Which high school seniors are ready for a breakout season?

There was a slight tinge of fall in the air this week, wasn’t there? Kids wearing jackets while waiting for the school bus. People at work talking about high school football. The usual moaning and gnashing of teeth about the Vikings. It can only mean one thing: it’s time to start thinking about the high school basketball season which is coming up in less than two months. Today we’re kicking off our coverage of the 2021-22 Minnesota girls high school basketball campaign. One of the most interesting aspects of previewing what lies ahead is considering which players we think are going to have a breakout season. Last year’s winner of the Prep Girls Hoops High School Breakout Player of the Year was 2023 forward [player_tooltip player_id="108348" first="Nunu" last="Agara"] of Hopkins. Our runner-up was 2023 forward [player_tooltip player_id="108318" first="Sophie" last="Lahti"] of Pine City. Honorable mentions were earned by 2024 [player_tooltip player_id="178269" first="Liv" last="McGill"] of Hopkins, 2024 [player_tooltip player_id="215958" first="Tori" last="McKinney"] of Minnetonka, and 2021 [player_tooltip player_id="109737" first="Tamia" last="Ugass"] of Roseville (UM-Kansas City). The 2020 winner was forward [player_tooltip player_id="110923" first="Kayla" last="Bohr"] of Blaine (UW-Parkside). Who will take top honors in 2022? We’ll begin a four-part series today previewing this year’s potential breakout performers by looking at the seniors from the Class of 2022. We’ll follow with viable breakout candidates from 2023, 2024 and this year’s freshmen from the Class of 2025. Enjoy! [player_tooltip player_id="109153" first="Mya" last="Shones"] – forward, Lake City Mya has already had a decorated career for the Tigers. Since 8th grade she has been a vital member of a core four – [player_tooltip player_id="57939" first="Natalie" last="Bremer"], [player_tooltip player_id="109783" first="Grace" last="Bany"], and [player_tooltip player_id="109142" first="Lilly" last="Meincke"] are the others – who have taken their program from obscurity to its first state tournament appearance in nearly 40 years. This year, with the 6’3 Bany having graduated, Mya will have even more opportunity expand her game and prove just how much she is capable of. Currently ranked #55 in the senior class, Shones is a long and lanky 6’1. She averaged a dozen points per game last year and collected a bushel of rebounds, too. With Bany gone, however, teams will be able to put much more emphasis on Shones when she is on offense. Defensively she won’t be able to rely on Bany for backup and will have primary duties in the post. It’s a big ask. But you know what? Shones is more than up to the task. Her game has matured a ton, and she has demonstrated incremental improvement every year. Now is her time, which is why we believe Mya is the leading senior candidate for Breakout Player of the Year. [player_tooltip player_id="147457" first="Kora" last="Forsline"] – forward, Mesabi East At 6'1, with an impressive wingspan and sneaky-good athleticism, Forsline is built like a basketball player. That’s a great start. She comes from a basketball family, too, with a mom of similar proportions who proved to be a late bloomer and highly-decorated collegiate player at St. Cloud State. And Forsline has put in the work to develop all of that potential into a package that should get her to a scholarship-level program one year from now. Kora is one of the premier players in the senior class who is still available, and if college coaches pay a little closer attention they are bound to like what they see. Forsline is skilled and efficient. She is a terrific rebounder and a highly disruptive defender. She can finish with either hand, and attacks and finishes off the dribble. Forsline has great court vision and is a quality passer. Coming off a great summer, during which she appeared for both Playmakers North and High Impact, Kora is ready to improve on her #72 ranking. [player_tooltip player_id="109167" first="London" last="Salberg-Thornton"] – forward, Maranatha Christian The 5’11 forward has been lurking in the shadows for a very long time. Having been at Hopkins throughout her career, London has had trouble earning playing time on, arguably, the state’s deepest roster. Playing behind some of the best bigs in the country, both in school ball and most years in AAU, Salberg-Thornton hasn’t really been able to show just how much she might be capable of. That should change this year. The Top 100 prospect has transferred to Maranatha – a great move for her personal circumstances – where she’ll play for new coach Tylor Coley. London should get plenty of court time with the Mustangs where all of the stuff she has learned playing and practicing with elite-level teammates will be put to good use, and where her assets will be on full display. Salberg-Thornton is a hard worker who is willing to do battle inside with players of all sizes and descriptions. She rebounds with passion and fights for every possession. She can also finish around the basket. It’s all about opportunity for London and she’ll have that now. [player_tooltip player_id="109203" first="Lily" last="Niebuhr"] – forward, Chaska (Indiana State) It’s pretty rare for a non-starter in high school to earn a Division 1 collegiate opportunity. But then Chaska’s level of depth up front is rare, as well. Lily is a unique talent whose long-term potential has been revealed in a major way of late. She is one of the state’s most improved bigs this year, having turned in a series of excellent performances over the summer with 43 Hoops. Her footwork has gotten better as has her ability to finish around the rim. She has become more physical down low and more tenacious on the boards. Her jump shot has also improved. Will that be enough to gain more playing time at Chaska where the forward contingent includes Minnesota commit [player_tooltip player_id="12714" first="Mallory" last="Heyer"], ranked #4 in the Class of 2022, along with 6’6 backup [player_tooltip player_id="109166" first="Jessica" last="Heir"] and 6’0 senior [player_tooltip player_id="109186" first="Zoe" last="Cutler"], both of whom have also improved. At 6’3, Niebuhr has to be given due consideration for more playing time with the defending Class 4A state champions. She’ll be ready if that happens. [player_tooltip player_id="109152" first="Lauren" last="Maki"] – forward, Mountain Iron-Buhl Maki is one of the state’s most subtle contributors, a hard-working foot soldier who does so many little things well for the Rangers. She has always been overshadowed by more high-profile performers at MIB, including [player_tooltip player_id="55357" first="Allie" last="Negen"] (Valley City State) and [player_tooltip player_id="1459" first="Mary" last="Burke"] (UM-Crookston). While 2024 guard [player_tooltip player_id="178277" first="Jordan" last="Zubich"] is currently drawing all the headlines (and rightly so!), the 5’9 Maki is going about her business in the way she always has. Lauren was noted as one of our top Class A performers at the state high school tournament. She spread the floor on offense, played great defense down low, and showed her ability to make shots from long distance. She buried two game-winning free throws that enabled MIB to advance. Will this be the year outsiders finally take note of Lauren’s rather attractive box of tools? It certainly should be. We have been watching Lauren since 8th graderand she entered the PGH rankings shortly thereafter. Maki is long, athletic and tenacious. She has a nice jump shot and can guard players of all descriptions. Currently ranked #109 in the class, don’t be surprised if Lauren makes a big leap forward this winter. Top photo: [player_tooltip player_id="109153" first="Mya" last="Shones"] of Lake City