10 rising young stars to watch at the State Tournament
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The high school State Tournament is all about the stars. We won’t be at all surprised if veteran standouts like Maya Nnaji Maya Nnaji 6'4" | PF Hopkins | 2022 State #7 Nation MN , Amaya Battle Amaya Battle 5'10"…
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Continue ReadingThe high school State Tournament is all about the stars. We won’t be at all surprised if veteran standouts like Maya Nnaji Maya Nnaji 6'4" | PF Hopkins | 2022 State #7 Nation MN , Amaya Battle Amaya Battle 5'10" | PG Hopkins | 2022 State #29 Nation MN , Tessa Johnson Tessa Johnson 5'11" | SG St. Michael-Albertville | 2023 State #36 Nation MN , Ellie Colbeck Ellie Colbeck 5'9" | PG Fergus Falls | 2022 State MN or Ronnie Porter Ronnie Porter 5'2" | CG Como Park | 2022 State MN grab most of the headlines. And so they should. I expect we will also see the emergence of some rising young stars this week, athletes whose level of play will no doubt surprise the television broadcasters who show up in Minneapolis once a year and feign knowledge of the girls game. To those of us who observe our sport all year long, however, it won’t be a surprise at all. That’s why we are focused today on the rising stars of the State Tournament, those freshmen and sophomores who will likely emerge on the big stage this week.
Of course there are plenty of 9th and 10th graders who are already established stars. That would include the #1 sophomore Olivia Olson Olivia Olson 6'1" | CG Benilde-SM | 2024 State MN of Benilde-St. Margaret’s, #2 Liv McGill Liv McGill 5'7" | CG Hopkins | 2024 State MN of Hopkins, and #6 Jordan Zubich Jordan Zubich 5'11" | SG Mountain Iron-Buhl | 2024 State MN of Mountain Iron-Buhl. Ditto for the #5 freshman Addison Mack Addison Mack 5'9" | PG Minnehaha Academy | 2025 State MN of Minnehaha Academy and 2026 sensation Maddyn Greenway Maddyn Greenway 5'8" | PG Providence Academy | 2026 State MN of Providence Academy, who came within a whisker of winning the Class AA state title last year and who has continued to rewrite the record books this season.
As we saw last year with Albany’s run to the championship, newcomers like Alyssa Sand Alyssa Sand 6'2" | PF Albany | 2024 State MN (the #22-rated sophomore) and Kylan Gerads Kylan Gerads 5'11" | SF Albany | 2024 State MN (#36) can make a huge difference when the rubber hits the road. Will it be 2025 #2 Kendall McGee Kendall McGee 5'10" | CG Benilde-St. Margaret's | 2025 State MN , who has led the Minnesota Stars Borowicz squad to multiple AAU state titles who makes the big play at the big moment? Perhaps it will be one of the 10 rising stars profiled here, skilled performers who could take center stage this week.
Olivia Pawlicki Olivia Pawlicki 6'1" | SF Shakopee | 2024 State MN – 2024 forward, Shakopee
Shakopee has had an incredible run to the State Tournament, winning 21 straight games and knocking off both Chaska and Eden Prairie on their way to Minneapolis. They are a veteran squad but it is Pawlicki, a lanky forward with a multi-dimensional skill set, who has raised the Sabers game more than any other player. She’s ranked #13 in the class and folks are about to see why.
Nicole Maenke Nicole Maenke 5'10" | CG Shakopee | 2024 State MN – 2024 guard, Shakopee
Maenke is a 5’9 combo guard who plays the game with poise and moxie. She is highly skilled, very intelligent and loaded with swagger. In a veteran backcourt with longtime leaders Kate Cordes Kate Cordes 5'7" | CG Shakopee | 2022 State MN , Jasmyn Hale Jasmyn Hale 5'9" | SG Shakopee | 2022 State MN and Maya Mitchell Maya Mitchell 5'9" | CG Shakopee | 2022 State MN , the youngster has brought her own flair to the proceedings and it has made a huge difference for Shakopee.
Trinity Wilson Trinity Wilson 6'3" | PF Lakeville North | 2024 State MN – 2024 forward, Lakeville North
If you had to choose the biggest reason why the Panthers advanced to state it would be Trinity, both literally and figurately. Wilson has dominated the second half of the season and was stellar in North’s section final win over Rochester John Marshall facing one of the state’s top talents. The 6’3 post is the Panthers leading scorer and rebounder.
Gabby Betton Gabby Betton 5'9" | CG Lakeville North | 2024 State MN – 2024 guard, Lakeville North
The Panthers have a strong collection of guards and Gabby is the rising star of the group. She is North’s second-leading scorer and an outstanding all-around contributor, a smooth and talented ball handler who can be counted on to made smart plays throughout. Gabby is the 14th-ranked prospect in Minnesota’s sophomore class.
Macy Birkholz Macy Birkholz 5'5" | CG Mankato East | 2024 State MN – 2024 guard, Mankato East
The Cougars rise to prominence over the past five seasons has been built around seniors Mackenzie Schweim Mackenzie Schweim 5'10" | PG Mankato East | 2022 State MN and Lexi Karge Lexi Karge 6'2" | PF Mankato East | 2022 State MN , but it was the addition of Birkholz that really lifted Mankato East to a new level of success. She is a spitfire – a high-energy, all-in contributor who brings grit, tenacity and touch and averages 11 points per game.
Ja’Kahla Craft Ja’Kahla Craft 5'9" | CG STMA | 2024 State MN – 2024 guard, St. Michael-Albertville
It has been a breakout season for Craft, a newcomer for the Knights who emerged as a key piece in a talented lineup. She is also one of the biggest stock risers in the Prep Girls Hoops prospect rankings this season. Craft averages 12 ppg (2nd best for STMA) and plays an aggressive attacking style on both sides of the ball.
Marisa Frost Marisa Frost 5'8" | PG Centennial | 2024 State MN – 2024 guard, Centennial
Frost is a master tactician, a cerebral guard who is one of the most intelligent, well-rounded talents in the state. Her 82 assists led the team in that category while she was second in scoring at 10 ppg and third in rebounding at 5 per game. The #9-ranked player in the Class of 2024 turned in three excellent performances in section play.
Autumn McCall Autumn McCall 6'2" | PF Centennial | 2025 State MN – 2025 forward, Centennial
The evolution of Autumn’s game has been fun to watch as she has grown in the past year from a cautious newcomer last summer into a varsity standout today. The 6’2 forward is long and mobile and has been a huge difference-maker for the Cougars. She leads the team in rebounding at 7.2 per game and blocks (31) while scoring consistently.
Zahara Bishop Zahara Bishop 5'10" | CG Benilde-St. Margaret's | 2025 State MN – 2025 guard, Benilde-St. Margaret’s
Not surprisingly it is Olivia Olson Olivia Olson 6'1" | CG Benilde-SM | 2024 State MN and Kendall McGee Kendall McGee 5'10" | CG Benilde-St. Margaret's | 2025 State MN who have drawn most of the headlines for BSM this season and rightly so. But Bishop’s contributions for the Red Knights have been absolutely crucial. A top 10 prospect in the Class of 2025, the silky smooth guard is the team’s third-leading scorer and a key piece of the puzzle if Benilde is going to succeed this week.
Abby Hoselton Abby Hoselton 5'11" | PF STMA | 2025 State MN – 2025 forward, St. Michael-Albertville
The big power forward is strong, she’s skilled and she plays hard. On a team loaded with offensive threats, Abby’s contributions are more subtle but just as important. She is a rebounding machine who can be counted on to contribute in a big way on both sides of the ball. The 10th ranked freshman in Minnesota will have to do more of the same if STMA is to go far this week.
Top photo: Nicole Maenke Nicole Maenke 5'10" | CG Shakopee | 2024 State MN of Shakopee (left) and Gabby Betton Gabby Betton 5'9" | CG Lakeville North | 2024 State MN of Lakeville North (right).