Recruiting Update: It’s turning out to be a banner year

Who would have thought? In a year that has become a perfect storm of all things ugly – the annum where pretty much everything that could go wrong has – it has been a banner season for women’s college basketball recruiting in Minnesota. With 30 players from the Land of 10,000 Lakes in this year’s senior class having already made Division I commitments, the year 2020 will go down as the most successful recruiting season since 2014, the first year we began keeping records. And we’re just getting started. In spite of an abbreviated summer season, with no DI coaches allowed in the gym, the flow of commitment announcements shows no signs of abating soon. Since we last offered a recruiting update during the final week of July, five more players have announced D1 commitments: <ul> <li>[player_tooltip player_id="109735" first="Jade" last="Hill"] of Minneapolis South (St. Thomas)</li> <li>[player_tooltip player_id="29547" first="Ivory" last="Finley"] of Rosemount (UMass-Lowell)</li> <li>[player_tooltip player_id="13055" first="Sophie" last="Haydon"] of Minnetonka (George Washington)</li> <li>[player_tooltip player_id="109766" first="Gionna" last="Carr"] of Stillwater (Tennessee State)</li> <li>[player_tooltip player_id="29523" first="Erika" last="Lane"] of Brainerd (North Dakota)</li> </ul> That brings the total number of Division I commitments to 29. A 30th player is just waiting for the school sweatshirt to arrive in the mail so that she can put out her commitment tweet. It marks the first time in the past eight years that the number of D1 commitments has reached 30. By comparison, there were 20 D1 verbals around this time last fall. Ranked #9 in the class, Hill was the final member of the Prep Girls Hoops top 10 to announce her commitment. There are just two members of the top 20 still on the board – #11 [player_tooltip player_id="2109" first="Paige" last="Kindseth"] of Farmington (Minnesota Stars Hersch) and #19 [player_tooltip player_id="2117" first="Frankie" last="Vascellaro"] of Holy Angels (Fury 2021 UAA) – while only #23 [player_tooltip player_id="109740" first="Kierra" last="Wheeler"] of Robbinsdale Cooper (Wisconsin Playground) and #30 [player_tooltip player_id="109748" first="Ivane" last="Tensaie"] of Concordia Academy (North Tartan Elite) remain available from the top 30. DIVISION I COMMITMENTS Here is the complete list of D1 commits to date listed in alphabetical order by last name: <ul> <li>[player_tooltip player_id="6396" first="Jodi" last="Anderson"] – Centennial (North Dakota), North Tartan 2021 EYBL</li> <li>[player_tooltip player_id="2122" first="Julia" last="Bengtson"] – Becker (Eastern Illinois), Comets 2021 Elie</li> <li>[player_tooltip player_id="2098" first="Katie" last="Borowicz"] – Roseau (Minnesota), Stars 2021 Hersch</li> <li>[player_tooltip player_id="109766" first="Gionna" last="Carr"] – Stillwater (Tennessee State), Wisconsin Playground</li> <li>[player_tooltip player_id="57079" first="Cassidy" last="Carson"] – Eastview (South Dakota), North Tartan 2021 EYBL</li> <li>[player_tooltip player_id="2100" first="Kendall" last="Coley"] – St. Louis Park (Nebraska), FBC North 2021</li> <li>[player_tooltip player_id="57085" first="Maggie" last="Czinano"] – Watertown-Mayer (Minnesota), Fury 2021 UAA</li> <li>[player_tooltip player_id="109736" first="Ellie" last="Dague"] – Henning (North Dakota State), North Tartan 2021 EYBL</li> <li>[player_tooltip player_id="29547" first="Ivory" last="Finley"] – Rosemount (UMass-Lowell), 43 Hoops Johnson</li> <li>[player_tooltip player_id="29521" first="Jenna" last="Guyer"] – Centennial (Green Bay), North Tartan 2021 EYBL</li> <li>[player_tooltip player_id="13045" first="Sophie" last="Hart"] – Farmington (North Carolina State), Fury 2021 UAA</li> <li>[player_tooltip player_id="13055" first="Sophie" last="Haydon"] – Minnetonka (George Washington), North Tartan Elite</li> <li>[player_tooltip player_id="109735" first="Jade" last="Hill"] – Minneapolis South (St. Thomas), Fury 2021 UAA</li> <li>[player_tooltip player_id="2090" first="Jenna" last="Johnson"] – Wayzata (Utah), North Tartan 2021 EYBL</li> <li>[player_tooltip player_id="2126" first="Gianna" last="Kneepkens"] – Duluth Marshall (Utah), Fury 2021 UAA</li> <li>[player_tooltip player_id="57094" first="Emily" last="Kulstad"] – Prior Lake (Southern Utah), Fury 2021 UAA</li> <li>[player_tooltip player_id="57081" first="Jordyn" last="Lamker"] – Maple Grove (St. Thomas), Stars 2021 Hersch</li> <li>[player_tooltip player_id="29523" first="Erika" last="Lane"] – Brainerd (North Dakota), Suns 2021 Blue Star</li> <li>[player_tooltip player_id="109751" first="Johanna" last="Langbehn"] – Elk River (St. Thomas), North Tartan 2021 Elite</li> <li>[player_tooltip player_id="6389" first="Adalia" last="McKenzie"] – Park Center (Illinois), North Tartan 2021 EYBL</li> <li>[player_tooltip player_id="109739" first="Paige" last="Meyer"] – Albany (South Dakota State), Comets 2021 Elite</li> <li>[player_tooltip player_id="6431" first="Anna" last="Miller"] – Rochester Mayo (Drake), North Tartan 2021 EYBL</li> <li>[player_tooltip player_id="109752" first="Miah" last="Monahan"] – Glencoe-Silver Lake (Eastern Illinois), Fury 2021 UAA</li> <li>[player_tooltip player_id="109738" first="Alexis" last="Pratt"] – Stillwater (Omaha), Fury 2021 UAA</li> <li>[player_tooltip player_id="109750" first="Addy" last="Salzer"] – Waconia (Iona), 43 Hoops Johnson</li> <li>[player_tooltip player_id="109744" first="Helen" last="Staley"] – Rosemount (Oakland), Fury 2021 UAA</li> <li>[player_tooltip player_id="109737" first="Tamia" last="Ugass"] – Roseville (Louisiana State), Stars 2021 Hersch</li> <li>[player_tooltip player_id="109753" first="Sacia" last="Vanderpool"] – Byron (Wisconsin), FBC North 2021</li> <li>[player_tooltip player_id="57077" first="Kaylee" last="Van Eps"] – Chaska (Lehigh), Fury 2021 UAA</li> </ul> DIVISION II COMMITMENTS Around this time of year it’s normal for the number of Division II commitments to pick up the pace. That’s because players who are on the bubble between DI and DII either come to the realization that the right DI offer isn’t going to arrive in the foreseeable future or figure out that DII is a better fit for their situation. This year is no different. Since we last updated in late July, a dozen more players have announced their intentions to play Division II basketball bringing the total number of announced commitments to 27. The big winner here would have to be Concordia-St. Paul of the Northern Sun Conference. Coach Amanda Johnson’s Golden Bears program added #26 [player_tooltip player_id="57088" first="Caela" last="Tighe"] of Big Lake (Stars 2021 Hersch), #39 [player_tooltip player_id="109747" first="Faith" last="Alberts"] of Parkers Prairie (Comets 2021 Elite) and #52 [player_tooltip player_id="29532" first="Megan" last="Gamble"] of Becker (Comets 2021 Elite). MSU-Mankato added [player_tooltip player_id="109758" first="Destinee" last="Bursch"] of Eden Prairie (Fury 2021 UAA) and [player_tooltip player_id="57110" first="Morgan" last="Krumwiede"] of Burnsville (Fury 2021 Yellow) to give them three commitments in the 2021 class; MSU-Moorhead added Alissa Knight of Belgrade-Bruton-Elrosa and now have four 2021 commits. Other additions since July (listed in alphabetical order by last name) include: <ul> <li>[player_tooltip player_id="6410" first="Natalie" last="Holte"] of Shakopee (Black Hills State)</li> <li>Mackenzie Jones of Willmar (Southwest Minnesota State)</li> <li>[player_tooltip player_id="109749" first="Katie" last="Leisen"] of Eden Prairie (Augustana)</li> <li>[player_tooltip player_id="57132" first="Lily" last="Peterson"] of Crosby-Ironton (South Dakota School of Mines)</li> <li>[player_tooltip player_id="57130" first="Marissa" last="Radtke"] of Lester Prairie (Northern State)</li> <li>[player_tooltip player_id="109814" first="Gina" last="Stefferud"] of Champlin Park (Minot State)</li> </ul> ALL DIVISION II COMMITMENTS <ul> <li>[player_tooltip player_id="6398" first="Raegan" last="Alexander"] – St. Louis Park (MSU-Moorhead), Stars 2021 Hersch</li> <li>[player_tooltip player_id="109755" first="Lizzie" last="Berkvam"] – Lakeville North (MSU-Moorhead), North Tartan 2021 Elite</li> <li>[player_tooltip player_id="109756" first="Peyton" last="Blandin"] – Farmington (Southwest Minnesota State), North Tartan 2021 Elite</li> <li>[player_tooltip player_id="29538" first="Brigid" last="Boyle"] – St. Agnes (Wayne State), Stars 2021 DeSart</li> <li>[player_tooltip player_id="109758" first="Destinee" last="Bursch"] – Eden Prairie (MSU-Mankato), Fury 2021 UAA</li> <li>[player_tooltip player_id="109742" first="Kendal" last="Cox"] – St. Michael-Albertville (Winona State)</li> <li>[player_tooltip player_id="109770" first="Michaela" last="Dammann"] – Sauk Centre (Mary), ND Pro</li> <li>[player_tooltip player_id="29532" first="Megan" last="Gamble"] – Becker (Concordia-St. Paul), Comets 2021 Elite</li> <li>[player_tooltip player_id="109746" first="Jordyn" last="Hilgemann"] – Marshall (Northern State), Rise 2021 Wolfe</li> <li>[player_tooltip player_id="109757" first="Ellie" last="Hasz"] – Pine City (University of Mary), North Tartan 2021 Elite</li> <li>[player_tooltip player_id="6410" first="Natalie" last="Holte"] – Shakopee (Black Hills State), Stars 2021 DeSart</li> <li>[player_tooltip player_id="109777" first="Macy" last="Holtz"] – Plainview-Elgin-Millville (MSU-Moorhead), So. Minnesota Fury 2021</li> <li>[player_tooltip player_id="29489" first="Ella" last="Hronski"] – Mahtomedi (UM-Duluth), Fury 2021 Yellow</li> <li>[player_tooltip player_id="57096" first="Mia" last="Huberty"] – Big Lake (Upper Iowa), Stars 2021 Hersch</li> <li>[player_tooltip player_id="29533" first="Matlyn" last="Jensen"] – Rogers (Colorado Christian), FBC North 2021</li> <li>Mackenzie Jones – Willmar (Southwest Minnesota State), Comets 2021 Elite</li> <li>Alissa Knight – Belgrade-Bruton-Elrosa (MSU-Moorhead)</li> <li>[player_tooltip player_id="57110" first="Morgan" last="Krumwiede"] – Burnsville (MSU-Mankato), Fury 2021 Yellow</li> <li>[player_tooltip player_id="109749" first="Katie" last="Leisen"] – Eden Prairie (Augustana), 43 Hoops Johnson</li> <li>[player_tooltip player_id="57116" first="Haley" last="Paulson"] – Orono (Upper Iowa), 43 Hoops Johnson</li> <li>[player_tooltip player_id="57132" first="Lily" last="Peterson"] – Crosby-Ironton (South Dakota School of Mines), Suns 2021 Blue Star</li> <li>[player_tooltip player_id="57130" first="Marissa" last="Radtke"] – Lester Prairie (Northern State), Rise 2021 Wolfe</li> <li>[player_tooltip player_id="109814" first="Gina" last="Stefferud"] – Champlin Park (Minot State), Suns 2021 Froehlich</li> <li>[player_tooltip player_id="109802" first="Briana" last="Stoltzman"] – Mankato West (Southwest Minnesota State), Rise 2021 Wolfe</li> <li>[player_tooltip player_id="57088" first="Caela" last="Tighe"] – Big Lake (Concordia-St. Paul), Stars 2021 Hersch</li> <li>[player_tooltip player_id="57170" first="Kelsey" last="Willems"] – Chaska (Augustana), 43 Hoops Johnson</li> <li>[player_tooltip player_id="109745" first="Sophie" last="Wood"] – Chisago Lakes (MSU-Mankato), North Tartan 2021 Elite</li> </ul> OTHER COMMITMENTS While the Division II commitments tend to ramp up in the fall the verbals to other levels of collegiate basketball tend to trickle out at a slower pace. To date there has been one junior college commitment, three to NAIA institutions and three more at the Division III level: JUCO <ul> <li>#42 [player_tooltip player_id="57093" first="Andrea" last="Tribble"] – Robbinsdale Cooper (Seward (KS) Community College)</li> </ul> NAIA <ul> <li>#88 [player_tooltip player_id="109778" first="Megan" last="Oswald"] – Blooming Prairie (Jamestown), Southern Minnesota Fury</li> <li>#126 [player_tooltip player_id="146172" first="Sarah" last="Lenz"] – Belle Plaine (Jamestown), Rise 2021 Wolfe</li> <li>#136 [player_tooltip player_id="57150" first="Cherish" last="Henderson"] – Maranatha (Valley City State)</li> </ul> Division III <ul> <li>#62 [player_tooltip player_id="109765" first="Morgan" last="Kelly"] – St. Peter (Gustavus), Rise 2021 Wolfe</li> <li>#78 [player_tooltip player_id="57118" first="Kelley" last="Brennan"] – Shakopee (Gustavus), Stars 2021 DeSart</li> <li>#133 [player_tooltip player_id="109810" first="Kylie" last="Lacey"] – Dover-Eyota (UW-LaCrosse), Minnesota Nice</li> </ul> CLASS OF 2022 COMMITMENTS Lest we forget some members of the class of 2022 have decided there was no need to wait to make early college commitments even though they still have two more full seasons of high school basketball remaining. That’s an opportunity few players have but three of them have already taken advantage of. Minnetonka combo guard [player_tooltip player_id="57907" first="Desiree" last="Ware"] was the first to commit. The #10 prospect in the 2022 class, who played AAU ball this summer for Stars 2022 Nilsen, verballed to the University of Alabama-Birmingham earlier in the summer. More recently two members of the Fury 2022 UAA squad also announced as Chanhassen guard [player_tooltip player_id="12720" first="Callin" last="Hake"] (ranked #8) committed to Nebraska and Rogers guard [player_tooltip player_id="12718" first="Ellie" last="Buzzelle"] (#7) said yes to Grand Canyon University in Phoenix. One other high-level prospect is also off the board as [player_tooltip player_id="57945" first="Britt" last="Carlson"] of East Ridge announced her intent to play volleyball at Texas Tech. Top photo: [player_tooltip player_id="109814" first="Gina" last="Stefferud"] of Champlin Park has committed to Minot State. She played for Suns 2021 Froehlich. (Prep Girls Hoops photo)