Newcomers we liked at the Suns Spring Showcase

The first weekend of the AAU season can be pretty rough. Some coaches are still trying to learn the names of their new players. Most lament the fact that they haven't had sufficient practice reps yet. As for the players, they're just trying to make the adjustment from high school or travel basketball and to the higher tempo and more physical attributes of the AAU game. Let's just say our expectations are never too high on opening weekend in April. Nevertheless, there were plenty of fresh faces who got their act together in time to make a solid impression at the Minnesota Suns Spring Showcase. Here are a few newcomers we liked best.   [player_tooltip player_id='630285' first='Adele' last='Changamire'] – 2028 guard, OU Elite   We've been hearing about Adele and her 6th grade sister Andie for some time now. This weekend was the first time we have seen her in person. We are pleased to report that Adele has the gifts and potential to make a huge impact going forward. Changamire (pictured above) dressed for varsity at Becker this season as a 7th grader and played a ton on the JV squad. With mass graduations from the Bulldogs upcoming, she has a chance to play big minutes next season. Adele is an elite track and cross country runner with legitimate athleticism, speed, mobility and length. She is a quality shooter with fine handles and the desire to be great. After making a big impact for North Tartan, Changamire has moved to the new OU Elite team out of Brooklyn Park and it is a talented crew with several kids who might be high-end 2028s. We'll circle back to cover all of them in due course, including Park Center standouts Denasia Anderson, [player_tooltip player_id='918680' first='Noraa' last='Ivey'] and Briana Foster plus Amari Johnson of Spring Lake Park.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/04/Maia-Richardson_Northfield.jpg?w=641" alt="" class="wp-image-630477" width="481" height="768" /></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='630284' first='Maia' last='Richardson'] – 2027 guard, MN Fury 2027 Yellow   The 5'7 guard caught our attention early and often at the Suns Spring Showcase and immediately reminded us of another player we watched a ton over the years. Then the lightbulb went off and we realized that Maia is the younger sister of Annika Richardson, the 2021 graduate of Northfield, AAU teammate of Paige Meyer (South Dakota State) and Julia Bengtson (Eastern Illinois), and now an all-conference performer at Wheaton College in Illinois. The resemblance is uncanny, both in looks and in the way they play. Maia isn't flashy. She's not super-fast, either. She probably won't be putting out mix tapes or tweeting about her achievements. She'll just make the plays that win basketball games. With a high IQ, a nice feel for the game, and a certain savviness about her, Richardson got better and better as the weekend progressed. She is a solid all-around performer with a nice frame and a lot of promise. Stay tuned.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/04/Alexa-Juntanen_Rogers.jpg?w=674" alt="" class="wp-image-630478" width="506" height="767" /></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='630225' first='Alexa' last='Juntunen'] – 2027 guard, MN Stars Fleming   Alexa is new to AAU so it wasn't surprising to see the Rogers guard take some time over the weekend to dip her toe in the water, get a little bit comfortable, and begin to figure out what this version of spring and summer basketball is all about. We can't forget just how big of an adjustment it can be for AAU first-timers. By Sunday afternoon, however, she had gone from blending in to standing out and it became clear that Juntunen not only belongs in the thick of the fray but has an opportunity to excel. We noticed Alexa's length immediately. We liked her handles and her quick first step but were caught off guard when she suddenly exploded to the basket with an unexpected burst of athleticism. She then went end-to-end at top speed, weaving through a phalanx of defenders into prime position for a nifty finish. That's what game-breakers do. She followed that up with a solid display of fast-feet, quick-hands defense that generated a steal and an easy bucket. Like most 8th graders, Juntunen needs to fill out and get stronger but that will happen in due course. The results could be really good.   Annie Buff – 2025 forward, Opportunity 10 Black   Standing about 5'11, the Forest Lake sophomore has plenty of size, really nice length and a sizeable frame. Although she made a couple of cameo appearances on varsity for the Rangers this winter, Buff looked on the weekend like she will be ready for a much bigger role next fall. She played with energy and enthusiasm, took care of the basics (she boxed out!), and was a conscientious defender who utilized her substantial wingspan to stymie opponents of all descriptions. Annie moves well, handled the physicality of AAU just fine, and demonstrated a pretty shooting stroke with three-point range. Buff has a nice feel for the game and a high IQ, too. After a big growth spurt Annie is still adapting to her new dimensions but with improved speed and quickness she looks like a very nice 3/4 prospect at the collegiate level.   Olivia Pettey – 2025 forward, Opportunity 10 Black   Across the St. Croix River in Hudson where Pettey hangs her hat in the winter the Raiders had a great season and she was a regular on varsity there. Watching her for the first time on Sunday it was obvious why. Start with her size – 6'1 with a solid build, substantial length and a ton of strength. Pettey isn't going to win a sprint race but she's light on her feet for her size and has no issues getting up and down the floor at pace. Her lateral movement was good and she is a versatile defender with mobility. On offense, she was on the attack constantly and showed off a high-quality mid-range game. She hustled hard for rebounds at both ends of the floor, can block shots, and makes life difficult for opponents in the paint. Olivia also plays soccer and has the endurance to show for it.

The first weekend of the AAU season can be pretty rough. Some coaches are still trying to learn the names of their new players. Most lament the fact that they haven't had sufficient practice reps yet. As for the players, they're just trying to make the adjustment from high school or travel basketball and to the higher tempo and more physical attributes of the AAU game. Let's just say our expectations are never too high on opening weekend in April. Nevertheless, there were plenty of fresh faces who got their act together in time to make a solid impression at the Minnesota Suns Spring Showcase. Here are a few newcomers we liked best.