Grassroots Recap: Best SF's I've Seen This Spring

<p>Now that we have gotten through the spring AAU season and have moved into summer ball for the month of June I would like to go back and give some players their flowers for how well they competed this spring. Over the next few weeks I am going to be making a series of articles that will have a list of some of the best players I saw this spring at their perspective positions. </p>   <p>(In total for the series there will be 6 articles, covering the 5 positions on the court, plus the CG position.) Next up in the series is the small forward position. In no particular order, lets meet the players.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='502228' first='Brynlie' last='Hadenfeldt'] - 2026 - Lady Martin Bros 15U UAA</h2>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='502228' first='Brynlie' last='Hadenfeldt'] is currently a player that could play a number of positions but at the end of her high school career, moving toward college, she should excel at the small forward spot in my eyes. Hadenfeldt has good size and strength. She has the ability to score at all three levels on the floor but really holds her own with her back to the basket, or passing from the perimeter to her teammates that are cutting. When Hadenfeldt first got into high school there was a chance she would get to being a full out center but as times goes on, she shows more and more that her guard skill-set is here to stay. This spring she has been killing it and I expect that to continue. </p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='455686' first='Juliette' last='Huff'] - 2025 - [program_tooltip program_id='714218' first='Lincoln' last='Basketball Elite'] 17U</h2>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='455686' first='Juliette' last='Huff'] falls into this article based on her ceiling and the ability I think she is going to be able to put together over time. Huff, is lengthy with the ability to spread the floor and knock down a three from all over the perimeter. If she ends up continuing to work hard and focuses on the right things, then we are talking about a player who could have some big seasons over the next few years in Illinois. We will just have to wait and see.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='662790' first='Hayven' last='Harden'] - 2025 - Illinois GameTime 17U</h2>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='662790' first='Hayven' last='Harden'] put on some really solid performances in the contests that I saw her play in this spring. She was a force on the floor that didn't take no for an answer when trying to get to the hoop. With that being said, she didn't force it. She made the right choices every time they were presented in front of her and that stood out above most. Another big part of Harden's game is her physicality. She isn't afraid to get her hands dirty and take some contact in the paint. This July Harden will lace up with her Illinois GameTime squad again in hopes to putting together another solid month of AAU ball. Something more then do-able. </p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='502095' first='Emily' last='Larsen'] - 2026 - Lady Martin Bros 15U UAA</h2>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='502095' first='Emily' last='Larsen'] is another player that I think could fall into several different category right now when talking about position but for the time-being, I like her size and skill set as a small forward. She has that mix of great size, speed and strength while being able to dribble, distribute, and score from all three levels. Her versatility is a major key to her game and that is something always constantly being displayed when she is on the court. Moving forward, I expect the momentum that Larsen has had to keep going, leading her into a really nice sophomore year at CR-Prairie. </p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='638015' first='Maryne' last='Szalo'] - 2026 - [program_tooltip program_id='713918' first='Waukee' last='Jam'] 2025 </h2>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='638015' first='Maryne' last='Szalo'] is going to find the floor a lot over these next few seasons in high school at Waukee. Szalo is an interesting prospect. Good size at around 5'10 with a nice understanding of the game. She usually makes the right choices with the ball in her hands while showing glimpses of some really special stuff. Over the next year or two, I expect Szalo to put it all together. She has the skill set and capabilities to become a well-rounded player that is hard to take off the floor for a coach because of how many things she can do for her teams. Keep on eye her and her Waukee team, I have a feeling this season is going to be a good one for them.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Serena Heeren - 2024 - Nebraska Hoops Elite 17U</h2>   <p>Serena Heeren is a forward this spring that is picking up interest and offers from quite a few places. Heeren is a 5'11 forward with a savvy-ness to her when she has the ball in her hands. She makes quicks moves in small spaces to beat her opponents while always showing a strong first step toward the hoop. In general, she has the ability to be placed all over the court but she is at her best while going toward the middle of the floor. I'm interested to see where she is going to fall in the end but whatever college programs gets her, is getting a steal. A player that works hard, is dedicated to the game, with some skill and discipline. She is going to be making an impact as soon as she sees the court. </p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Autumn Dibb - 2025 - 24:UP 2024 AAU</h2>   <p>I'm aware that some readers might not agree that Autumn Dibb is a forward. She stands at around 5'10 with alot of guard skills but when I saw her play this spring, she was grabbing the ball in the mid-post and going to work. She was more physical than almost everyone else on the court at all times, while finishing a plethora of AND1's, after taking contact at the hoop. Dibbs has a lot of offensive moves in her "bag", that she can pull out at any moment. When I caught her it must of been a situation where she was thrown to play a CG/SF spot, but either way, she killed it.</p>

Now that we have gotten through the spring AAU season and have moved into summer ball for the month of June I would like to go back and give some players their flowers for how well they competed this spring. Over the next few weeks I am going to be making a series of articles that will have a list of some of the best players I saw this spring at their perspective positions.