5 finalists announced for Miss Basketball Award

Grant McGinnis March 15, 2020 @ 03:24 PM

In a week filled with surprises – most of them unpleasant – there were none when the Minnesota Girls High School Basketball Coaches Association announced its five finalists on Sunday for Minnesota’s Miss Basketball Award. It was all good news as the coaches selected a group of players who have each had outstanding high school careers. In order of their Prep Girls Hoops class of 2020 rankings, the finalists are:

Paige Bueckers Paige Bueckers 5'11" | CG Hopkins | 2020 State MN – Hopkins (UConn)

There are no words to adequately describe the world’s best high school basketball player. National player of the year. USA Basketball female athlete of the year. Multiple gold medal winner for Team USA. A generational talent rated #1 in the country. Headed to the most successful women’s collegiate basketball program in recent memory. Simply the best.

Lauren Jensen Lauren Jensen 5'10" | CG Lakeville North | 2020 State MN – Lakeville North (Iowa)

Jensen is the consummate point guard. She can handle the basketball, and shoots it from mid-range and distance as well as anyone in the state. A big-game player who knows how to manage an offense as well as anyone, Jensen has been a standout high school varsity performer for the past four years. Rated #2 in the class of 2020, Jensen is as tough as they come.

Alyssa Ustby Alyssa Ustby 6'2" | CG Rochester Lourdes | 2020 State MN – Rochester Lourdes (North Carolina)

She’s a long, lean scoring machine, and so much more. Ustby’s athleticism is off the charts. She can score on you in every way imaginable, and has been the dominant class 2A performer throughout her high school career. In reality, the #3 player in the graduating class makes an even bigger impact on the game defensively, using her length and leaping ability to be a disruptive force.

Mackenzie Kramer Mackenzie Kramer 5'9" | PG STMA | 2020 State MN – St. Michael-Albertville (Lehigh)

As cerebral a point guard as you will find, Kramer has an incredibly versatile skill set. She’s one of the best shooters in Minnesota, handles the basketball as well as anyone and can out-think pretty much any defender. Kramer’s distribution is exceptional, as is her ability to establish the tone and tempo of the basketball game. The #4-rated prospect in Minnesota is also exceptional in the classroom and has been a full-time college student this season.

Molly Mogensen Molly Mogensen 5'7" | PG Farmington | 2020 State MN – Farmington (Creighton)

Mogensen is as tough as they come. She is strong, she is physical and she has a strength of will that simply cannot be matched. Since 8th grade Molly has directed the rise of Farmington from a team with only a handful of victories into a state title contender. Unfortunately, Mogensen’s season was cut short by injury and Farmington’s campaign was ended prematurely in the most unusual of circumstances. The #7-rated prospect in the state left it all on the floor.

The winner will be announced on Tuesday. March 17 on the Mike Max Show on WCCO radio.

LAST 10 WINNERS OF MISS BASKETBALL

2019 – Kacie Borowicz Kacie Borowicz 5'10" | PG Roseau | 2019 State MN , Roseau (North Dakota)