2021 rankings update: Big risers make noise in the top 25

2021 rankings update: Big risers make noise in the top 25

Prep Hoops Graphic

Grant McGinnis

Grant McGinnis February 19, 2020 @ 05:55 AM

In this article:

Olivia Becker

Olivia Becker 5'10" | PF | 2027

Avery Irish

Avery Irish 5'11" | CG | 2021

Briana Stoltzman

Briana Stoltzman 5'8" | CG | 2021

Olivia Pekron

Olivia Pekron 5'10" | PF | 2021

Haley Paulson

Haley Paulson 5'9" | CG | 2021

Brigid Boyle

Brigid Boyle 6'0" | SF | 2021

Samantha Zimmerman

Samantha Zimmerman 5'11" | SF | 2021

Ellie Hasz

Ellie Hasz 6'0" | SF | 2021

Miah Monahan

Miah Monahan 5'8" | CG | 2021

Jodi Anderson

Jodi Anderson 5'11" | CG | 2021

Jenna Guyer

Jenna Guyer 6'2" | C | 2021

Julia Bengtson

Julia Bengtson 5'10" | PG | 2021

Gianna Kneepkens

Gianna Kneepkens 5'11" | CG | 2021

Katie Borowicz

Katie Borowicz 5'6" | PG | 2021

Sophie Hart

Sophie Hart 6'4" | C | 2021

Anna Miller

Anna Miller 6'2" | C | 2021

Maggie Czinano

Maggie Czinano 6'1" | SF | 2021

Sacia Vanderpool

Sacia Vanderpool 6'4" | C | 2021

[player_tooltip player_id="2126" first="Gianna" last="Kneepkens"], [player_tooltip player_id="57085" first="Maggie" last="Czinano"], [player_tooltip player_id="6431" first="Anna" last="Miller"], [player_tooltip player_id="29521" first="Jenna" last="Guyer"] and [player_tooltip player_id="2122" first="Julia" last="Bengtson"] all had big summers in 2019 as the five talented members of Minnesota’s class of 2021 prepared for their junior year of high school. What a year it has turned out to be for all five of them. As a result, the quintuplet of teens has collectively taken some big steps up the Prep Girls Hoops class of 2021 prospect rankings. The winter update is now out and here’s what happened in the top 25:

[player_tooltip player_id="2126" first="Gianna" last="Kneepkens"], the Duluth Marshall guard who led the state in scoring last season, rose 7 spots in the rankings all the way up to #7. Along the way she picked up an offer from the University of Minnesota. Kneepkens plays for Minnesota Fury 2021 UAA.
[player_tooltip player_id="57085" first="Maggie" last="Czinano"], the 6’0 Watertown-Mayer guard, went up 5 places to #12. She, too, received a scholarship offer from Minnesota and subsequently said, ‘yes!’ Czinano, whose sister Monika plays at Iowa, is Kneepkens’ teammate with the Fury.
[player_tooltip player_id="6431" first="Anna" last="Miller"], the 6’2 forward from Rochester Mayo, rose 9 spots into the #17 position. The 6’3 post continues to get better and, as a result, her high school team has had a very good season. Miller moves up this year to North Tartan EYBL.
[player_tooltip player_id="29521" first="Jenna" last="Guyer"], the 6’2 post from Centennial, continued her ascent, moving up 5 more positions to #23. Guyer was barely in the top 100 a year ago; today she is a versatile power forward earning D1 interest. She’ll moves this summer to North Tartan EYBL where she’ll join Miller.
[player_tooltip player_id="2122" first="Julia" last="Bengtson"], the Becker point guard, enters the top 25 for the first time, moving up 5 places to #24. Julia has established herself as a high-level floor general. She has also grown a couple of inches over the past few months to 5’10. Julia plays for Minnesota Comets 2021 Elite.

Two other residents of the top 25 made moves up, as well: 6’4 forward [player_tooltip player_id="13045" first="Sophie" last="Hart"] of Farmington (Fury 2021 UAA) moves up one position to #3, swapping places with Roseau’s [player_tooltip player_id="2098" first="Katie" last="Borowicz"] (Minnesota Stars 2021 Hersch), while Centennial wing [player_tooltip player_id="6396" first="Jodi" last="Anderson"] (North Tartan EYBL) rises two positions to #20. BIG RISERS AMONG THE 2021s Up 51 – Forest Lake forward [player_tooltip player_id="109825" first="Olivia" last="Pekron"] rises from #144 to #93 as her breakout season continues. Pekron will compete for Minnesota Stars Zabel. Up 27 – St. Agnes wing [player_tooltip player_id="29538" first="Brigid" last="Boyle"] moves from #91 to #64. The Wayne State commit plays for Stars 2021 DeSart. Up 24 – Mankato West junior [player_tooltip player_id="109802" first="Brianna" last="Stoltzman"] goes from #119 to #95. The scrappy guard plays for North Tartan 2021 Elite. Up 21 – Moorhead forward [player_tooltip player_id="14165" first="Samantha" last="Zimmerman"] is rewarded for her improvement with a 21-place rise form #87 to #66. Sam will compete this summer for ND Pro out of Fargo. Up 18 – Byron’s 6’4 post [player_tooltip player_id="109753" first="Sacia" last="Vanderpool"] continues her evolution, going from #44 all the way up to #26. She plays for Tylor Coley’s team, which this year will be called FBC North 2021. Up 12 – Glencoe-Silver Lake guard [player_tooltip player_id="109752" first="Miah" last="Monahan"] has earned her way into the Division 1 picture and moves up a dozen places to #31. Miah plays for Fury 2021 UAA. Up 12 – Kasson-Mantorville guard [player_tooltip player_id="109807" first="Avery" last="Irish"] may fly a little under the radar outside of Southern Minnesota but she also flew 12 places north in the rankings to #113. Irish is a member of Southern Minnesota Fury 2021. Up 10 – Pine City guard [player_tooltip player_id="109757" first="Ellie" last="Hasz"], a versatile 6-footer and coach’s kid, rises 10 places to #42. Ellie plays for North Tartan 2021 Elite. Up 10 – Orono guard [player_tooltip player_id="57116" first="Haley" last="Paulson"] transferred last summer from Delano and reappeared after sitting out a season. She came back taller, too, earning a rise to #67 in the class. Paulson will play for 43 Hoops.

Enjoying the content from Prep Girls Hoops?

Subscribe Today