Meet Minnesota’s AAU Hard Hat All-Star Team

Pack up that lunch pail. Lace up those steel-toed boots. It’s time to go to work! In this, our final installment of the post-summer awards season, it’s time to meet the Prep Girls Hoops Hard Hat All Stars. Of all the awards we hand out at the conclusion of the AAU campaign, I think this one is my favorite. It recognizes those players who work hard every day, play with grit and physicality, make life exceedingly difficult for opponents and whose demeanor rubs off on everyone around them. It’s also a way to recognize really valuable performers who may not get a spot in the limelight as often as they should.

This year we changed things up a little, selecting a group of five players from each of the four classes we cover. While there are many more deserving athletes out there, 20 players is the same number we have recognized in each of the other categories. Only those who haven’t won another post-season award this year are eligible for the Hard Hat All-Star Team.

A number of players who have been recognized as All Stars would certainly have received consideration here, too. That group would include Anna Lenzen Anna Lenzen 5'9" | CG Chaska | 2023 State MN of Fury 2023 Premier, who made the team last year. Other top blue collar performers this summer included Nebraska commit Callin Hake Callin Hake 5'8" | PG Chanhassen | 2022 State #64 Nation MN of Fury 2022 UAA, Alayna Contreras Alayna Contreras 5'7" | CG Hopkins | 2022 State MN of Metro Stars 3SSB, Brynn Senden Brynn Senden 5'6" | PG Wayzata | 2023 State MN of Minnesota Stars Hersch, Tresa Baumgard Tresa Baumgard 6'0" | PF Chisholm | 2024 State MN of Playmakers North 2024, as well as Jordan Ode Jordan Ode 6'0" | CG Maple Grove | 2025 State MN of Fury 2025 Blue.

These selections are based purely on what we have seen on the court from April through July but you can be pretty sure that these same players are the ones who bust their tails on a daily basis when nobody is watching. These athletes have embraced the grind and are always working to get better. As a result, they are excellent prospects for college basketball.

Incidentally we have three repeat selections from last year’s Hard Hat All-Star Team: Rose Wille Rose Wille 5'8" | SG Farmington | 2022 State MN of Fury 2022 Premier, Kylie Diaz Kylie Diaz 6'0" | PF St. Michael-Albertville | 2023 State MN of FBC Real 2023 and Annika Anderson Annika Anderson 5'8" | CG Eden Prairie | 2023 State MN , who played one year up for Metro Stars 2022 Voight. One other item of note: Although this is the time of year when numerous players elect move to different clubs for next season, the AAU teams listed here are those the players competed for in 2021.

CLASS OF 2022

Mikayla Aumer Mikayla Aumer 5'9" | CG Cambridge-Isanti | 2022 State MN , Metro Stars 2022 3SSB – The Cambridge-Isanti guard is the hardest-working player in Minnesota, a certifiable gym rat who has parlayed her maximum effort into a Division 1 spot at North Dakota.

Kate Cordes Kate Cordes 5'7" | CG Shakopee | 2022 State MN , MBA Cordes 2022 – The Shakopee guard had an outstanding summer, combining skill and tenacity to maximum effect, and helping her Minnesota Basketball Academy team exceed all expectations.

Malia Nelson Malia Nelson 5'9" | CG Dover-Eyota | 2022 State MN , Southern Minnesota Fury 2022 – Every game is a battle for the guard from Dover-Eyota, and nobody goes harder or plays more physical than Malia.

Lilly Nuytten Lilly Nuytten 6'1" | PF Hastings | 2022 State MN , North Tartan 2022 EYBL – The big forward from Hastings pounds the boards, defends with passion and attacks the rim on a consistent basis. She has committed to play D2 at MSU-Mankato.

Rose Wille Rose Wille 5'8" | SG Farmington | 2022 State MN , Minnesota Fury 2022 Premier – If there was a Hard Hat Player of the Year Award, Wille could definitely win it. The UW-Stout commit from Farmington is the ultimate warrior.

CLASS OF 2023

Annika Anderson Annika Anderson 5'8" | CG Eden Prairie | 2023 State MN , Metro Stars 2022 Voight – The gritty guard from Eden Prairie is a spitfire who can run the floor and get to the rim against bigger, stronger players on a regular basis.

Piper Carlson Piper Carlson 5'11" | SF St. Michael-Albertville | 2023 State MN , Metro Stars Wiese 3SSB – Piper is a handful down low at both ends of the court, a big body who can hammer on opponents and finish with finesse, too.

Kylie Diaz Kylie Diaz 6'0" | PF St. Michael-Albertville | 2023 State MN , FBC Real 2023 – They don’t come much grittier than the big forward (pictured above) who will move this winter from Spring Lake Park to St. Michael-Albertville.

Taylor Hill Taylor Hill 5'8" | CG Rochester Mayo | 2023 State MN , Minnesota Stars DeSart – The Rochester Mayo junior-to-be is a feisty performer who can handle the ball well and stop others from doing the same.

Shyla Moore Shyla Moore 5'7" | SG Shakopee | 2023 State MN , Minnesota Diamond Elite – The guard from Shakopee is an under-the-radar performer who is building a solid reputation as an exceptional defender.

CLASS OF 2024

Macy Birkholz Macy Birkholz 5'5" | CG Mankato East | 2024 State MN , Minnesota Rise 2024 – The stocky little guard from Mankato East can go, go, go. Macy (photo above)  never takes a play off and exerts maximum effort every time out.

Jenna Buer Jenna Buer 5'9" | SG Holy Angels | 2024 State MN  Minnesota Suns 2024 Black – In addition to being a standout three-point shooter, Buer is a grinder who leaves it all on the floor.

Ella Kletti Ella Kletti 5'5" | CG Mahtomedi | 2024 State MN , Minnesota Heat Vang – The scrappy guard has speed, skill and tenacity, and she loves to compete. Watch for her to make a bigger impact this winter at Mahtomedi.

Olivia Thostenson Olivia Thostenson 6'3" | PF International Falls | 2024 State MN , Playmakers North 2024 – At 6’3, Olivia is the biggest player in the sophomore class. She’s also one of the toughest competitors.

Anna Vaaler Anna Vaaler 5'10" | SF Andover | 2024 State MN , Minnesota Stars Zabel –  The versatile sophomore from Andover has plenty of sandpaper to go along with a scorer’s touch and an effort level that is unquestioned.

CLASS OF 2025

Bella Brustuen, Minnesota Suns 2025 Blue Star – The forward from Blaine is big and strong and powerful and she isn’t afraid to use her assets to make life difficult for opponents at either end of the floor.

Rae Ehrman Rae Ehrman 5'9" | SF Eden Prairie | 2025 State MN , North Tartan 2025 Nike – The Eden Prairie forward/guard (pictured above) is a rebounding machine and a relentless competitor who fights for every inch.

Sophie Hawkinson Sophie Hawkinson 5'8" | CG Wayzata | 2025 State MN , North Tartan 2025 Nike – In addition to being one of the most-skilled players in the freshmen class, the Wayzata guard is also one of the grittiest.

Addison Hoof, Minnesota Fury 2025 Blue – The little guard from Lester Prairie might be the quickest player in the class and she never stops moving.

Ryaan Speer, North Tartan SE 2025 – The Rochester Century guard plays with an edge, and she isn’t shy about hammering on opponents to get to the rim.

Top photo: Mikayla Aumer Mikayla Aumer 5'9" | CG Cambridge-Isanti | 2022 State MN of Metro Stars 3SSB is committed to the University of North Dakota.