Introducing the Class of 2024 Watch List (part 1)

Everything about the basketball schedule has been upended this spring thanks to the COVID-19 situation, including the release of the Prep Girls Hopes 2024 Watch List. Last year we rolled out the 20-player roster of incoming freshmen to watch in April after seeing a number of new faces play in the early parts of the AAU season. This year we haven’t had that luxury. Better late than never one supposes. Today we bring you part one of this two-part series that features 20 players to pay attention to this summer, listed in alphabetical order. To be clear, we aren’t saying these are the top 20 players in the class. We simply don’t have enough information at this point to make that declaration. It’s a safe bet, however, to assume that you will probably see all 20 of these kids somewhere in the first official 50-player ranking of the class 2024 which is scheduled to be released this fall. This year’s class is going to be a little different, anyway, in that there isn’t a consensus number 1 prospect, and there isn’t a gigantic post player who will capture everyone’s attention based on sheer size alone. In other words, it’s going to be a most interesting group. Here are a few facts of note about the 20 players who made the grade: <ul> <li>More than half are already significant varsity contributors, nine of whom made our all-state teams this winter.</li> <li>15 players are from the Twin Cities Metro, three are from Southern Minnesota, one from the West Central part of the state and one from up North.</li> <li>More than half of the athletes on this list come from large 4A programs</li> <li>Three players attend private schools</li> <li>10 AAU programs are represented with North Tartan and the Minnesota Fury leading with a combined nine prospects.</li> <li>All 20 would have to be considered solid scholarship-level prospects</li> </ul> With all of that as a prequel, here are the first 10 of 20 players selected for the Prep Girls Hoops Class of 2024 Watch List. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="178259" first="Kaylie" last="Cox"] – St. Michael-Albertville (Fury 2024 UAA)</strong> Yep, there is another talented Cox on the roster at St. Michael-Albertville. Kaylie is a stocky, athletic guard with nice handles. At 5’7 she’s not huge but Cox plays much bigger than her dimensions. She’s strong and aggressive and highly-skilled. On a loaded high school roster, Cox eased her way into the varsity lineup on a fairly regular basis. Following the graduation of [player_tooltip player_id="1916" first="Mackenzie" last="Kramer"] (Lehigh) Kaylie’s minutes will surely go up. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="178260" first="Emma" last="Dasovich"] –  Minnetonka (North Tartan 2023 Nike)</strong> Emma is a 6’1 power forward who has already proven she can play at the varsity level in the Lake Conference, where you’ll find some of the very best bigs in the state. Emma averaged 10 points and 4 rebounds per game as an 8th grader while earning All-Conference selection. She has excellent skills inside and out, can handle the basketball, has plenty of range, a catalogue of moves in the paint and a motor that runs non-stop. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="178261" first="Piper" last="Engelby"] – Andover (Minnesota Suns 2024)</strong> The Suns seem to specialize in sleepers, talented but low profile athletes who age like fine wine and reap the rewards of continuous improvement. Piper is part of an impressive group of 8th graders at Andover who are about to take center stage. She is super long, has nice handles and shoots it well from distance. I’d call her clever, crafty, perhaps elusive. The thing that really separates Piper, though, is her relentless work ethic and desire to be great. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="178262" first="Emma" last="Frost"] – Andover (Crossfire 2024 Robertson)</strong> Emma has an outstanding motor, runs the floor well and can score in multiple ways. She has nice range out to the three-point line, owns a quality pull-up jump shot, takes it to the hoop aggressively and has a nice selection of moves in the post. At 5’10, Frost can effective playing the 2 through 5 spots. She is a solid rebounder and a quality defender. Look for Frost to play a big role at Andover as a freshman. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="178263" first="Laura" last="Hauge"] – St. Croix Lutheran (North Tartan 2023 Nike)</strong> For the second year in a row, Hauge was a force at St. Croix Lutheran where she averaged over 14 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.5 steals per game and made the Prep Girls Hoops All-State team. The 5’9 guard is athletic, highly-skilled, has quick feet and a big motor. She is also one of the best pure shooters in the state regardless of class. Laura plays one year up in AAU for Ashley Ellis-Milan’s North Tartan Nike squad. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="178264" first="Kiya" last="Hegdahl"] – St. Louis Park (Stars 2024 Gardner)</strong> Kiya made a big splash during her high school debut for St. Louis Park at the Breakdown Tipoff, cashing in on an unexpected opportunity as an 8th grader to demonstrate what she could do with the big girls. What she can do is shoot the three from downtown – waaaaay downtown – and get to the rim with strength and finesse. Kiya is about 5’7 with a bigger build and a sizeable frame. She’s confident, vocal and knows how to run an offense. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="178265" first="Kadence" last="Hesse"] – Sleepy Eye (Minnesota Rise 2024)</strong> The 5’8 guard has already proven that she can dominate at the varsity level in small-school basketball, earning All-Conference honors at Sleepy Eye and showing an array of skills that are way beyond her years. Hesse is long and athletic and plays the game with a natural flair. She has plenty of range, terrific handles and does an excellent job of changing speeds to elude defenders. Hesse is on a strong Minnesota Rise 2024 squad. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="178266" first="Angel" last="Hill"] – Minneapolis South (Tayler Hill Elite 2024)</strong> The latest in a long family line of talented Hills, Angel is already a two-year varsity veteran at Minneapolis South whose game has continued to develop at a steady pace. She averaged 14 points per game this season and was a Prep Girls Hoops high school all-star selection. Hill has quick feet, fast hands, outstanding ball-handling skills and great feel for the game. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="178267" first="Rhyan" last="Holmgren"] – St. Peter (Minnesota Rise 2024)</strong> Holmgren has athlete written all over her, and it is those God-given abilities and elite quickness that have made her a scholarship-level candidate very early in her high school career. Rhyan is about 5’9, with broad shoulders and a sizeable frame. She averaged about 9 points per game for St. Peter and made our 8th grade all-star team. She is a great shooter with plenty of range but it is one-on-one where she really excels. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="178268" first="Anissa" last="Longs"] – Minnehaha Academy (Tayler Hill Elite 2024)</strong> Annisa is about 5’8 but has an unbelievably long wingspan. She is quick, athletic and very aggressive on both sides of the ball. Although Longs can shoot it well, she seems to prefer to drive and finish and draw the inevitable foul. Anissa has a quick first step, handles the ball very well and has terrific lateral movement which, combined with the length and a physical presence, makes her an excellent defender. The Tayler Hill Elite guard will surely be an impact player next season at Minnehaha Academy.