Emerging talent we saw at the holiday tournaments
On a team loaded with talent, in a game in which she played just 12 minutes, Rose Wille Rose Wille 5'8" | SG Farmington | 2022 State MN had as much to do with Farmington’s win over Beaver Dam (Wisc.)…
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Continue ReadingOn a team loaded with talent, in a game in which she played just 12 minutes, Rose Wille Rose Wille 5'8" | SG Farmington | 2022 State MN had as much to do with Farmington’s win over Beaver Dam (Wisc.) on Tuesday as anyone else. When the game was tight in the first half, and the Tigers had not yet been able to rest any of their starters, the 5’9 sophomore came off the bench to make two of the biggest buckets of the game. That sparked just a little bit of separation for Farmington, which quickly turned that into a much bigger gap before going on to an 75-51 win at St. Olaf College. Wille is one of the emerging talents we saw at the holiday tournaments
Frankly I was a little worried on Farmington’s behalf. Although they are not quite as formidable an opponent as they were prior to the graduation of three Division 1-bound seniors, Beaver Dam is a quality squad that had dispatched Cretin-Derham Hall by a margin of 33 points less than 24 hours earlier. They were already well into an eight-player rotation while Farmington coach Liz Carpentier had stuck with her starters, who were starting to show some fatigue. Finally senior Morgan Ebel Morgan Ebel 5'7" | SG Farmington | 2020 State MN entered the game with Wille taking the court shortly thereafter and eventually junior Maleah Scott joined in the fray.
Wille, who is a sophomore, had barely checked in when she scored back-to-back buckets that demonstrated her strengths and changed the scenario in short order. One was an impressive baseline drive and bank shot that showed Wille’s quality footwork, strength and ability to power up to the rim through traffic. Rose has a sturdy frame, good handles and a sound overall skill set. She’s not flashy. She’s not going to wow you. But this is the kind of reliable performer that every winning team needs and every coach craves. Wille finished the game with 8 points on 4-for-5 shooting and put her stamp on the victory. That was a season-high for Wille, who is averaging 3.4 points per game in a support role.
Here are some other emerging talents we saw during our travels between Christmas and New Year’s Eve to tournaments at Hill-Murray, St. Cloud, Roseville and St. Olaf.
TOP PERFORMERS
Alaina Hageman Alaina Hageman 5'4" | CG Foley | 2022 State MN , 2022 guard, Foley
We’re familiar with Alaina from her summertime play with DTA Academy, where she was a member of the first team in 2018 and played on the second team in 2019. The 5’4 sparkplug is a ball of fire on the court, playing with high energy, a monster motor, and a take-no-prisoners approach to the game. She’s also got skill. Hageman can handle the basketball, shoots the three and move the ball with authority. She’s also an excellent perimeter defender. At the Granite City Classic she scored 12 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists and 3 steals in a complete performance against Rockford. She’s averaging 10 points per game. Hageman barely missed out on making the Prep Girls Hoops class of 2022 rankings in the fall so don’t be surprised if she finds her way onto the list at the next update.
Madisyn Grudem Madisyn Grudem 5'7" | CG Princeton | 2022 State MN , 2022 guard, Foley
Like Foley, Grudem also played for DTA Academy Black during 2019. She, too, is a bundle of energy with quick feet, quick hands and a nose for the basketball. Madisyn is often tasked with guarding the opponents’ top athletes, and she has the innate ability and drive to do that well. Madisyn had 15 points, 8 rebounds and 3 steals against Rockford. The 5’7 guard is averaging just under 6 ppg. Grudem plays with energy and enthusiasm, and has a real passion for the game. If you’ve attended many Minnesota Lynx contests at the Target Center you have no doubt seen Grudem there on a regular basis cheering on her favorite team from the baseline just inches from the court. You have to love players who love the game and are fired up to do the work to get better.
Ashlynne Guenther, 2023 guard, Duluth East
Duluth East has struggled mightily in recent times as they toiled at the bottom among 4A schools in Minnesota with fewer than 10 wins combined over the past three years. With that coloring my viewpoint entering the event I was not expecting much from the Greyhounds in St. Cloud. How nice it was then to discover Ashlynne Guenther, an impressive 5’9 guard who ran the show for Duluth East against Rocori. Ashlynne has a decent-sized frame, is more athletic than she appears, has quality skills and pretty good footwork. Guenther put on nice display with a season-high 23 points, a total she compiled by scoring inside and out, and in transition. Guenther isn’t flashy nor particularly fast but she is cagey, especially for a freshman. Guenther has the potential to crack the class of 2023 rankings.
Berkley Neubauer, 2024 guard, Holy Family
Berkley first caught our eye in fall league as we watched Holy Family multiple times, primarily to evaluate freshman forward Sophi Hall Sophi Hall 6'1" | CG Holy Family | 2023 State MN who made the class of 2023 top 20. At this point Neubauer is slight and small, standing about 5’4 with a thin frame. That’s not unusual for a young 8th grader who has yet to fill out. Her skill set, however, is way beyond her years which is why she’s playing varsity now in a role that appears to be growing rapidly. Berkley has nice handles, quick feet and an intense demeanor. She understands the game, plays with a big motor and doesn’t appear phased by competing with bigger, stronger, older players. Neubauer’s fellow 8th grader Sophie Zay may be drawing more notice but Berkley, who also plays softball and runs track, has been making plenty of noise herself.
OUR FIRST LOOK
Last week’s encounters were not the first time we had seen Wille, Hageman, Grudem and Neubauer, but Guenther is new to our database. The following players also made first-time impressions that are worthy of note.
Jada Bierschbach, 2023 guard, Rocori
The feisty 5’4 freshman came off the bench to score 12 points against Duluth East, all in the first half. The tempo of this game was fast; Jada was faster. She’s got fast feet and fast hands and is her team’s most athletic player, which is obviously a huge asset on both sides of the ball. With a season scoring average nearing a dozen per game, Bierschbach also knows how to put the ball in the basket.
Kylie Diaz, 2023 forward, Spring Lake Park
The 5’10 Diaz is a physical power forward with a big frame, a strong lower body and a willingness to match up pound-for-pound with all comers. Diaz is by no means polished, but she rebounds hard, fights for every inch and has no fear. She was able to muscle her way to the rim against St. Cloud Tech. For now Diaz is the understudy to junior Madi Ngene Madi Ngene 5'9" | PF Spring Lake Park | 2021 State MN who is making a name for herself in the paint at Spring Lake Park. Kylie is no doubt learning a lot.
Bre Frasier, 2023 guard, Robbinsdale Cooper
There are two things you notice immediately about the Cooper guard: She’s got bounce and she’s got swagger. Frasier may look like a freshman in appearance and size but she most certainly didn’t play like one at the Roseville tournament. Bre earned big minutes on a strong Cooper team. She played with composure and poise. This kid is clearly confident in her own abilities and she has used that self-belief to get off to a consistent start to the season as the Hawks have rolled to an 8-2 start. Frasier scored 7 points versus Woodbury and 8 against Hastings in the two games I saw, and she did a nice job of facilitation in the back court. Bre is a high-energy player and an intriguing prospect for sure.
Shannon Fornshell Shannon Fornshell 6'1" | SF Wayzata | 2023 State MN , 2023 forward, Wayzata
File this name away for future reference: Shannon Fornshell Shannon Fornshell 6'1" | SF Wayzata | 2023 State MN . The 5’11 forward isn’t even playing varsity basketball yet. We stumbled across her only because we slipped into the back gym at Hill-Murray to catch 2023 prospect Brynn Senden Brynn Senden 5'6" | PG Wayzata | 2023 State MN of Wayzata play one half of junior varsity action. We immediately noticed the very long and lanky Fornshell. She runs the floor well, is very good off the dribble and can finish with either hand. She’s also a quality shooter and apparently a multi-sport athlete. The biggest issue for Fornshell will be finding court time in a loaded varsity rotation for the Trojans. We’ll be patient, though, because it just might be worth the wait.