2024 Rankings Update: Who raised their stock the most?
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There are lots of reasons that can cause a player’s stock to rise in the Prep Girls Hoops rankings. Sometimes we are making a correction from a previous ranking – either one we have gotten wrong before or one that…
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Continue ReadingThere are lots of reasons that can cause a player’s stock to rise in the Prep Girls Hoops rankings. Sometimes we are making a correction from a previous ranking – either one we have gotten wrong before or one that is being altered because we have been able to see a player more times and thus make a more accurate evaluation. That’s certainly case for some of the stock risers listed below, including Cassidy Pitzl Cassidy Pitzl 5'11" | SF Forest Lake | 2024 State MN of Forest Lake, Nyomi Crushshon Nyomi Crushshon 5'6" | CG Champlin Park | 2024 State MN of Park Center, Janiya Wright Janiya Wright 5'9" | SG Maranantha | 2024 State MN of Maranatha and Savannah Hedin Savannah Hedin 5'9" | SG Stewartville | 2024 State MN of Stewartville. For other players, however, it’s just straight up improvement over the past number of months. That’s where we’re at with Avery Moeller Avery Moeller 5'10" | CG Rosemount | 2024 State MN of Rosemount who leads our look at some of the biggest stock risers in the Class of 2024.
Just a reminder: The Prep Girls Hoops rankings are based on a player’s college potential, not their current level of performance.
MOST IMPROVED PLAYER
#59 Avery Moeller Avery Moeller 5'10" | CG Rosemount | 2024 State MN – guard, Rosemount
The Avery that entered the Prep Girls Hoops Class of 2024 rankings for the first time one year ago as a member of the Prior Lake Lakers bears little resemblance to the Avery who is now on the roster of the Rosemount Irish. Moeller is bigger and stronger and more skilled, and throughout Fall League and the Fall Exclusive and now three weeks into the high school season she has lit up the sky. Moeller has arrived while truly revealing just how much she is capable of. Last year, as a sophomore she averaged just under 7 points per game, top 5 among the Lakers. So far this season, Moeller is averaging 24 points, 5 rebounds, 3 steals and 1.5 assists per game on a team that has always been defense-first. She’s shooting 64.5% from two-point range, 53% from three. Those numbers speak volumes but they don’t tell the whole story. “Avery is an absolute gym rat” said Rosemount coach Chris Orr. “She’s always one of the first ones in the gym and the last ones to leave.”
The consistent work ethic, forged over the past several seasons, is finally paying huge dividends. As the numbers attest, Moeller is an extremely good shooter. The combo guard is also a quality athlete who can beat you outside or inside. Now that she has filled out and grown to 5’10, Moeller has the size and physical presence that can put a guard into new territory as a prospect. “She is a true scorer of the basketball who can score in a variety of ways and at all levels on the court,” Orr said. “Her improvement comes from her confidence knowing she has put the work in to be successful. Obviously with Nicole O’Neil Nicole O’Neil 5'10" | SG Rosemount | 2023 State MN (UM-Duluth commit) out right now we need others to step up and Avery has done that on both ends of the court. She has really committed herself on the defensive side to learn, improve and compete.”
Learn, improve and compete. That pretty much sums up what it takes to be a big stock riser in the rankings. Over the past few months Avery has earned a promotion and we’re happy to move her up 54 positions from #113 to #59 and into the portion of the rankings where players are deemed to be candidates for scholarship-level basketball. Don’t be surprised if she keeps on trending in an upward direction.
CRACKING THE TOP 60
Avery isn’t the only one who has moved herself up the ladder into the Prep Girls Hoops Top 60 juniors. These five players done the same.
#45 Isabella Sanneh Isabella Sanneh 5'11" | SF East Ridge | 2024 State MN – forward, East Ridge
We saw Sanneh’s game improve consistently over the course of the summer. Game to game, week to week, tournament to tournament she just kept getting better. Isabella’s footwork improved, she seemed to get quicker and more mobile, and she added to her repertoire of inside moves that led to consistent buckets. She also extended her shooting range. Sanneh has always been a quality rebounder. By the end of the summer we named Isabella a potential Breakout Player of the Year candidate for the 2022-23 campaign. And then she did even more in the fall, meriting first-team all-star status at the Top 250 Expo and more. All of that has earned the 5’11 forward a major promotion which is why she is now a big stock riser, moving up 21 positions from #66 to #45.
#48 Olivia Wren Olivia Wren 5'10" | SG Roosevelt | 2024 State MN – guard, Minneapolis Roosevelt
It’s not all that unusual for a player to make a big jump in the rankings due to improved performance and more exposure. But to do it two rankings periods in a row? Now that’s rare. This is exactly what Wren has done now. The competitive opportunities she had as a result of her AAU club Minnesota Diamond Elite joining the Prep Girls Hoops Circuit were a big factor in helping Wren to improve. That also amped up her exposure exponentially. That’s why Olivia jumped 29 positions in June into the #78 ranking. All she’s done since then is more of the same all while improving her outside shooting, becoming a more consistent scorer and proving that she can be a solid defender at the collegiate level. As a result, Olivia is once again a big stock riser, moving up 30 more positions to #48.
#55 Rachel Kottke Rachel Kottke 5'8" | CG Buffalo Lake-H-S | 2024 State MN & #56 Kristi Kottke Kristi Kottke 5'8" | CG Buffalo Lake-H-S | 2024 State MN – guards, Buffalo Lake-Hector-Stewart
There are plenty of kids in the Class of 2024 putting in the work to improve their status as college prospects. Over the past few years, however, it’s hard to imagine that anyone has invested more in self-development than the Kottke twins. There has never been any question about their commitment and the results speak for themselves. Both athletes are strong players on their own – great shooters, great ball handlers, great defenders – but it’s what they do together than makes Rachel and Kristi extra special. More often than not twins seem to have a sixth sense about where the other is going to be and what their twin is going to do next and that is a very, very difficult asset to defend. Now that the pair have filled out and gotten stronger they are deserving of a healthy bump up. That’s why we’re elevating the Minnesota Rise leaders by a dozen positions to #55 and #56.
#53 Daviney Dreckman Daviney Dreckman 5'8" | CG New Ulm | 2024 State MN – guard, New Ulm
When players suffer a torn ACL there are just so many question marks surrounding their future. How will they handle the mental trials of a long rehabilitation? How long will it take for them to return to the court? Will they be as quick, as fast and as agile as before? The only way to answer the doubters is to just do it. That’s exactly what Daviney has done by returning to form and proving that she has the chops to play at the scholarship level. Dreckman has always been stronger, quicker, faster, and more tenacious than most of her peers. She flat out gets after it on the floor. She is a great communicator, a great passer, a true physical presence and – best of all – she’s willing to make the hustle plays necessary to win. College coaches need to dig a little deeper to see how much Daviney has to offer. She just raised her stock another seven spots and is destined to play scholarship-level basketball.
WELCOME TO THE TOP 100
Five players have now entered the Top 100 for the first time.
#77 Nyomi Crushshon Nyomi Crushshon 5'6" | CG Champlin Park | 2024 State MN – The scrappy competitor from Park Center is one of the state’s top defenders.
#83 Janiya Wright Janiya Wright 5'9" | SG Maranantha | 2024 State MN – The guard from Maranatha (pictured above) is a very skilled two-way competitor.
#87 Cece Nesseth Cece Nesseth 6'0" | PF Minnetonka | 2024 State MN – The lengthy forward has earned a starting spot on a strong Minnetonka squad.
#96 Nora Pederson Nora Pederson 5'7" | SG Mounds Park Academy | 2024 State MN – The crafty guard from Mounds Park Academy was outstanding at the Fall Exclusive
#99 Savannah Hedin Savannah Hedin 5'9" | SG Stewartville | 2024 State MN – The athletic guard from Stewartville has improved her decision-making and court presence.
MORE DOUBLE-DIGIT STOCK RISERS
#66 Jordyn Schmittdiel Jordyn Schmittdiel 5'11" | SF White Bear Lake | 2024 State MN – guard, White Bear Lake
#69 Madison Malecha Madison Malecha 5'11" | SF Burnsville | 2024 State MN – forward, Burnsville
#71 Hali Savela Hali Savela 5'8" | CG Mountain Iron-Buhl | 2024 State MN – guard, Mountain Iron-Buhl
#102 Cassidy Pitzl Cassidy Pitzl 5'11" | SF Forest Lake | 2024 State MN – forward, Forest Lake
#124 Brooke Christianson Brooke Christianson 5'5" | CG Glencoe-Silver Lake | 2024 State MN – guard, Glencoe-Silver Lake
#128 Evyn Eppinga Evyn Eppinga 5'4" | CG Anoka | 2024 State MN – guard, Anoka
#130 Rebekah Gendler Rebekah Gendler 5'10" | SG Mpls Southwest | 2024 State MN – guard, Minneapolis Southwest
#155 Misti Zempel Misti Zempel 5'10" | PF Hancock | 2024 State MN – forward, Hancock (photo above)