Summer Kickoff Classic Recap: Part 1

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>My mission this weekend at the Minnesota Stars Summer Kickoff Classic was to try to uncover some untapped talent, find a few players flying under the radar or just flat out needing to be recognized for vast improvement in their game and contributions to their respective teams and programs. I believe I was able to check all the boxes and give a few players that are on the cusp of breaking out of the shadows and into the light some much needed attention. I saw a ton of great games and some even better individual performances. Enough of the small talk, lets get to it! </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='208185' first='Liana' last='Buckhalton']<strong>- wing- 2025 Minnesota Fury UAA</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Playing with the dynamic duo [player_tooltip player_id='205298' first='Jordan' last='Ode'] and [player_tooltip player_id='252379' first='Addison' last='Mack'] has afforded Buckhalton the opportunity to work on her offensive game without any pressure, and for those of us that have been watching, she's made some significant strides. On any great team, someone has to do the dirty work, and that's where Buckhalton thrives. Liana had it all on full display over the weekend helping her team go 3-1, the only loss being a heartbreaker to their arch nemesis, Minnesota Stars 3SSB in the championship game 73-72. Blocks, deflections, steals, rebounds, assists... you name it, she did it. She also chipped in just under 6 points a game in the 4 games. Buckhalton is poised to have a breakout season this winter at Stillwater, I just want to put everyone on notice! </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Maya Jenkins- wing- 2026 - MN Bobcats Elite</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Is she a guard? A forward? How about she's just a baller. Jenkins didn't score a ton of points over the weekend, but she just seemed to always be in the right place at the right time. A timely defensive rotation, a backdoor cut on a sleeping defender, a strong rebound in traffic, Maya did it all; and did it consistently. With teammates [player_tooltip player_id='502549' first='Bella' last='Rice'] and [player_tooltip player_id='502598' first='Kathryn' last='Simonsen'] carrying the scoring load, Jenkins is able to focus on all of the other important elements that helps keep her team competitive. I am looking forward to more from this one and I have no doubt that she will deliver! </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='339131' first='Kate' last='Kapsner'] <strong>- wing - Metro Stars 2025 3SSB</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kate's versatility has been a major factor for the Metro Stars' success in absence of [player_tooltip player_id='296515' first='Hope' last='Counts'] who took her talents to North Tartan. Missing a true post presence, Kapsner's length and court awareness came up big in her team's win versus Minnesota Stars Peterson's well run 2-3 zone. Whether it was with the high/low pass or ducking in behind the defense catching and finishing, it was a heavy dose of Kapsner and [player_tooltip player_id='550025' first='Kendyl' last='Lodermeier'] that ultimately helped the Metro Stars squad pull away from Stars Peterson 49-36. As with most players who can do a little bit of everything, points don't always tell the story, and that's no different here. Kapsner's ability to stretch the defense with her outside shooting and willingness to get busy in the trenches is an invaluable asset. Another solid AAU season can only mean great things for the upcoming high school season where Kapsner will be poised to contribute just a little bit more with the absence of do-it-all guard [player_tooltip player_id='296523' first='Kendall' last='McGee'] rehabbing her injured knee. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='453728' first='Ajiem' last='Agwa']<strong>- guard - Air Minnesota 16U</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I got my first real good look at Agwa during the MLK tournament hosted by St. Kate's back in January when her Austin squad came up just short of knocking off top 10 ranked 2025 player [player_tooltip player_id='296528' first='Sam' last='Wills'] and Visitation 55-53. Agwa gave Visitation all they could handle that day doing it on both ends and this weekend was no different. Jumping passing lanes, driving to the bucket with the purpose of scoring, and just flying around causing havoc is how she makes her money. Over the 4 games she averaged 13 ppg, cashing in just under 6 field goals per contest. Add in the fact that she's improved her range which led to 7 threes made during the tournament and she's shaping herself into a nice all-around threat. Standing about 5'8 with a solid build, she's not afraid of contact. As she continues to improve her ball-handling and decision making, we are witnessing a true "under the radar" player in Agwa on the rise and ready to dance, or maybe I'm just late to the party! </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='339147' first='Camryn' last='Dennin'] <strong>- guard - Metro Stars 2025 3SSB</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Camryn is quietly showing that she might be ready to compete to fill the big shoes at Eden Prairie left behind by the ultra-talented super senior <strong>Molly Lenz</strong> who is now at Illinois State. I watched Dennin successfully get her Metro Stars squad into their offense and make timely on-point passes to shooters in rhythm and cutters alike. She has several capable scorers on her team, so she doesn't look to force bad shots, but has the ability to fire it from deep or get to the rim when the opportunity presents itself. Dennin's poise and leadership helped her squad go 2-2 over the weekend, making it to the Gold division championship before running into a buzz saw at the hands of Minnesota Stars 2026 3SSB (arguably one of the best squads out there regardless of class), led by <strong>LeeLee Bell</strong> and the super-improved [player_tooltip player_id='478390' first='Sinae' last='Hill']. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->