Players to Watch at Summer Jam
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This week possesses one of the biggest AAU tournaments of the month, Summer Jam. Over the next few days, I want to highlight a few kids from Wisconsin and around the Midwest. There will be standout talent from our state,…
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Continue ReadingThis week possesses one of the biggest AAU tournaments of the month, Summer Jam. Over the next few days, I want to highlight a few kids from Wisconsin and around the Midwest. There will be standout talent from our state, Minnesota, Iowa, and the Dakotas, with all the top pools going directly into bracket play in a 16-team tournament. Let’s discuss some kids to watch if you’ll be in the Twin Cities this week, starting with some outstanding Midwest kids, including a few Wisconsin kids to watch.
Ashlyn Koupal Ashlyn Koupal 6'3" | SG Wagner | 2026 State SD
I first saw Koupal last summer in the final tournament down in Des Moines, and when the first thing you notice is her size and length. After that, the game tips off, and she handles the ball, her touch around, shooting from the perimeter, rebounding with toughness, blocking shots, and dominating. I’m sure people in her Samford Sports program knew that college coaches gaining serious interest wouldn’t take long, and a kid from South Dakota receiving multiple offers, including one from the reigning Big Ten regular season champions, Indiana, may have surprised some people in the region, but this is just the beginning. I’ve been waiting to see her play again since last July.
Nataya Donaldson Nataya Donaldson 5'8" | CG Beaver Dam | 2026 State WI
Donaldson made a statement almost the second the season started and ran with the opportunity given to her. The Beaver Dam native does an excellent job playing through contact and battling through traffic. The guard is also a kid who’s a significant threat to punish teams from the 3-point line and can shoot defenses out of a game in a hurry if they lose track of her.
EllaMay Cooper
Last year’s Summer Jam was the first time I saw the younger Cooper play. She’s one of the most press-resistant kids I’ve ever seen, and even against some of the best teams in the region had a hard time forcing her into mistakes as a seventh grader. Since she’s still as young as she is, there will be a natural progression as Cooper gets older in things like strength, which will help her improve in high school.
LeeLee Bell
I don’t know how many kids are better than Bell in her class nationally, but I know it’s a small number. You won’t find many kids her size with that amount of athleticism, force, skill, and footwork. She dominated over in Milwaukee during the USJN April Live Period in April. Of all the kids at Summer Jam, the Minot native is the kid I’m most excited to see this weekend.