Freshman Showcase: 5 prospects to follow

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As we wrap up our coverage of the Prep Girls Hoops Freshman Showcase we are struck by just how many great players participated last weekend. The Class of 2026 appears to be really deep in prospects, and the difference in skill level between the Top 25 and the kids who will hover around the 100 mark in the rankings of this group is not nearly as great as it was in all ages a few years ago. Apologies now to the many strong participants at the event who didn't get covered this time around. Keep grinding and your turn will no doubt come. Let's finish our coverage of the event here with 5 players we saw at the Freshman Showcase that interested observers should be sure to follow. Chances are they are going to get really good.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_632f4dc9003e9","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["339214"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"In a couple of weeks we will be releasing the Prep Girls Hoops Freshmen 50, the first ranking of the many impressive prospects in Minnesota's Class of 2026. When the list comes out you'll want to look well up the ladder for Rath's name because she is a Top 20 type of talent with the kind of natural movement, athleticism and grace to be a truly elite player. Well over 6 feet tall and growing, Rath has a ton of length in addition to impressive foot speed and plenty of strength in that wiry frame. Offensively, she can beat you off the bounce and knock down shots. Defensively, Jayci is a shot-blocking, rebounding force. She has committed for Minnesota Fury 2026 UAA for next AAU season where she'll strut her stuff on the big stage. There will be plenty for college coaches to see.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["478374"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_player_featured_image":511542,"_player_evaluations_1_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Betsy is sneaky good. Her game is kind of subtle. She doesn't play particularly fast. She doesn't look to make the highlight reels. She's all about the business at hand. That's what we saw this summer from Gillette when she made our All-Tournament Team at the PGH Circuit Legacy Classic in Omaha. She's got nice height for a 9th grader. Combine that with a really solid frame, a well-developed skillset, and the type of focus and determination we love to see in a young prospect and the Hayfield guard is definitely a prospect of note. It doesn't hurt that she plays in a very strong high school program. Betsy has made a good case for herself that she, too, belongs in the Freshmen 50. I suspect the odds of that happening are pretty solid.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["502551"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"When Brooklin is on the floor for the Minnesota Rise it's hard to miss her. She's just so athletic, with super light feet that enable her to hop, skip and jump all over the court. Hinze is crafty, with a lot of one-on-one tricks and tools in her arsenal. She loves to go to the basket and she can score in droves. Her first step is quick, quick, quick. And she is a ton of fun to watch. Once Brooklin learns how to take advantage of her teammates a little better and more often, and starts to deliver defensively on a more consistent basis, she's going to be deadly. Hinze already has the highlight reel stuff down; the details that win basketball games are sure to come.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["502532"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_player_featured_image":511580,"_player_evaluations_3_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"We've been watching Betsy for the better part of a year now. The progression has been steady, and the performance under pressure has been solid. We saw more of the same on Sunday from the Minnesota Rise forward who is pushing 6 feet tall. Her rebounding prowess, physical play and overall consistency played a significant role in the Rise's success this summer. She'll need to do even more this winter at Redwood Valley where she participated as an 8th grader on a varsity team that struggled mightily. It's not real obvious yet what Joyce's best position may turn out to be. That might eventually depend on how big her body ends up. But right now she is versatile, her skill set is improving, and she has the kind of athleticism that makes her a prospect to follow.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["502603"],"_player_evaluations_4_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_4_player_featured_image":511592,"_player_evaluations_4_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"One final competitor we have to mention is  Heather. She might be small – just 5'5 and praying for more inches – but her game definitely packs a big punch. She's got speed and quickness, she can handle the basketball, and she plays with a ton of gumption. Heather is a prototypical gym rat, a dedicated, driven prospect who is doing everything she can to improve. Sheehy goes to camps, works with trainers, puts in the time to get better. You have to admire the dedication which reminds me a lot of u003cstrongu003eMikayla Aumeru003c/strongu003e, whose game was in a similar spot to Sheehy's entering 9th grade. Now she's a freshman playing D1 ball at North Dakota. Heather suited up last year as an 8th grader for Robbinsdale Cooper. Now in high school, she'll wear the black and red of Maranatha Christian Academy.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":5,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"preview"} /-->