Super seniors: Updating the class of 2021 rankings

I’m not sure it has ever happened before. Since I have been involved in process of ranking prospects for Prep Girls Hoops – and prior to that as a loyal reader of its predecessor Northstar Girls Hoops – I cannot recall a top 25 that was as carved in stone entering its senior year as the class of 2021. Despite approaching the 2021 rankings update in our usual diligent manner, the release of the new list features just one player moving up in the top 25. Not surprisingly, that player is [player_tooltip player_id="109739" first="Paige" last="Meyer"] of Albany and the Minnesota Comets. Meyer has had an incredible career to date. I remember the first time I saw the 5’6 guard take to the court. She was an 8th grader, and I was so impressed by what I saw that I watched her play three more times that weekend. I was hooked from that moment forward. In a class with a ton of great guards, the South Dakota State commit is among the very best. She’s strong and physical and driven to win. Meyer is also a terrific ball-handler with great court vision and the kind of presence that has always belied her years. Paige’s first step is explosive, and her ability to change speeds with ease makes her extremely difficult to defend. Then there’s the pull-up jumper and her decisive execution. She is, in summation, the complete package. Meyer’s final summer of AAU basketball with the Comets was outstanding, which earned her a rise of two positions into the #12 spot among this year’s senior class. The rest of the top 25 remains the same with #1 [player_tooltip player_id="6389" first="Adalia" last="McKenzie"] of Park Center (Illinois), #2 [player_tooltip player_id="13045" first="Sophie" last="Hart"] of Farmington (North Carolina State), #3 [player_tooltip player_id="2090" first="Jenna" last="Johnson"] of Wayzata (Utah), #4 [player_tooltip player_id="2098" first="Katie" last="Borowicz"] of Roseau (Minnesota) and #5 [player_tooltip player_id="2126" first="Gianna" last="Kneepkens"] of Duluth Marshall (Utah) comprising the top 5. St. Louis Park standout [player_tooltip player_id="2100" first="Kendall" last="Coley"], who might turn out to be the best player in the group long-term, holds down the 6th position. She is committed to Nebraska. The rest of the top 10 includes #7 [player_tooltip player_id="57077" first="Kaylee" last="Van Eps"] of Chaska (Lehigh), #8 [player_tooltip player_id="57079" first="Cassidy" last="Carson"] of Eastview (South Dakota), #9 [player_tooltip player_id="109735" first="Jade" last="Hill"] of Minneapolis South (St. Thomas) and #10 [player_tooltip player_id="109737" first="Tamia" last="Ugass"] of Roseville (Louisiana State). The Prep Girls Hoops prospect rankings are a projection of where players will fit in college basketball, not their current level of performance. Of course the two measures tend to merge by the time players are seniors, but there is still plenty of room to grow their games. With that in mind, here are some players who have done just that over the past few months. <strong>Who went where in the Top 50</strong> While the top 25 remained pretty much as is, there was plenty of movement in positions 26 through 50 where eight players moved in the right direction and one newcomer made her way into the top 50. That newbie would be #49 [player_tooltip player_id="231693" first="Ashlynn" last="Bigelow"] of Kasson-Mantorville. Truth be told, Bigelow was supposed to be in the rankings several months ago but someone screwed up and accidently left her off the list even though she had been selected. That somebody would be me. Sorry! Bigelow’s final summer with Southern Minnesota Fury was outstanding as the 5’9 point guard demonstrated week after week that she was a player who simply could not be overlooked. A year ago she would have been hovering in the 100 to 125 range if we had done it right. This summer she played like a Division I guard. In fact, one year from now that is exactly what she’ll be as Bigelow has committed to serve her country by attending the United States Military Academy at West Point where she’ll play basketball for the Army Black Knights. Bigelow is one of 30 players in the Class of 2021 who has made a Division I commitment. Also among them are the other eight players who moved up in the Prep Girls Hoops Top 50 this time around. Here’s a rundown on the rest of the top 50 risers. #26 [player_tooltip player_id="109750" first="Addy" last="Salzer"] – The 5’10 guard from Waconia sometimes flies under the radar but that didn’t stop the 43 Hoops star from landing a Division I roster spot with the Iona Gaels in New York. Salzer is just solid with a capital S game after game after game. She moves up one position to #26. #29 [player_tooltip player_id="130031" first="Macy" last="Smith"] – The 5’10 guard from Spring Lake Park shifted to Fury 2021 Yellow this year and it was just the platform she needed to showcase her skills. Smith was terrific, garnering plenty of notice and being rewarded for her efforts with a DI opportunity at Cal State-Northridge. She rises seven places into the top 30. #30 [player_tooltip player_id="109751" first="Johanna" last="Langbehn"] – The 6’2 post from Elk River (North Tartan Elite) has often been overshadowed in a class full of solid bigs. From [player_tooltip player_id="13045" first="Sophie" last="Hart"] and [player_tooltip player_id="109737" first="Tamia" last="Ugass"] to [player_tooltip player_id="6431" first="Anna" last="Miller"] and [player_tooltip player_id="109753" first="Sacia" last="Vanderpool"], there are a ton of great ones, but this jump is long overdue as the St. Thomas commit rises 14 spots into the Top 30. #33 [player_tooltip player_id="29547" first="Ivory" last="Finley"] – The 5’8 guard from Rosemount has been sneaky good for a long time. We loved her way back in 8th grade and we’ve watched her evolve over the years with 43 Hoops into a solid next-level talent with a high ceiling. The UMass-Lowell commit jumps 13 positions to #33. #35 [player_tooltip player_id="13055" first="Sophie" last="Haydon"] – Sophie is aging like fine wine and this vintage is turning out to be a rather nice one. The 6’1 forward from Minnetonka (North Tartan Elite) has gradually evolved into a next-level performer as she expanded her game and got a whole lot stronger. The George Washington recruit rises 12 places. #36 [player_tooltip player_id="57094" first="Emily" last="Kulstad"] – Emily grew early and often and she has long known how to use her size and strength to great advantage. The 6’1 post from Prior Lake and Fury 2021 UAA looks and plays bigger than that thanks to a sizeable motor and a real passion for the game. The Southern Utah recruit is up two places. #44 [player_tooltip player_id="109756" first="Peyton" last="Blandin"] – The 5’8 combo guard from Farmington took a nice jump in the June update and her summer with North Tartan Elite simply reinforced the notion that Peyton is in a new place. The Southwest Minnesota State commit rises one more rung up the rankings ladder. #50 [player_tooltip player_id="29523" first="Erika" last="Lane"] – The 5’10 workhorse from Brainerd has put in the hours and generated the sweat to improve year over year. That hard work enabled the Minnesota Suns combo guard to earn her way into the top 50 for the first time. Lane, who has committed to North Dakota, moves up three spots.