Which newcomers stepped it up in January?

[player_tooltip player_id='550004' first='Lauren' last='Queensland'] isn't exactly a newcomer. In fact, she holds a place in the Prep Girls Hoops Class of 2025 rankings. When I tuned in on Monday night to watch Lauren's Grand Meadow Superlarks do battle with the Houston Hurricanes in Southeastern Minnesota, the player I saw wearing #3 looked very, very different from the player who earned that #111 ranking. Yep, Lauren has improved and grown taller and filled out some. And she's not going to be ranked #111 for long. That's why she leads our look here at some newcomers and stock risers who made an impression in January.   [player_tooltip player_id='550004' first='Lauren' last='Queensland'] – 2025 guard, Grand Meadow   I didn't have a roster in front of me when the game began but #3 caught my eye immediately. She's really long and athletic and pretty bouncy, too. But honestly, I had no idea it was Lauren. Either I'm getting really senile in my old age (probably) or she has taken a step or three forward (definitely). Queensland is the daughter of Grand Meadow coach Ryan Queensland. She's a little longer than sister Riley, who is a junior at Gustavus. She's a little thicker than sister Kendyl, a senior who is heading for Gustavus. And she's probably more athletic than both, although that might generate a debate at the Queensland kitchen table.   At 5'11 as a sophomore, Lauren has plenty of size to excel at the next level. She is a streaky shooter who can light it up from three-point range and is currently averaging just under 14 points per game. She can attack the basket and get to the rim. Ryan says she has developed nice counter and combo moves that have added variety to her offensive tool box. She also has a nose for the ball, understands where to be on the floor, and is a strong rebounder (she had 10 on Monday) who can play every position effectively. Is she a scholarship-level prospect? We're leaning that way but look forward to seeing more in the months ahead.   Here are four newcomers who stood out in January.   Grace Lipke – 2024 guard/wing, Glencoe-Silver Lake   When I was at Glencoe last week Grace caught my eye immediately thanks to her length, athleticism and just how active she was all over the court. The 5'9 guard/wing, who is currently the Panthers' sixth player, is a raw talent who just lacks high-level experience. She just joined the varsity this year and has made a significant impact for coach Jeff Monahan. She's got speed and quickness and plenty of natural gifts. Now she is putting in a ton of time to improve her shooting, understanding of the game, and feel for when to go fast and when to go faster. Lipke is also working on her ball-handling. Coach Monahan reports that Grace is a terrific teammate and three-sport athlete. If basketball becomes the focus, Grace will no doubt make it to the next level. She is a sleeper just waiting to blossom.   [player_tooltip player_id='675954' first='Brooke' last='Mickolichek'] – 2027 guard, Glencoe-Silver Lake   I arrived in Glencoe early enough to catch a half of the JV game and was super-impressed with what I saw from Brooke. The stocky 5'8 guard is physically mature beyond her years and much stronger and more imposing than the average 8th grader. That's a great start. She also has a big motor, strong work ethic, and can flat out score the basketball with several games in the high 20-point range this season. Coach Monahan has brought Mickolichek along at a measured pace, but her role on varsity is growing quickly. Brooke has put a lot of work in on her outside shot and her free-throw shooting and the results are starting to show for both. She's a quiet kid so the on-court communication is a work in progress.   [player_tooltip player_id='862785' first='Natalie' last='Thomforde'] – 2026 guard, Goodhue   Every time I watch Goodhue, Natalie seems to make more and more of an impression on me. Perhaps that's because she is still rounding into form after suffering a broken right collarbone (her shooting side) in September. It has taken a little time for the strength and shooting touch to return, but over the past couple of weeks Thomforde has really stepped it up. The 5'5 guard isn't real big yet, but her exceptionally long arms enable her to be effective defensively in spite of the temporary limitations of size and strength. She is a terrific catch-and-shoot three-point bomber for the Wildcats, which is her primary role at the moment. Thomforde is also a very savvy performer who reads the play well, makes smart decisions, and is good at creating openings for herself and others around her. We're excited about Natalie's future. She should be, too.   [player_tooltip player_id='665717' first='Mackenzie' last='Lodermeier'] – 2027 guard, Goodhue   Like Thomforde, Mackenzie comes off the bench right now for Goodhue where the Lodermeier family name is well-established. She is the latest in a long line of successful sisters, including Sydney (Class of 2018), Lexie (2019) and Kendyl (2025). The 5'5 guard has invested a ton of time in the game and herself, putting in countless hours in the gym working on her handles and her shooting. Mackenzie has shown the ability to knock down big threes at key moments and she is adept at handling the basketball under defensive pressure. She is also strong for her age and has no issues banging and rebounding against older kids. There's no doubt the tools are there for future success; it's just a question of when. Right now finding minutes for Mackenzie on a loaded squad is a challenge Goodhue coach Josh Wieme is dealing with. It's a good problem to have.

Lauren Queensland Lauren Queensland 5'11" | CG Grand Meadow | 2025 State MN isn't exactly a newcomer. In fact, she holds a place in the Prep Girls Hoops Class of 2025 rankings. When I tuned in on Monday night to watch Lauren's Grand Meadow Superlarks do battle with the Houston Hurricanes in Southeastern Minnesota, the player I saw wearing #3 looked very, very different from the player who earned that #111 ranking. Yep, Lauren has improved and grown taller and filled out some. And she's not going to be ranked #111 for long. That's why she leads our look here at some newcomers and stock risers who made an impression in January.