Rankings update: These 2021 prospects are moving on up

By the time we get to the final AAU summer for any particular class of college prospects things have pretty much sorted themselves out and we have a good handle on where players fit. That doesn’t mean it’s too late to keep improving. That’s exactly what the players described herein have done as we re-rank the class of 2021 once again. There hasn’t been a ton of debate over the past couple of years as to which of the incoming seniors is number 1 in the class – [player_tooltip player_id="6389" first="Adalia" last="McKenzie"] of Park Center has had a solid hold on the top spot – but there was a lot of conversation this time around. Why? Because [player_tooltip player_id="13045" first="Sophie" last="Hart"] of Farmington and Fury 2021 UAA continues to get better, continues to add to an already impressive list of high major offers and is coming off an outstanding junior year during which she led her team all the way to the precipice of a state championship. If you are looking for a big big, there is no debating who’s the best one in Minnesota. It’s the 6-4 giant Hart. If you are looking for pure talent and athleticism then McKenzie is your girl. In the end, after much conversation, McKenzie held on to the #1 position. Unfortunately we won’t have the privilege of watching her play one final summer of AAU basketball. Adalia, who recently made a surprise commitment to the University of Illinois, suffered a broken foot this week and we’re told it is unlikely she will play again until high school ball resumes in November. Hart, meanwhile, slipped past [player_tooltip player_id="2090" first="Jenna" last="Johnson"] of Wayzata and into the #2 position in the class. Johnson, too, is done with AAU after suffering a torn ACL during the high school season. That’s a double blow to the North Tartan 2021 EYBL lineup which is still formidable but not quite as potent. Here’s a rundown on the highlights of this spring rankings update. MOVING UP IN THE TOP 25 [player_tooltip player_id="2126" first="Gianna" last="Kneepkens"] – The uber-talented guard from Duluth Marshall and the Minnesota Fury has had an incredible year and a half, culminating in her commitment to Utah. She rises 2 more places to #5. [player_tooltip player_id="109737" first="Tamia" last="Ugass"] – The rebounding machine from Roseville and the Minnesota Stars moves back into the top 10 at #10, rising three spots following her commitment to power-conference program Louisiana State. [player_tooltip player_id="109739" first="Paige" last="Meyer"] – The high-energy guard from Albany brings elite skills and big-time physicality to the court. The Minnesota Comets prospect moved up 2 places to #14 after committing to South Dakota State. [player_tooltip player_id="6431" first="Anna" last="Miller"] – The evolution of the Rochester Mayo forward continues and the offers are accumulating. The North Tartan EYBL player is bound to end up at a power 5 program. She’s up 1 to #16. [player_tooltip player_id="109753" first="Sacia" last="Vanderpool"] – The 6’4 forward from Byron and FBC North added aggressiveness and physicality to her resume this winter and it paid off with a commitment to Wisconsin. She moves up 9 places to #17. [player_tooltip player_id="2122" first="Julia" last="Bengtson"] – The point guard from Becker and Comets Elite led her team back to the Class 3A state championship game this year and made a commitment to Eastern Illinois. Julia goes up 3 to #21. [player_tooltip player_id="29521" first="Jenna" last="Guyer"] – The big power forward from Centennial was barely in the top 100 at the start of 2019. Now she is at #22, a one-spot rise this time. The North Tartan EYBL junior has verballed to UW-Green Bay. [player_tooltip player_id="109752" first="Miah" last="Monahan"] – Miah is one of the most low-key stars in Minnesota. The talented guard from Glencoe-Silver Lake and Fury 2021 UAA goes up 7 spots to #24 after committing to Eastern Illinois. ELSEWERE IN THE TOP 50 [player_tooltip player_id="57110" first="Morgan" last="Krumwiede"] – The versatile forward from Burnsville is an efficient performer who plays with an edge. The Fury 2021 Yellow prospect is the biggest riser in the top 50, moving up 12 places to #48 [player_tooltip player_id="130031" first="Macy" last="Smith"] – The gifted 5’10 guard from Spring Lake Park continued to impress while improving her consistency. Smith, who also plays for the Fury, goes up 9 spots to #36 and is a D1 candidate. [player_tooltip player_id="109748" first="Ivane" last="Tensaie"] – One of the state’s most dynamic guards, the Concordia Academy standout is cementing her position as a D1 prospect. The North Tartan Elite athlete rises 8 places to #30. [player_tooltip player_id="13055" first="Sophie" last="Haydon"] – The 6’2 forward’s game continues to evolve at Minnetonka. The North Tartan Elite player has risen more than 25 places in the last 18 months, including 7 more this time around to #47. [player_tooltip player_id="29547" first="Ivory" last="Finley"] – Finley is an athletic 5’10 guard who is one of the state’s most improved players this year. Ivory, who plays for Rosemount and 43 Hoops, is up 6 more places to #46. [player_tooltip player_id="109750" first="Addy" last="Salzer"] – The 5’10 guard from Waconia, who has been a long-time star for 43 Hoops, intrigued us from the get-go and continues to impress. She committed to D1 Iona while rising 5 places to #27. [player_tooltip player_id="57094" first="Emily" last="Kulstad"] – The energetic power forward from Prior Lake plays with passion and physicality which has earned her a Division 1 opportunity at Southern Utah. The Minnesota Fury junior moves up 5 to #38. [player_tooltip player_id="109756" first="Peyton" last="Blandin"] – Hart wasn’t the only Farmington junior to improve this winter. Peyton’s role grew significantly and she delivered under pressure. The North Tartan Elite guard is up 5 places to #45. 10 BIGGEST MOVERS FROM 51 TO 150 [player_tooltip player_id="146170" first="Lynnsey" last="Hady"] – The 5’10 guard from Rochester Mayo and Air Minnesota had a breakout season, moving up 31 spots (the biggest overall rise) to #69. Her ceiling could turn out to be much, much higher. [player_tooltip player_id="109822" first="Brielle" last="Bartelt"] – The dynamic guard from Waterville-Elysian-Morristown led her team to the state tournament. The Minnesota Rise prospect moved up 26 places in the process to #117. [player_tooltip player_id="57130" first="Marissa" last="Radtke"] – The athletic guard from Lester Prairie parlayed solid improvement in her defensive game to move up 21 spots to #81. She, too, plays for Rise 2021 Wolfe. [player_tooltip player_id="57132" first="Lily" last="Peterson"] – The crafty little point guard from Crosby-Ironton keeps on getting better. The Minnesota Suns prospect holds D2 offers and has risen 12 places to #67. [player_tooltip player_id="109814" first="Gina" last="Stefferud"] – Gina is a workhorse forward from Champlin Park is a classic late bloomer whose game is evolving rapidly. The Minnesota Suns Froehlich athlete jumps up 11 places to #136. [player_tooltip player_id="29532" first="Megan" last="Gamble"] – Gamble is an outstanding high school player who is putting in the skill work to excel at the next level. The effort is paying off for the Minnesota Comets forward who moves up 9 spots to #52. [player_tooltip player_id="109770" first="Michaela" last="Dammann"] – The big forward from Sauk Centre has made slow and steady improvement throughout her career. The University of Mary commit now elevates 9 places to #66. [player_tooltip player_id="146173" first="Maya" last="Fitzpatrick"] – Maya had a big year for Champlin Park where she showed a lot of improvement. Adding more tools to her tool box earned the North Tartan Elite prospect a 9-place rise to #116. [player_tooltip player_id="29533" first="Matlyn" last="Jensen"] – The 6’2 forward from Rogers, who plays for FBC North, has travelled 36 places north over the past 18 months, 9 more this time around. The Colorado Christian commit is now at #63. [player_tooltip player_id="109777" first="Macy" last="Holtz"] – The crafty point guard from Plainview-Elgin-Millville has quietly become a solid candidate for scholarship-level basketball. The Southern Minnesota Fury junior rises 6 places to #79. THE NEWCOMERS We welcome three newcomers to the top 150 this time around: [player_tooltip player_id="178413" first="Haley" last="Hawkinson"] – The 5’8 guard from Hibbing enters the list at #103. We look forward to watching this rising star this summer with Wisconsin Playmakers [player_tooltip player_id="178414" first="Lexi" last="Trygg"] – The 6’2 power forward from Virginia and Starks Elite lit it up in the Northland this season and arrives in the top 150 at #109. [player_tooltip player_id="178415" first="Elli" last="Collins"] – The 5’9 guard from Rochester Mayo and Air Minnesota improved significantly this winter. She returns to the list at #118 and it would not be surprising if she rises much farther in the next 12 months.