2025 Rankings Update: The biggest stock risers

When you take in a game involving a ranked player you haven't seen for some time there are basically three scenarios than can play out: 1. The prospect can look pretty much the same as before (not uncommon); 2. She can show incremental improvement, usually in one or two key areas of skill development (what we are looking for); or 3. The player can make you sit up, take notice, and say ‘Wow!' It is option #3 that will get you moved up in the Prep Girls Hoops rankings quicker than expected.   That's what we saw on Saturday, Jan. 7 in Kasson-Mantorville when Goodhue sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='550025' first='Kendyl' last='Lodermeier'] made us sit up straight and say ‘Wow!' As a result of that, and a similar level of performance in three subsequent viewings, Kendyl has earned the honor of being the biggest stock riser in this week's update of the Class of 2025 rankings. More on her in a minute.   The Top 25 is well-established   One thing that emerged in this 2025 rankings update is the fact that the Top 25 is pretty solid. Our evaluators are satisfied with the pecking order that has been established now that this class has been in the rankings cycle for 18 months, so much so that only one Top 25 player has raised her stock and only by one position. That would be lengthy guard/wing [player_tooltip player_id='346165' first='Hadley' last='Thul'] of Alexandria who rises one position to #10. She is a solid Division 1 prospect who keeps on improving. This spring's AAU competition will probably be a better measuring stick of just how much she has improved given that she will be facing deeper teams and more experienced, more athletic competition.   Notable stock risers in the Top 50   There are two players who have turned in consistently strong performances over a long period of time to the degree that we needed to reexamine of their college potential. That's the key, of course, since the Prep Girls Hoops rankings are all about a player's potential to be successful at the next level. As a result these two have now moved up in the Top 50.   #37 – [player_tooltip player_id='396423' first='Cierra' last='Kortan'] – The gritty guard from Sauk Centre continues to impress with her solid play against strong opponents. She has skill to be sure, the kind of ball-handling ability to withstand strong defensive pressure without turning it over. But it is her physicality, aggressiveness and sheer will in tough game situations that has made her a more valuable prospect. Cierra now moves up 9 places to #37.   #49 – [player_tooltip player_id='396431' first='Gabby' last='Fineday'] – The crafty guard from Cass Lake-Bena does not boast the kind of physical dimensions that would result in her being pegged as a can't-miss college basketball player. She's not particularly tall or long. She's not super-fast, either. But Gabby is intelligent, crafty, and plays with poise in spite of being double-teamed constantly. She can also shoot the heck out of the basketball, cashing in on that attribute as well as anyone in the state not named [player_tooltip player_id='178277' first='Jordan' last='Zubich']. A 58-point game in January will attest to that. Gabby rises 12 positions to #49.   There were eight other players who moved up a spot or two in the Top 50:   <ul> <li>#30 [player_tooltip player_id='215457' first='London' last='Harris'] (Hopkins)</li>   <li>#33 [player_tooltip player_id='206227' first='Lexi' last='Hanna'] (Maple Grove)</li>   <li>#34 [player_tooltip player_id='205299' first='Ella' last='Kuhlman'] (North Branch)</li>   <li>#35 [player_tooltip player_id='330744' first='Savannah' last='Borowicz'] (Jordan)</li>   <li>#38 [player_tooltip player_id='208187' first='Annika' last='Southworth'] (St. Peter)</li>   <li>#46 [player_tooltip player_id='346180' first='Brandi' last='Washington'] (Fridley)</li>   <li>#47 [player_tooltip player_id='339192' first='Leilani' last='Abraham'] (St. Anthony Village)</li>   <li>#48 [player_tooltip player_id='396426' first='Vanessa' last='Jordan'] (Eden Prairie)</li> </ul>   TOP 5 STOCK RISERS   These are the five players who have raised their stock the most since the 2025 rankings were last updated in the fall.   #61 – [player_tooltip player_id='550025' first='Kendyl' last='Lodermeier'] – Bigger, better, bolder. That's how we would describe the new Kendyl vs the old Kendyl. The physical differences are obvious. Over the past year she's grown taller (about 5'11) and bulked up, increasing her size and strength considerably. The Goodhue forward now looks like she's going to have a college body long before she steps foot on a campus. Her skill set is better, she handles the ball with more confidence, and shoots it well more consistently. It is the boldness that really stands out for us. Kendyl is now on the attack, both offensively and defensively. She is a prodigious rebounder who can overpower opponents and come up with the ball. And she is a much better finisher around the basket. The overall package has made her our biggest stock riser as Lodermeier moves up a whopping 64 places to #61.   #79 – [player_tooltip player_id='550015' first='Alexis' last='Schaefer'] – The forward from Chaska just looks like a basketball player. We are always on the hunt for prospects with height, length and athleticism. Look out at the court during warmups and you are certain to notice Alexis right away. At 5'11 with long arms and light feet, Schaefer looks the part. A year ago, however, she had a really long way to go to turn potential into productivity. This winter, on a 22-1 squad at Chaska, Alexis is delivering the goods. She's not lighting up the scoreboard, or making headlines, but she's playing effective basketball and showing that she belongs on a deep and talented roster and is a prospect to be reckoned with. That's why Alexis is up 39 spots to #79.   #73 – [player_tooltip player_id='550004' first='Lauren' last='Queensland'] – We hadn't seen the lengthy guard/wing from Grand Meadow for a number of months. In that period of time a player can change a lot, especially in their sophomore year when a many prospects grow taller and fill out physically. That's what's happened for Lauren. Combined with the growth in her skill level, and enhanced confidence and aggressiveness, Queensland's level of performance has skyrocketed up the charts. Even though her senior sister [player_tooltip player_id='302277' first='Kendyl' last='Queensland'] is an experienced leader with great skills and a college commitment (Gustavus) on her resume, I think we have to say that Lauren may now be the Superlarks' go-to girl. She moves up 37 spots to #73 and there is a scholarship in her future.   #74 – [player_tooltip player_id='453781' first='Ella' last='Frazier'] – The crafty guard from Mahtomedi has always been very fast, super quick, ultra-agile. Watch Mahtomedi play and you can't miss her. Ella is everywhere on both sides of the ball, delivering boundless energy and making a positive contribution. But she's not very big. And a lot of the time we have watched her over the years she played too fast and moved too quickly. Yes, that's a thing. Players have to be able to change speeds, adapt situationally, and use their speed and quickness for maximum advantage. Now, as a more seasoned veteran, that is what we see Frazier doing. Now she is a higher-level prospect who can cash in on the tools at her disposal. That's why she makes a giant 33-spot leap to #74.   #65 – [player_tooltip player_id='396438' first='Addison' last='Pilarski'] – Most of the time players move up in the rankings because their level of play improves. Other times it's because we clearly need to correct our previous rating of a player's potential. That's definitely the case with the big forward from Holdingford, who has been one of the most consistently productive players in the state over the past two years. Whether it's AAU or high school, whether she's up against more experienced opponents who are taller, longer or more athletic, it doesn't seem to matter. Pilarski just delivers. She's an outstanding rebounder and a high-percentage finisher. Now she is in the rankings sector that best fits her ability and potential.

When you take in a game involving a ranked player you haven't seen for some time there are basically three scenarios than can play out: 1. The prospect can look pretty much the same as before (not uncommon); 2. She can show incremental improvement, usually in one or two key areas of skill development (what we are looking for); or 3. The player can make you sit up, take notice, and say ‘Wow!' It is option #3 that will get you moved up in the Prep Girls Hoops rankings quicker than expected.