Winter rankings update: 2022 stock risers
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It’s never too late to get better. Even though the Class of 2022 has only a month or so remaining in their final high school season, many of this year’s seniors have continued to improve as they make one last…
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Continue ReadingIt’s never too late to get better. Even though the Class of 2022 has only a month or so remaining in their final high school season, many of this year’s seniors have continued to improve as they make one last push to the playoffs while preparing to make their college debut in the fall. We first ranked this class in the fall of 2018 and so many of the kids have become so much better. Today we look at which players have raised their stock the most since the we last updated the Prep Girls Hoops prospect rankings in November 2021.
MINOR MOVEMENT IN THE TOP 20
It’s not unusual to see player movement at the top of the list right up to graduation. Not so much among the 2022s. The rankings are unchanged from #1 through #16, and only two players in the Top 20 have moved up this time around: Amber Scalia Amber Scalia 5'9" | CG Stillwater | 2022 State MN of Stillwater (St. Thomas) rises one position to #17 and Mikayla Aumer Mikayla Aumer 5'9" | CG Cambridge-Isanti | 2022 State MN of Cambridge-Isanti (North Dakota) also moves up a single spot to #19.
CLIMBING THE CHARTS IN THE TOP 40
From positions 21 through 40 there are four players who have made what we would consider to be a major move over the past three months. Rising from 4 to 8 positions apiece, let’s tip our cap to these standouts who are the heart of and soul of their respective programs:
+8 Ella Runyon Ella Runyon 5'11" | CG Hill-Murray | 2022 State MN – The Hill-Murray forward has been dominant all winter averaging over 22 points per game and practically willing her young teammates to victory on many nights. Runyon is a terrific athlete with a big frame, a world of natural ability and a huge motor. She moves up to #40 but would be higher if she showed more interest in playing college basketball.
+7 Natalie Bremer Natalie Bremer 5'11" | CG Lake City | 2022 State MN – The 5’11 guard/wing from Lake City has done it all for the Tigers program since 8th grade, leaving an indelible mark on the shores of Lake Pepin that will last years into the future. Last week she became the school’s all-time leading scorer, male or female. The MSU-Mankato commit moves up seven more positions to #22.
+7 Audrey Swanson Audrey Swanson 5'11" | SF Waconia | 2022 State MN – This has been a transition year in Waconia where the Wildcats are younger than in the past and are competing in Class 4A for the first time. That hasn’t stopped Audrey from having a dominant presence on a nightly basis. Swanson has been asked to do more than ever before and the Southwest Minnesota State commit has delivered. She rises seven places to #30.
+4 Hannah Herzig Hannah Herzig 6'0" | CG Totino Grace | 2022 State MN – The 6-foot wing from Totino-Grace has been a house on fire from the opening weekend of the season. She flew out of the gate and has continued to set a torrid pace, topping the 20-point mark more than a dozen times and leading the Eagles to a ton of success. Along the way Hannah announced she would be attending MSU-Mankato. Herzig moves up four spots to #37.
In addition to Runyon, Bremer, Swanson and Herzig, several others in the Top 40 are trending in the right direction. Moving up two positions are #21 Kaylynn Asberry Kaylynn Asberry 5'5" | PG Como Park | 2022 State MN of St. Paul Como Park (Saint Peter’s), #26 Tayah Leenderts Tayah Leenderts 6'0" | PF Rosemount | 2022 State MN of Rosemount (Sioux Falls) and #32 Lilly Nuytten Lilly Nuytten 6'1" | PF Hastings | 2022 State MN of Hastings (MSU-Mankato). Rising one place in the 2022 rankings are #29 Adeline Kent Adeline Kent 5'8" | CG Becker | 2022 State MN of Becker (Tampa), #38 Kassie Caron Kassie Caron 6'0" | SF Holy Angels | 2022 State MN of Holy Angels (Missouri Western), and #39 Charita Lewis Charita Lewis 5'4" | CG Minnehaha Academy | 2022 State MN of Minnehaha Academy.
TOP 7 OVERALL STOCK RISERS
+69 – Brooke Gunderson Brooke Gunderson 5'8" | CG Buffalo | 2022 State MN – The Buffalo guard is having an exceptional senior season while leading the Bison in scoring and so much more. Brooke’s improvement earned her a jump to #93 and a scholarship to Dakota State University.
+60 – Destiny Piekarski Destiny Piekarski 5'10" | CG Littlefork | 2022 State MN – The prolific guard from Littlefork-Big Falls has been a scoring machine throughout her high school career. Her ability to score the basketball has earned the senior a college opportunity with Chaminade in Hawaii. She’s now #91.
+22 – Shelby Mortenson Shelby Mortenson 6'1" | PF Yellow Medicine East | 2022 State MN – The big post from Yellow Medicine East has blossomed in the past year. It’s not unusual for post players to break through later than others and that’s exactly what Shelby is doing. She rises to #143.
+22 – Krisalyn Seeyle Krisalyn Seeyle 5'10" | SF Cass Lake-Bena | 2022 State MN – The lengthy wing from Cass Lake-Bena has shown flashes of brilliance over the past couple of seasons but this campaign has brought a new level of consistency and production. Seeyle’s ceiling is a lot higher than previously thought. She’s now #147.
+19 – Lucy Hertel Lucy Hertel 5'7" | CG Holy Family | 2022 State MN – The scrappy guard from Holy Family has come back from an ACL injury to have the best season of her life. Lucy has helped the Fire earn a spot among the favorites to win Class 2A this spring while earning herself a jump to #102.
+18 – Jordyn Sutton Jordyn Sutton 6'0" | PF Rochester Century | 2022 State MN – The lengthy forward from Rochester Century has been a key piece of the puzzle as her program has risen back to respectability in the Big 9. The 6-footer reached the 1,000 career points mark this season while averaging 15 points and 6 rebounds per game. She moves up to #101.
+12 – Justine Jameson Justine Jameson 5'10" | PF Park CG | 2022 State MN – The gifted wing from Park-Cottage Grove has very quietly become one of the most consistent performers in the region, and may ultimately prove to be a breakout talent at the next level. Averaging 16 ppg, Justine has led the Wolfpack to a resurgence while moving up to #86.
10 MORE NOTABLES
+9 – Abby Titus Abby Titus 5'10" | SF Lakeville North | 2022 State MN – The Lakeville North senior rises to #116
+8 – Emma Lade Emma Lade 5'9" | CG Mayer Lutheran | 2022 State MN – The volleyball commit from Mayer Lutheran is now #83
+8 – Camille Cummings Camille Cummings 5'8" | CG Centennial | 2022 State MN – The crafty guard from Centennial improves to #84
+7 – Kate Cordes Kate Cordes 5'7" | CG Shakopee | 2022 State MN – The Shakopee senior, who has committed to Jamestown, is #95
+7 – Bobbie Bruns Bobbie Bruns 5'7" | CG Blooming Prairie | 2022 State MN – The Blooming Prairie guard and Gustavus commit rises to #111
+6 – Malia Nelson Malia Nelson 5'9" | CG Dover-Eyota | 2022 State MN – The feisty guard from Dover-Eyota improves to #73
+5 – Taryn Frazer Taryn Frazer 5'4" | PG Cass Lake-Bena | 2022 State MN – The Cass Lake-Bena senior point guard rises again to #85
+4 – Grace Massaquoi Grace Massaquoi 6'0" | PF Holy Angels | 2022 State MN – The big forward from Holy Angels is now ranked #54
+4 – Maria Counts Maria Counts 5'11" | PF Providence | 2022 State MN – The veteran forward from Providence Academy improves to #66
+4 – Shakyla Walker Shakyla Walker 5'6" | SG Como Park | 2022 State MN – The NIACC commit from St. Paul Como Park moves up to #131