Minnesota’s best available 2021 bigs, part 2

Minnesota’s class of 2021 is a talented group, and there is no shortage of big forwards who have what it takes to be successful at the next level. #2-ranked [player_tooltip player_id="2090" first="Jenna" last="Johnson"] of Wayzata has already committed to the University of Utah. #3 [player_tooltip player_id="13045" first="Sophie" last="Hart"] is weighing multiple power conference offers. And on Sunday we profiled #13 [player_tooltip player_id="109737" first="Tamia" last="Ugass"] of Roseville, #17 [player_tooltip player_id="6431" first="Anna" last="Miller"] of Rochester Mayo, #18 [player_tooltip player_id="109740" first="Kierra" last="Wheeler"] of Cooper, #23 [player_tooltip player_id="29521" first="Jenna" last="Guyer"] of Centennial and #26 [player_tooltip player_id="109753" first="Sacia" last="Vanderpool"] of Byron, who are all being courted by Division 1 schools. Today we bring you the second five of our Prep Girls Hoops Top 10 2021 bigs who have yet to make a college commitment. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="109745" first="Sophie" last="Wood"] – Chisago Lakes &amp; North Tartan Elite (#33)</strong> I would love to tell you all about Sophie’s high school season but unfortunately I can’t. The 6’1 power forward has been sidelined for the better part of a year with a pars fracture in her back. Last I heard Wood is expected to play this summer for North Tartan, and the delay in starting the AAU season will probably turn out to be a good thing for her. Wood is athletic and quick for her size, with a big frame, really nice footwork and a soft touch around the basket. She’s versatile and plays with a big motor, too. Although there is plenty of polishing still to be done, Wood has all the makings of a shiny gem. As a sophomore the three-sport athlete averaged 13 points, 9 rebounds, 2.9 steals and 2.9 blocks per game and made the Mississippi 8 all-conference team as a result. You never know quite what to expect when a player returns from a long injury absence, and it can take a while to get back up to speed. Let’s hope the transition goes well for Sophie because she is a prospect with a very bright future. Check out Sophie’s <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/8928207/Sophie-Wood">Hudl page</a> to watch some video. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="109747" first="Faith" last="Alberts"] – Parkers Prairie &amp; Minnesota Comets Elite (#37)</strong> The 6’1 Alberts is a mobile big who can play the 3 or 4 spot depending on the level and the program. She’s long and rangy, is a terrific rebounder, and has piled up the points at the Class A level. Watch her on the video draining three-pointers and finishing at the rim with a soft touch and it’s not hard to see how. She averaged about 21 and 9 this year, along with 2.7 blocks and 2.1 assists per game. She is a four-year starter, four-time all-conference selection, and has twice been all-state honorable mention. That’s good stuff, but Faith has also proven that she can handle herself against higher-level competition in AAU ball. After playing several years for Minnesota Stars Hersch, Alberts will now relocate to the Minnesota Comets Elite squad that includes D1 commits [player_tooltip player_id="2122" first="Julia" last="Bengtson"] (Eastern Illinois) and [player_tooltip player_id="109739" first="Paige" last="Meyer"] (South Dakota State) among other talented prospects. Alberts is also an outstanding student and is drawing interest from the Ivy League and others of that ilk. <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/10793730/5e8e242032dc810a5085815f">Watch the video</a> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="57094" first="Emily" last="Kulstad"] – Prior Lake &amp; Minnesota Fury 2021 UAA (#43)</strong> I smile a lot when I watch Emily play. How could you not? She clearly loves the game. She’s big, strong and physical. In fact she relishes that part of the action. She’s also vocal, whether on the floor or on the bench, and her personality is almost as big as she is. The 6’1 power forward can play a little, too. She has excellent mechanics and shoots the three with ease and consistency. She’s got nice footwork. OK, it’s not exactly the Moscow Ballet but it’s very effective. Emily’s court vision is also very good as is her passing. She shot 56% from the field this year while averaging 8.5 points and 7 rebounds per game. Watch on the video how well she and point guard [player_tooltip player_id="109769" first="Tatum" last="Brostrom"] (wearing #2) work together, anticipating what the other is going to do, and cashing in on their opportunities as a result. Brostrom is an underappreciated talent (D2 coaches take note please) and so is Kulstad. Emily is a long-time member of Minnesota Fury 2021 UAA where she forms a truly imposing front court with [player_tooltip player_id="13045" first="Sophie" last="Hart"]. <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/9280670/5e09509d664b92086415b899">Watch the video</a> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="109751" first="Johanna" last="Langbehn"] – Elk River &amp; North Tartan Elite (#44)</strong> When Nate Wahl watched Langbehn play in February he wrote that there was one word to describe her play that night against Centennial’s [player_tooltip player_id="29521" first="Jenna" last="Guyer"]: “Smooth.” It wasn’t always that way, but like so many bigs who take some time to grow into their bodies we have watched the evolution of Jo Langbehn unfold in fine fashion over the past three years. The period she spent playing for University of St. Thomas coach Ruth Sinn at North Tartan clearly had a big impact. During that time her footwork improved significantly. Her ability to create space for herself in tight areas also got better. And she became a much better finisher. The 6’2 power forward averaged just under 11 ppg for the Elks this season. She has become more polished, more consistent and most importantly has developed the kind of self-belief that can take a player to new heights. Langbehn returns this summer to North Tartan Elite. I couldn’t find a season highlight video for Jo in any of the obvious places, but visit her <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/10409751/Johanna-Langbehn">Hudl page </a>where there are multiple single-game highlights available. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="13055" first="Sophie" last="Haydon"] – Minnetonka &amp; North Tartan Elite (#54)</strong> Haydon has always been long and lean. She’s still lean but now the 6’3 forward is even longer. She is also more skilled, more physical and more assertive, three attributes that have seen her move steadily up the rankings in the class of 2021. This season Haydon showed just how far she has come, averaging 11 points and 9 rebounds a game facing a punishing array of bigs from places like Eden Prairie and Hopkins. Haydon was rewarded an all-conference selection in the mighty Lake for her troubles. Sophie isn’t going to win an Olympic medal, but she is more than athletic enough to compete as a scholarship-level player. Like so many of the Minnetonka kids, she is also a superior student and holds at least one Ivy League offer. Sophie is opportunistic, can knock down threes, finishes through contact and uses her length well at both ends of the court. Haydon plays AAU with Langbehn and Wood on North Tartan Elite. <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/13939121/5e852d57b019fb0ce0d16d29">Watch the video</a>