AAU Breakout Player of the Year: Hope Counts

[player_tooltip player_id='296515' first='Hope' last='Counts'] had her debutante party at the Minnesota high school State Tournament in March and the celebration has continued all summer. The 6'2 forward from Providence Academy and Metro Stars has been an intriguing prospect for the last couple of seasons but has now come into her own. That fact was reflected in our recent update of the Class of 2025 rankings when she moved up 11 spots to #21 among incoming sophomores. It is emphasized even more now as we name Hope our Prep Girls Hoops Breakout Player of the Year.   Asked to describe his talented young forward, Providence coach Conner Goetz called her an elite defensive presence. “She has a great ability to alter shots around the rim and has the foot speed to stay in front of guards on the perimeter,” said Goetz, whose team won the Class 2A state championship in March. “I have seen her singlehandedly stop two-on-one breaks because of her presence. Girls will choose to pull up for jumpers instead of going to the rim. She is also a tenacious rebounder. She doesn't give up on 50-50 balls. She was also second on our team in charges drawn.”   Defense wins, and 6'2 forwards who are mobile and athletic and like to defend can be a hot property. That's why Hope has gone from a relative unknown one year ago to a prized prospect at this time, beginning with her stellar performance at the state tournament against Montivideo forward [player_tooltip player_id='302256' first='Avery' last='Koenen'], a 6'3 specimen who has committed to North Dakota State. That performance earned her well-deserved recognition as a rising star in the 2025 Class. Not only is Counts' defensive presence a huge factor but the D1 prospect has enhanced her offensive game in multiple ways, as well. That was the primary reason why she earned a spot on our 2025 AAU All Star Team and why her ranking shot up so quickly. A well-rounded game on a 6'2 frame will do that for you.   “Hope took big strides on offense this year,” Goetz said. “She developed a lot of perimeter skills throughout the year. For example, she now has very comfortable range out to the three-point line and hit a few big threes during our section and state tournament games. She has also improved her ball-handling ability to the point where she is comfortable operating as the lead ball handler in a pick-and-roll situation. She has a small repertoire of back-to-the-basket post moves, but she thrives much more in the high post and driving scenarios.”   Hope is the latest in a long line of top-notch basketball players in her family. Grandfather Mel Counts, a 7'1 forward, played in the NBA from 1964 to 1976. Hope's older sisters each established themselves as outstanding performers, too. Most recently sister Anna was a standout post at Minot State. 2022 graduate Maria is going to walk on at the University of Minnesota. Sister [player_tooltip player_id='148338' first='Grace' last='Counts'] is a Top 30 prospect in this year's senior class. And now it is Hope's turn.   RUNNER-UP   [player_tooltip player_id='302307' first='Elisabeth' last='Gadient'] – Minnesota Fury Premier (Goodhue)   Elisabeth has earned a ton of notoriety here over the past few weeks, all of it well-deserved. She has always been a solid performer who is a shoo-in to play at the next level. This year, however, the 5'10 guard has raised her game to an entirely new level. She earned a spot on our 2024 AAU All Stars second team and was on the top All-Tourney team at the recent Breakdown Sports summer high school state championship. Gadient's ranking has risen exponentially this year to the point where she is now the #27-rated prospect among incoming juniors. What else needs to be said? Liz just makes plays and she does it with a calm, cool and collected demeanor that engenders confidence in her teammates and coaches. Now it has earned her runner-up status as Prep Girls Hoops Breakout Player of the Year.   HONORABLE MENTIONS   [player_tooltip player_id='302273' first='Abigail' last='O'Reilly'] – 2023 forward, Minnesota Rise (Plainview-Elgin-Millville)   The 6'3 power forward had a tremendous season by every measure. She has always been a defensive weapon but this year her offensive game evolved significantly. That earned her honorable mention recognition on our 2023 AAU All Star team as well as an 18-spot jump in the rankings to #44. Most importantly it led to a scholarship to play at St. Cloud State.   [player_tooltip player_id='353081' first='Macaya' last='Copeland'] – 2023 guard, 43 Hoops (Hopkins)   It's not easy to get noticed at Hopkins where the spotlight shines brightly on a handful of players, all high-major prospects. This summer Macaya also earned some time in the sun. The uber-quick guard, who plays with energy and passion, turned in one solid performance after another, raised her ranking by an unprecedented 93 spots, and showed that she, too, should be a big factor at Hopkins this winter.   [player_tooltip player_id='186112' first='Ashlynne' last='Guenther'] – 2023 guard, Starks Elite (Duluth East)   Ashlynne established way back in the 8th grade that she was going to be a prolific scorer. This summer she demonstrated that she is much more than that. The Bemidji State commit was leaner, faster, quicker and more impactful at both ends of the court. The 5'11 guard earned 2nd team AAU All Star status and rose 23 places in the rankings to #34. Guenther has put in a ton of hard work which is definitely paying off.

Hope Counts Hope Counts 6'2" | SF Providence Academy | 2025 State MN had her debutante party at the Minnesota high school State Tournament in March and the celebration has continued all summer. The 6'2 forward from Providence Academy and Metro Stars has been an intriguing prospect for the last couple of seasons but has now come into her own. That fact was reflected in our recent update of the Class of 2025 rankings when she moved up 11 spots to #21 among incoming sophomores. It is emphasized even more now as we name Hope our Prep Girls Hoops Breakout Player of the Year.