in Hastings success, and her stats tell a story: 20 ppg, 15 rebounds, 3 assists, 4 steals and 2 blocks. 5. Lauren Jensen, Lakeville North, 5-9, combo guard, moves down from #4 When Jensen goes one-on-one with an opponent, she'll often make a couple of quick steps to the right, drawing desperate defenders who know what's coming next – one of the deadliest jump shots around. Jensen's form is beautiful, resulting in a high, gentle arc that finds the target with impressive regularity. Of course there is much more to Jensen's game than that. Let's just say she's high D1. 6. Liza Karlen, St. Paul Central, 6-2, power forward, moves down from #2 Karlen drops to #6, primarily due to the rise of Ustby, Brake and Kramer. Having said that, being at St. Paul Central has not helped Karlen's progress. College coaches are frustrated when they come looking for a power forward only to see her filling in at point guard. Still, Karlen is a force who can score inside and out and rebound with the best of them. 7. Zareia Chevre, Tartan, 5-10, power forward, moves up from #10 Zareia Chevre wants it as much as any player in Minnesota. 'It,' of course, is an opportunity to play major college basketball without a tuition bill, and the Tartan forward is doing everything possible to make that happen. The one question about Zareia has been about her offensive abilities. That question has now been answered thanks to a new coach with a new approach that has made Chevre a weapon. 8. Emily Russo, New Prague, 5-11, power forward, moves down from #5 Russo faces the same question Chevre did. Russo's touch around the basket is greatly improved and, at 16 ppg it shows. It will be interesting to see how that evolves. One thing is certain: Russo can rebound, defend and overpower, and plays with maturity and poise that has made her the second-best big in the class. The only thing separating her from Karlen is four inches of tall. 9. Molly Mogenson, Farmington, 5-9, point guard, remains at #9 Farmington is a program on a rise, thanks to an infusion of young talent and the leadership of veteran point guard Molly Mogenson. Yep, the sophomore is the veteran. Molly has a lot of shiny tools in the box, combining strength, quickness and aggression at the 1. Mogenson pushes the pace, gets to the rim, and knows how to finish. She is also one of the best ball defenders in the class. 10. Jaide Pressley, Hopkins, 5-9, guard, moves up from #14 Pressley has a unique distinction among the top 10: she doesn't start, and her contributions to Hopkins' success don't always show up on the stat sheet. Pressley is a skilled guard who gets to the basket, handles the ball well, shoots from distance, and can plug into any hole that needs filling. She might be a little low key, but college coaches are onto Pressley. THE BIG MOVERS 11. Jayda Johnston, Roseville, 6-1, forward, moves up 8 spots from #19 Johnston has had a huge impact for 14-4 Roseville this year, where she is in her third varsity season. Jayda is a hard-nosed, physical forward with a vast array of post moves and nice touch at the rim. Her 13 points per game don't tell the whole story, given that Roseville is a low-scoring, defensive machine. Jayda's contributions are immeasurable, particularly her toughness which spills over to everyone in the lineup. That fire has vaulted Johnston up 8 spots to #11. 15. Lindsey Becher, Mounds View, 6-1, center, moves up 10 places from #25 Becher is a long, thin post with a variety of skills in the paint, an unassuming dream-killer who continues to surprise opponents and observers alike. The Mounds View post is stronger than she looks, is mobile, has nice footwork, and is relentless on the boards. Becher may not be a physical specimen like Karlen, Russo and Chevre but she is just as effective. She takes a 10-place leap all the way up to #15. 21. Nyamer Diew, Worthington, 6-0, forward, moves up 48 slots from #69 Let's face it, if you play in the far southwest corner of the state for a low-key program, and sit out for months with a knee injury, not many people are going to notice you. So when Worthington played nearby, we did not miss an opportunity to see the elusive Diew. Tara Starks, coach of elite North Tartan 2020 squad, was also there to watch her newest player. If Miss Diew is good enough for Ms. Starks, she's good enough for us. She is long, lanky and raw, but the athleticism and talent level is unmistakable. Diew rises 48 spots to #21. 24. Sam Sibbet, St. Anthony Village, 5-6, point guard, moves up 10 from #34 Last year, some questioned whether Sam Sibbet would make varsity at St. Anthony Village. By year's end, she was a bona fide high school star and one of the season's more compelling stories. Along the way, Sam demonstrated that she could protect and move the ball, knock down key shots, and go one-on-one with elite defenders. She rises 10 places to #24. 25. Nneka Obiazor, Eden Prairie, 5-10, forward, moves up 35 places from #60 If Sibbet was last year's breakout surprise, Nneka Obiazor and Eden Prairie are the new and improved version. The versatile, athletic, powerful forward is doing it all at for the 11-8 Eagles. She can score at the rim, rebounds hard, and plays with passion. That level of performance has raised Nneka 35 places to #25. 26. Gus Boyer, Waseca, 5-10, point guard, moves up from #44 Boyer is an athletic point guard who is smooth and savvy, and she has swagger. She also shoots the three at nearly 50 percent. Last year, Boyer combined with Madison Gehloff to lead Waseca to the state tournament for the first time. This summer, college coaches will most likely discover what we already know: Gus can play. She moves up 18 places to #26. 33. Sydney White, Andover, 5-9, guard/wing, moves up 70 spots from #113 When the first 2020 watch list game out two years ago, Sydney White was among the 25 prospects named. Unfortunately, her freshman year was a bit shaky and White's star did not shine quite so brightly. Fast forward to this season and White is on fire. She is fast and smooth, and can score score score. White skyrockets 80 places north to #33. 34. Grace Kirk, Duluth Marshall, 5-5, guard, moves up 59 places from #93 To say Grace Kirk has made an impact at Duluth Marshall is a gross understatement. Simply put, they used to be bad. Now they are not. Kirk an exciting, super-quick athlete whose one-on-one skills are unquestionable. She rises 59 places to #34. 36. Olivia Christianson, Lyle-Pacelli, 5-10, wing, moves up 47 places from #83 As we wrote recently, Christianson is a big, athletic wing who attacks the rim, finishes through contact and can shoot the ball. Perhaps her best attribute is her length and aggressiveness on D, where she gets tips, deflections and steals. It's all coming together for Olivia, who rises 47 spots to #36. 46. Taylor Janssen, Rosemount, 6-2, forward, moves up 97 places from #143 Janssen is a long, lean wing who now starts for Rosemount. She is evolving into a reliable scorer, both inside and out, averaging 10 ppg with a high of 26. She is mobile and has good handles for her size, assets that have seen her move up a whopping 97 places to #46. THE NEWCOMERS 17. Annika Stewart, Wayzata, 6-2, forward, transfer from North Dakota Stewart has fit right in at Wayzata where there are no shortage of bigs. A transfer from North Dakota, Stewart is huge and a handful inside. She has beautiful touch and can bomb it from three. Her size and skill have enabled Stewart to make her Minnesota debut in the top 20. 44. Julia Dammann, Sauk Centre, 5-11, center Dammann is an active post with good footwork. She scored 17 in her first varsity start this year and is averaging 12 ppg for the Mainstreeters. Although she may be a bit small for a post, Dammann isn't afraid to mix it up inside and go toe-to-toe with taller, older players. Dammann debuts at #44. 72. Alexa Schumann, Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted, 5-10, forward Schumann is a raw, unproven talent, but with size, athleticism and a nice touch she has been making an impact for the Lakers. Schumann is scoring at 18 points per game and is a crucial part of the Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted attack. She enters the rankings at #72. 93. Alivia Arnebeck, Wayzata, 5-7, guard Wayzata has so much length, athleticism and experience that it is easy to overlook the role players contributing to the Trojans' success, including Arnabeck. She logs key minutes off the bench for Wayzata, offering energy, defensive pressure, and competent ball-handling in relief. She's now in at #93. 111. Tianna Iserman, Roseville, 5-8, combo guard Iserman's role at Roseville is similar to Arnebeck's at Wayzata, except everything gets quicker when Isermann enters the game. Tianna has speed, skill and style. Plagued by injuries over the past year, Isermann now plays a key role for the surging Raiders. She's in at #111.