Five fresh faces we liked a lot at Summer Jam

Warren, Minn., population 1,563, isn’t exactly a hotbed of college basketball recruiting. Tucked way up in the Northwest corner of the state, just an hour south of the Canadian border, Warren-Alvarado-Oslo High School went 17-9 last season and finished behind powerhouse Stephen-Argyle in the Northern Galaxy Conference. Unless you live in that part of the state you probably didn’t know much about any of that, and you most certainly didn’t know about <strong>Rylie Mortimer</strong>. A few weeks ago I emailed W-A-O head coach Jason Hanson looking for video of one of his other players – guard <strong>Shelby Durand</strong>, who is rated at #132 in the Prep Girls Hoops Class of 2020. Jason was very helpful with that but also pointed out that he had another college prospect on his team we needed to know about. Less than an hour later I had game video in hand. An hour after that I had forwarded said video to a handful of college coaches, most of whom made their way courtside at Summer Jam to watch the 5’7 Mortimer play AAU ball with the North Dakota Attack. I was impressed with the incoming senior. So were the coaches. “I really like this kid,” a D3 boss texted me after watching Mortimer play two games. “I’d like her if I was a D2 coach, too.” What’s not to like? Mortimer is a dynamic point guard with really nice handles. She’s strong and physical and plays with the kind of toughness you just can’t teach. Rylie is a solid floor leader who knows how to control tempo and makes everyone around her a little bit better. She has a clear understanding of the game, which isn’t surprising considering that her dad Todd Mortimer is the boy’s coach at Warren-Alvarado-Oslo. Mortimer finished second behind <strong>Abi McGlynn</strong> of Stephen-Argyle for Offensive Player of the Year in the conference. This coming season will be her fourth in a row as a starter for the Ponies, and she’s bound to top the 1,000-point barrier soon. Mortimer is explosive, and will often erupt for 10 or 12 quick points. She’s got a really nice mid-range game, can also shoot the three, and frequently hammers her way to the basket through traffic. The quintessential gym rat, Mortimer is also a regular in the weight room. Did we mention the 4.0 GPA and sky-high ACT score? Rylie’s journey onto the college prospect radar reminds us why AAU ball matters so much. It’s not easy for players from the more remote regions of the state to commit the hours, miles and money to grind it out in summer ball, but it is well worth the toll. It also reminds us why high school coaches need to advocate and be proactive for their kids. Kudos to Coach Hanson. After Summer Jam it’s clear Mortimer will play college basketball. Now it’s just a matter of where. Here are four more fresh faces who made their presence felt at Summer Jam. <strong>Megan Oswald, 2021, Blooming Prairie</strong> – Everyone wants players with size and skill, but give me the kid with the big motor and the commitment to defense every time. That would be Oswald, the 5’9 forward from Southern Minnesota Fury 2021 who is simply relentless. Oswald is a workhorse, a strong, physical athlete who isn’t afraid to do the dirty work that wins basketball games at any level. Oswald is also the Blooming Prairie Blossoms best scorer and leads the team in rebounding, steals and field goal percentage. A 4.0 GPA is icing on the cake, isn’t it? <strong>Elliana Lenzen, 2023, Chaska</strong> – The 5’9 Lenzen is new to AAU ball this summer but she made Minnesota Fury 2023 Yellow out of open tryouts. Thank goodness she did. The wiry, athletic guard/wing has got moxie and is just oozing with potential. She’s gritty, defends with maximum intensity and is quite athletic. She gets to the rim and can beat players one-on-one with high frequency. She’s also got a nice pull-up jumper. Chaska is incredibly deep so we might not see Lenzen on varsity for some time. When we do it will have been worth the wait. <strong>Allison MIlbrandt, 2023, Buffalo Lake-Hector-Stewart</strong> – This is Allison’s first AAU experience, too, but you’d certainly never know it when watching the Fury 8th graders play. Standing about 5’9, Milbrandt is long, athletic and fluid. She elevates with ease and isn’t afraid to do battle inside. She is expected to start this season for BL-H-S coach Dustin Wright alongside the Mustangs’ star attraction <strong>Sara Kottke</strong>. I watched Milbrandt again Saturday at the Great Plains Alliance tournament and she looked even better than she did at Summer Jam. <strong>Jordan Anderson, 2023, Buffalo</strong> – Barry Peterson’s 2023 Comets Elite squad has some really nice talent, including Becker guards <strong>Maren Westin</strong>, <strong>Dani Nuest</strong> and <strong>Ayla Brown</strong>. But when the game was on the line against All Iowa Attack, and someone needed to step up and make a play, it was the big forward from Buffalo who came through. With the clock winding down, the 5’10 Anderson made a pair of big-time power moves to the basket in heavy traffic, scoring off the glass with deft left-handed touch to tie the game and again to win it. By the way, Anderson can also shoot the three. <span style="font-size: 10pt;"><em>Top photo: Megan Oswald of Blooming Prairie is a workhorse for Southern Minnesota Fury 2021. (Photo courtesy of Austin Daily Herald)</em></span>