Meltdown standouts: 2025s who raised their profile
The 2022 AAU season has reached its conclusion. Over the next couple of weeks we’ll be releasing our updated 2024 and 2023 rankings as well as handing out the Prep Girls Hoops AAU post-season awards. Before we do that, though,…
Access all of Prep Girls Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingThe 2022 AAU season has reached its conclusion. Over the next couple of weeks we’ll be releasing our updated 2024 and 2023 rankings as well as handing out the Prep Girls Hoops AAU post-season awards. Before we do that, though, we bring you one final installment from the North Tartan Meltdown and AAU National Championships completed on Friday in the Twin Cities.
It was a great week of basketball played in front of more than 200 college coaches. For some prospects from the Class of 2025 it was a prime opportunity to give those coaches an up close look at their abilities for the first time. For others, it was a chance to build on positive impressions already established over the course of the summer. Here are a few 2025s who raised their profile at the Meltdown.
We spend a lot of time at live period events talking with Division 1 coaches, sharing what we know about players and gleaning their impressions of many of our top Minnesota prospects. One player whose name came up over and over last week was Hoselton. The feedback we got on the big forward was overwhelmingly positive. Coaches love her gigantic motor, relentless pursuit of rebounds, and willingness to lay it all on the line if there is a basketball to be had. Abby’s game has grown so much over the past two summers and she has more than earned a ranking of #11 in the Class of 2025. We’re bullish on Abby’s future and so are the coaches.
Tori is one of the most versatile players in the Class of 2025. In any class really. With a strong build, excellent athleticism, and the kind of speed and quickness everyone is looking for, she comes to the table with a ton of terrific natural assets. It’s what she does with all of those benefits that is truly impressive. Whether she is attacking the basket with gusto or burying shots from distance, whether we’re talking about offensive prowess or her exceptional defensive abilities, Tori is a force to be reckoned with. The high IQ combo guard is a great communicator and a natural leader. It’s a package that has earned her the #7 ranking among incoming sophomores and the respect of numerous collegiate recruiters.
Hope’s reputation is growing quickly at the D1 level. The lengthy forward’s game has expanded so much over the past 12 months. That progress showed up in a big way at the high school state tournament. Over the course of the summer Hope’s high level of play has reinforced those impressions and helped her gain a ton of buzz where it matters most. Many coaches watched her for the first time in person last week and they liked what they saw. Hope had 39 points, including 15 in a win over Crossfire Tusler and 13 in a tough 3-point loss to Minnesota Stars Hill. Counts rose 11 spots in our recent update of the 2025 rankings to #21 and last week’s performance showed it was well-deserved.
Ryan Hulke’s Rise squad is one of the most balanced units around. At the Meltdown the team had four different players lead the scoring in five games. 42nd-ranked Annika Southworth Annika Southworth 5’8″ | PG St. Peter | 2025 State MN of St. Peter was excellent as per usual and #83 Morgan Hulke Morgan Hulke 5’8″ | SF New Ulm | 2025 State MN of New Ulm had a really good week, too. For Anderson, though, it may have been a breakthrough tournament. She used her exceptional length to rebound at a high level. She defended multiple positions effectively. And she knocked down shots, including four triples in the first half of the championship game. The Rise went 5-0 to win the Division 2 title. We have the 6-footer ranked in the Top 75 and she’s definitely trending in the right direction now.
The combo guard is one of the fastest players in the Class of 2025, an exceptional athlete who knows how to make the most of her natural gifts. Lydia proved that once again at the Meltdown where the crafty guard led her team to the championship game in D2. She scored 56 points in the tournament, including 18 against North Tartan Elite and 15 vs Let It Rain Black. She attacked the basket with authority as usual. She corralled loose balls, forced turnovers, and recorded steals. And she rebounded exceptionally well for her size. There are numerous reasons why Lydia has earned a Top 50 ranking among incoming sophomores. At the Meltdown, college coaches saw it for themselves.