AAU State Prelims: Handicapping the 2025s (16U)
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More than 50 teams will take to the court this weekend at the AAU State Prelims in the 16U Division representing a vast cross section of talent from the Class of 2025. How many of those units have a realistic…
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Continue ReadingMore than 50 teams will take to the court this weekend at the AAU State Prelims in the 16U Division representing a vast cross section of talent from the Class of 2025. How many of those units have a realistic shot of winning the whole thing? Precious few!
As we wrote about in our preview of the U17s, we’ll remind you that the top six finishers in last year’s tournament are automatically seeded into the so-called “Super Pools” to begin this year’s event. If teams are no longer in existence, others are bumped up based on last year’s performance, and alternates are determined. Rosters change from year to year which obviously impacts a team’s performance. With that in mind, here are 10 teams worthy of the conversation in a semi-scientific look at how the 16U Division could shake out.
Top 6 seeds based on 2022 results:
1. North Tartan 2025 EYBL
2. MN Stars 2025 3SSB
3. Fury 2025 UAA
4. Crossfire 2025 Tusler
5. Crossfire 2025 Mueller
6. North Tartan 2025 Elite
THIS YEAR’S FAVORITES
Fury 2025 UAA
Any team led by Addison Mack Addison Mack 5'9" | PG Minnehaha Academy | 2025 State MN and Jordan Ode Jordan Ode 5'11" | CG Maple Grove | 2025 State MN is a team to be reckoned with. The 3rd-ranked Ode of Maple Grove and 4th-ranked Mack of Minnehaha are the two highest-rated prospects playing in the 16U Division, and their lengthy list of elite college offers reflects that. While they will no doubt lead coach Tim Ellefson’s squad in their quest for a title, there are plenty of other stars in a stellar lineup that returns eight players from one year ago. These include St. Thomas commit Autumn McCall Autumn McCall 6'2" | PF Centennial | 2025 State MN (#11), Liana Buckhalton Liana Buckhalton 6'0" | CG Stillwater | 2025 State MN (#12), Keagan McVicker Keagan McVicker 5'9" | CG Hastings | 2025 State MN (#14) and Rae Ehrman Rae Ehrman 5'9" | SF Eden Prairie | 2025 State MN (#20). Guards Annika Peper Annika Peper 5'7" | CG Stillwater | 2025 State MN (#80) and Addison Hoof Addison Hoof 5'5" | CG Lester Prairie | 2025 State MN (#55) are proven performers. Two new faces on this year’s version of the Fury have each added something extra with forward Anna Greene Anna Greene 6'0" | SF Mahtomedi | 2025 State MN (#27) enhancing the team’s post presence and Gabrielle Fineday Gabrielle Fineday 5'8" | SG Cass Lake-Bena | 2025 State MN (#49) bringing elite shooting from beyond the arc.
North Tartan 2025 EYBL
North Tartan’s premier 2025 group looks a little different this year but the core of a state championship team remains. Now led by former Cooper High School coach Kiara Buford, the squad features five Top 10 prospects from the Class of 2025: #6 Tori Schlagel Tori Schlagel 5'9" | CG Eden Prairie | 2025 State MN , #7 Bree Bowman Bree Bowman 6'2" | SF Prior Lake | 2025 State MN , #8 Sophie Hawkinson Sophie Hawkinson 5'8" | CG Wayzata | 2025 State MN , #9 Abby Hoselton Abby Hoselton 5'11" | PF STMA | 2025 State MN and #10 Hadley Thul Hadley Thul 6'2" | SG Alexandria | 2025 State MN . Add 2026 #3 Lanelle Wright Lanelle Wright 5'8" | PG Minnetonka | 2026 State MN at point guard and you have a really strong base. This year they’ve added one of the rising stars in Minnesota’s sophomore class, 16th-ranked Hope Counts Hope Counts 6'2" | SF Providence Academy | 2025 State MN of Providence Academy. Three North Dakota imports are making their presence felt, as well: 2025 #2 McKenna Johnson and #3 Jaiden Haile and 2026 #2 Maggie Fricke. This EYBL team may not have Maddyn Greenway Maddyn Greenway 5'8" | PG Providence Academy | 2026 State MN any longer but they do have a ton of length, a lot of skill and a boatload of D1 prospects.
THE CONTENDERS
MN Stars 2025 3SSB
The former Stars Borowicz team, now coached by Hamline University assistant Josh Hersch, has a long history of success. Unfortunately the centerpiece of that run of excellence will not be in the lineup this year. Kendall McGee Kendall McGee 5'10" | CG Benilde-St. Margaret's | 2025 State MN of Benilde-St. Margaret’s, the #2 prospect in the Prep Girls Hoops Class of 2025, is out with an ACL injury. That’s a big blow, but it’s not as if the Stars don’t have the other pieces in place to make a run at the title. 2025 #35 Savannah Borowicz Savannah Borowicz 5'8" | SG Jordan | 2025 State MN of Jordan is coming off an admirable high school campaign and she will run the show from the point. Out on the wing is 5th-rated Sam Wills Sam Wills 6'0" | SG Visitation | 2025 State MN of Visitation who received another D1 offer on Thursday. That’s a stellar one-two punch. #22 Tatum Woodson Tatum Woodson 5'9" | CG Hopkins | 2025 State MN , #32 Kendra Harvey Kendra Harvey 5'10" | CG Byron | 2025 State MN and #66 Anna Trachsel Anna Trachsel 5'7" | CG Prior Lake | 2025 State MN are standout guards. #24 Ella Keenan Ella Keenan 6'0" | PF Chaska | 2025 State MN gives the Stars presence up front. And newcomers Elise Dieterle Elise Dieterle 6'1" | SF Stillwater | 2025 State MN (#26), Leilani Abraham Leilani Abraham 5'8" | PG St. Anthony Village | 2025 State MN (#47) and emerging talent Harley Wock Harley Wock 5'11" | SF Minnetonka | 2025 State MN (#92) offer a diverse skill set.
Crossfire 2025 Mueller
Coming off a top five finish one year ago, Todd Mueller’s squad returns nine players this spring and the one newcomer is a huge addition – 2025 #23 Gracie Winge Gracie Winge 5'10" | CG Lakeville North | 2025 State MN , a Division 1 prospect who migrated to Crossfire from North Tartan. The Lakeville North guard is joined by her high school teammates Elayna Boe Elayna Boe 6'0" | SG Lakeville North | 2025 State MN (ranked #36) and Aduke Ojullu Aduke Ojullu 6'1" | SF Lakeville North | 2025 State MN (#43) along with Lakeville South stalwart Danielle Coleman Danielle Coleman 6'1" | SG Lakeville South | 2025 State MN (#28). Much-improved Josie Horner Josie Horner 5'9" | SG Prior Lake | 2025 State MN (#147 and rising) of Prior Lake played very well when we watched a couple of weeks ago. Five veterans provide experience, reliability, and depth: Macie Miller Macie Miller 5'8" | CG Bloomington Kennedy | 2025 State MN (#117), Clara Mueller, Rae Skattum Rae Skattum 5'7" Shakopee | 2025 MN , Hannah Hansen and Maggie Griffin. The thing that always impresses us about Mueller’s team is how well they play together, how hard they work, and the maturity they display on the floor. That’s a recipe for success everywhere the game is played.
WHO ELSE MIGHT CHALLENGE?
North Tartan 2025 Elite
The so-called “second” team from North Tartan would be a top team for most other clubs. Coached by former St. Thomas standout Macy Hatelstad, the Elite team made the top six last year. The core of the roster is really solid anchored by point guard Cierra Kortan Cierra Kortan 5'8" | CG Sauk Centre | 2025 State MN of Sauk Centre, the #37-rated prospect in the 2025 class. Alexandria’s Chloe Scholl Chloe Scholl 5'9" | CG Alexandria | 2025 State MN (#59) and forward Addyson Kath Addyson Kath 5'11" | SG Minnewaska | 2025 State MN (#64) of Minnewaska are key pieces as is Lily Osterman Lily Osterman 5'8" | CG Elk River | 2025 State MN (#130) of Elk River and Camree Miller of Alexandria. The biggest news over the off-season was the addition of North Branch guard Ella Kuhlman Ella Kuhlman 5'8" | PG North Branch | 2025 State MN . The #34 prospect in the class is a scholarship-level point guard and a real difference maker.
Crossfire 2025 Tusler
This team finished in the final four one year ago and cannot be underestimated. The squad is anchored by the highly-touted Hanna triplets of Maple Grove – #33 Lexi Hanna Lexi Hanna 5'9" | SG Maple Grove | 2025 State MN , #40 Bella Hanna Bella Hanna 5'10" | SF Maple Grove | 2025 State MN and #60 Addie Hanna Addie Hanna 5'6" | PG Maple Grove | 2025 State MN – who are great leaders with skill, grit and the ability to score the basketball. Guard Ella Goodnature Ella Goodnature 5'10" | CG Wayzata | 2025 State MN (#91) of Wayzata is coming off a breakthrough high school season. One question mark is what kind of impact losing forward Anna Greene Anna Greene 6'0" | SF Mahtomedi | 2025 State MN to the Fury will have. It’s not easy replacing a scholarship-level post but newcomer Allison Berns Allison Berns 6'0" | PF Wayzata | 2025 State MN (#114) of Wayzata is an emerging talent. The other key addition is speedy guard Ella Frazier Ella Frazier 5'6" | CG Mahtomedi | 2025 State MN (#74) of Mahtomedi, who is a force on both sides of the ball.
MN Stars 2025 Peterson
This is the former Stars DeSart squad now coached by AAU veteran Barry Peterson, who comes over from the Minnesota Comets. The team is anchored by crafty guards Aubrey Burkhart Aubrey Burkhart 5'6" | SG Southwest Christian | 2025 State MN (#115) of Southwest Christian and Sarah Hyde Sarah Hyde 5'11" | SG Wayzata | 2025 State MN (#78) of Wayzata. They’ve got length from Kendra Overskei Kendra Overskei 6'0" | SF Maple Grove | 2025 State MN (#52) of Maple Grove, Rae Pearce Rae Pearce 6'0" | SG Orono | 2025 State MN (#86) of Orono, and Celia Lind Celia Lind 5'11" | SF Holy Angels | 2025 State MN (#91) of Holy Angels. The addition of forward Isabelle Kirchner Isabelle Kirchner 5'11" | SG Two Rivers | 2025 State MN (#100) of Two Rivers is also helpful. Although they will miss the departed Lydia Schmitter Lydia Schmitter 5'8" | CG United Christian Academy | 2025 State MN , this is a team that could make noise.
TEAMS THAT COULD SUPRISE
Metro Stars 2025 3SSB – Coached by Alexis Garcia of Hopkins, this is a talented group poised for a breakthrough. The addition of elite 8th grader Ava Cupito Ava Cupito 5'10" | CG Hopkins | 2027 State MN and rising star Kendyl Lodermeier Kendyl Lodermeier 5'11" | CG Goodhue | 2025 State MN (#61) to the lineup is huge. The core group includes the likes of #25 Brooklynn Holmberg Brooklynn Holmberg 5'11" | SG Prior Lake | 2025 State MN , #46 Brandi Washington Brandi Washington 5'5" | CG Fridley | 2025 State MN , #48 Vanessa Jordan Vanessa Jordan 5'7" | CG Eden Prairie | 2025 State MN , #51 Rory Goddard Rory Goddard 5'9" | CG Wayzata | 2025 MN , #54 Kate Kapsner Kate Kapsner 5'11" | SF Benilde-St. Margaret's | 2025 State MN , Chloe Netzinger Chloe Netzinger 5'7" | SG Rogers | 2025 State MN (#119) and Camryn Dennin Camryn Dennin 5'7" | SG Eden Prairie | 2025 State MN (#144 and rising).
North Tartan SE 2025 – Russ Spear’s group from Southeastern Minnesota looked awfully good at times at the recent Spring Showdown. Wisconsin guard Anna Fronk directs the show for a team with a lot of strong guards including Makenzie Carrier Makenzie Carrier 5'6" | PG Kasson-Mantorville | 2025 State MN (#88), Mya Jacobson and Marissa Shute Marissa Shute 5'6" | CG Austin | 2025 State MN (#141). The addition of Bryn Guse Bryn Guse 5'8" | SG Red Wing | 2025 State MN of Red Wing and the continued improvement of Caledonia’s Josie Foster Josie Foster 5'10" | CG Caledonia | 2025 State MN (#94) are notable.
Rise 2025 Jeddeloh – The top Minnesota Rise team in this age group is anchored by Top 40 prospect Annika Southworth Annika Southworth 5'8" | PG St. Peter | 2025 State MN of St. Peter along with Lainey Braulick Lainey Braulick 5'9" | SG BOLD | 2025 State MN (#139 and rising), who led BOLD to the state high school tournament this year. Other key pieces include Madelyn Malmgren Madelyn Malmgren 6'0" | PF St. James | 2025 State MN (#63), , Emily Anderson Emily Anderson 6'0" | SF Martin County West | 2025 State MN (#84), Rylie Cother Rylie Cother 5'9" | CG Jackson Cty Central | 2025 State MN (#97 and rising), Morgan Hulke Morgan Hulke 5'8" | SF New Ulm | 2025 State MN (#104) and Zoe Verhasselt Zoe Verhasselt 5'7" | CG Hutchinson | 2025 State MN (#118).