AAU preview: Scouting the Summer Eclipse

From Friday afternoon through Sunday evening in Bloomington we will be doing what we always do at an AAU tournament – looking for new talent. We’ll also be checking up on the known commodities, including some of the state’s very best prospects. I mean how can you resist the opportunity to watch the highest-level performers when they put on a show. This weekend’s event – the Summer Eclipse – is the second on this summer’s AAU calendar, and the field is much, much stronger than it was last weekend.

Here’s a rundown on some top match-ups including all of the ranked Prep Girls Hoops prospects rostered by each team. Keep in mind that a few of the players listed here may not play due to injury and/or an abundance of caution some families are exercising during the COVID-19 situation. If your time is limited and you want to watch some of Minnesota’s best, we would recommend these games.

FRIDAY

Fury 2023 UAA vs Comets 2023 Elite (4:45 p.m. on Kennedy court 2)

This game features a loaded Fury freshman squad that includes nine players in the state’s top 20 incoming sophomores. Led by #4-ranked Kennedy Sanders Kennedy Sanders 5'8" | CG Chaska | 2023 State MN of Chaska, Matt Froehle’s squad also includes #6 Molly Lenz Molly Lenz 5'8" | CG Eden Prairie | 2023 State MN (Eden Prairie), #7 Shania Van Nett Shania Van Nett 5'7" | CG Como Park | 2023 State MN (St. Paul Como Park), #11 Brynn Beffert Brynn Beffert 6'0" | PF Hutchinson | 2023 State MN (Hutchinson), #12 Teresa Kiewiet Teresa Kiewiet 5'10" | SF Mankato West | 2023 State MN (Mankato West), #15 Sophi Hall Sophi Hall 6'1" | CG Holy Family | 2023 State MN (Holy Family), #16 Abby Krzewinski Abby Krzewinski 5'11" | PF Wayzata | 2023 State MN (Wayzata), #17 Ashley Schuelke Ashley Schuelke 5'10" | SF Chaska | 2023 State MN (Chaska), #20 Zoey Washington Zoey Washington 5'9" | CG St. Croix Lutheran | 2023 State MN (Mahtomedi) and #29 Sydnee Nelson Sydnee Nelson 5'5" | CG Red Wing | 2023 State MN (Red Wing). The Comets may not be as deep, and their roster may not be bedazzled with as many starry gems, but 2023 #5 Maren Westin Maren Westin 5'8" | CG Becker | 2023 State MN of Becker is worth the price of admission alone. Westin is blowing up right now as she transforms into one of the state’s most dynamic prospects. Her Becker teammates #44 Dani Nuest Dani Nuest 5'6" | CG Becker | 2023 State MN and #82 Ayla Brown Ayla Brown 5'6" | SG Becker | 2023 State MN form the backbone of Barry Peterson’s team.

Stars 2024 Gardner vs Suns Bluestar 2024 (6:00 p.m. on Kennedy 2)

The class of 2024 has not yet been ranked but it doesn’t take a genius to see which players on these two squads have a pretty good shot at making the list. We watched the Stars play last weekend and attended their practice on Tuesday night in St. Paul. There’s no question that Clayton Gardner’s team has some terrific talent, including Eastview teammates Savanah Gardner, Lauren Machacek and Vanessa Wright. Guards Kiya Hegdahl Kiya Hegdahl 5'7" | PG St. Louis Park | 2024 State MN of St. Louis Park and Ellana Keaveny of Waconia are among the other budding stars. The Suns are led by 6th grade standout Tori Oehrlein of Crosby-Ironton, who is playing two years up and is turning heads. The Suns include talented guards Nicole Maenke of Shakopee and Piper Engelby Piper Engelby 5'11" | SG Andover | 2024 State MN of Andover plus impressive forward Lila Posthuma of River Falls, Wisc.

SATURDAY

Fury 2021 UAA vs Comets 2021 Elite (4:45 p.m. on Kennedy 2)

This is a rivalry that goes back a long way now and a game that will include no less than nine Division 1 commits if everyone shows up for Saturday’s tipoff. The Fury lineup includes high-major signees #2-ranked Sophie Hart Sophie Hart 6'4" | C Farmington | 2021 State #44 Nation MN of Farmington (NC State), #5 Gianna Kneepkens Gianna Kneepkens 5'11" | CG Duluth Marshall | 2021 State #86 Nation MN of Duluth Marshall (Utah) and #12 Maggie Czinano Maggie Czinano 6'1" | SF Watertown-Mayer | 2021 State MN of Watertown-Mayer (Minnesota). Other D1 commits include #7 Kaylee Van Eps Kaylee Van Eps 5'11" | SF Chaska | 2021 State MN of Chaska (Lehigh), #18 Alexis Pratt Alexis Pratt 5'5" | PG Stillwater | 2021 State MN of Stillwater (Omaha), #24 Miah Monahan Miah Monahan 5'8" | CG Glencoe-Silver Lake | 2021 State MN of Glencoe-Silver Lake (Eastern Illinois) and #38 Emily Kulstad Emily Kulstad 6'1" | PF Prior Lake | 2021 State MN of Prior Lake (Southern Utah). The Comets boast two D1 commits, including scrappy guard #14 Paige Meyer Paige Meyer 5'6" | PG Albany | 2021 State MN of Albany (SDSU) and #21 Julia Bengtson Julia Bengtson 5'10" | PG Becker | 2021 State MN of Becker (Eastern Illinois). Top available prospects include #39 Faith Alberts Faith Alberts 6'0" | PF Parkers Prairie | 2021 State MN (Parkers Prairie), #52 Megan Gamble Megan Gamble 5'10" | SF Becker | 2021 State MN (Becker), #73 Courtney Nuest Courtney Nuest 5'8" | CG Becker | 2021 State MN (Becker), #74 Annika Richardson Annika Richardson 5'10" | SF Northfield | 2021 State MN (Northfield), #129 Alayna Lindquist Alayna Lindquist 5'8" | CG Becker | 2021 State MN (Becker) and #137 Mataya Hoelscher Mataya Hoelscher 5'5" | CG Alexandria | 2021 State MN (Alexandria).

Southern Minnesota Fury 2022 vs Stars 2022 Bjorgaard (6:00 p.m. on Kennedy 6)

This encounter features a long list of solid D2 and D3 prospects. The Fury are led by crafty point guard Hope Dudycha Hope Dudycha 5'6" | CG Austin | 2022 State MN of Austin, who is rated at #67 in the class. Other talented prospects include , #82 Joslyn Carlson Joslyn Carlson 5'9" | SF Goodhue | 2022 State MN (Goodhue), #85 Taya Jeffrey Taya Jeffrey 5'10" | CG Albert Lea | 2022 State MN (Albert Lea), #90 Malia Nelson Malia Nelson 5'9" | CG Dover-Eyota | 2022 State MN (Dover-Eyota), #104 Bobbie Bruns Bobbie Bruns 5'7" | CG Blooming Prairie | 2022 State MN (Blooming Prairie), #105 Lexi Mendenhall Lexi Mendenhall 5'11" | PF Owatonna | 2022 State MN (Owatonna) and #106 Emma Dudycha Emma Dudycha 5'6" | CG Austin | 2022 State MN (Austin). Be sure to watch Iowa import Carlee Rochford of New Hampton wearing jersey #35 and Minnesota’s #59 2023 Sydney Schultz Sydney Schultz 5'4" | CG NRHEG | 2023 State MN of New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva. The Stars are led by forward Ava Stier Ava Stier 5'10" | PF Waconia | 2022 State MN of Waconia, rated #40 among Minnesota’s incoming juniors. She’s joined by #43 Lilly Nuytten Lilly Nuytten 6'1" | PF Hastings | 2022 State MN (Hastings), #60 Averi Dunbar Averi Dunbar 5'6" | PG Spring Lake Park | 2022 State MN (Spring Lake Park), #63 Amelia Valentino Amelia Valentino 5'10" | CG Champlin Park | 2022 State MN (Champlin Park), #77 Jenna Cuddigan Jenna Cuddigan 6'0" | PF Lakeville South | 2022 State MN (Lakeville South), #81 Hope Kanenwisher Hope Kanenwisher 5'6" | CG Elk River | 2022 State MN (Elk River), #86 Paige Broze Paige Broze 5'8" | CG Shakopee | 2022 State MN (Shakopee), #92 Camille Cummings Camille Cummings 5'8" | CG Centennial | 2022 State MN (Centennial) and #115 Kate Cordes Kate Cordes 5'7" | CG Shakopee | 2022 State MN (Shakopee),

SUNDAY

Metro Stars 2023 Wiese vs Minnesota Fury 2024 UAA (10:30 a.m. on Kennedy 4)

After her performance last weekend in Iowa it seems all the talk this week has been about 2024 prospect Olivia Olson Olivia Olson 6'1" | CG Benilde-SM | 2024 State MN of Benilde-St. Margaret’s. She is among the many highly-regarded prospects in the lineup for Fury 2024 UAA, who we’ll see on Sunday morning. The equally-impressive Katie Vasecka Katie Vasecka 6'1" | CG South Dakota | 2024 MN (New Prague) should be on hand along with the likes of Claire Stern (Maple Grove), Marisa Frost (Centennial), Ava Cossette (Maple Grove), Kaylie Cox Kaylie Cox 5'7" | CG St. Michael-Albertville | 2024 MN (St. Michael-Albertville) and more. The Fury will meet up with Metro Stars Wiese, who are led by one of the most exciting small point guards in the state in #33 Priyanka Satish Priyanka Satish 5'4" | PG Eden Prairie | 2023 MN of Eden Prairie. She’s joined by #37 Jasmine Dupree Jasmine Dupree 5'8" | CG Hopkins | 2023 State MN (Hopkins), #46 Audrey Kormann Audrey Kormann 6'2" | PF Maple Grove | 2023 State MN (Maple Grove), #49 Lauren Knudson Lauren Knudson 5'6" | PG Orono | 2023 State MN (Orono), #54 Lexi Karlen Lexi Karlen 6'0" | SG Stillwater | 2023 State MN (Stillwater) and 2023 #84 Kayla Kallenbach Kayla Kallenbach 5'6" | CG Orono | 2023 State MN (Orono).