Class of 2026 rankings update: Meet the newcomers

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Minnesota's Class of 2026 is special. From superstars such as [player_tooltip player_id='252381' first='Maddyn' last='Greenway'] and [player_tooltip player_id='205310' first='Tori' last='Oehrlein'] to bigs like [player_tooltip player_id='362575' first='Callie' last='Oakland'] and [player_tooltip player_id='502561' first='Marta' last='Forsline'] and everything in between, we have really enjoyed getting to know this year's incoming sophomores over the past 18 months. While the Top 20 remains basically unchanged this time around, a number of players have jumped out of the pack this AAU season and now enter the Prep Girls Hoops rankings for the first time. We're here to introduce you to the 26 newcomers whose addition now brings the total number of ranked prospects in the Class of 2026 to 100. Here are all of the newcomers beginning with the Top 5 additions.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TOP 5 NEWCOMERS</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#54</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='502543' first='Lauren' last='Beyer'] <strong>– guard, Alexandria (MN Stars 3SSB Hill)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Pictured above, Lauren is our top-rated newcomer at #54, a status she has earned this summer with consistent productivity, impactful performance and the ability to make big plays at big moments. Playing for P.J. Hill's Minnesota Stars 3SSB squad she is often overshadowed by teammates <strong>Lee Lee Bell</strong> and [player_tooltip player_id='478390' first='Sinae' last='Hill'], both of whom are bound for big things at the next level. At Alexandria she plays in the shadows of standouts like [player_tooltip player_id='396428' first='Allie' last='Haabala'] and [player_tooltip player_id='346165' first='Hadley' last='Thul']. But all the 5'7 guard does is work and the results are impressive. Beyer contributes all over the court. She is extremely athetic, super quick, very explosive and utterly fearless. She scores off the bounce, knocks down mid-range jump shots all day long and can light it up from three. Perhaps most importantly, Lauren is a lock-down defender. She is the complete package with a ton of great basketball ahead.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#55</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='717663' first='Le'Sedra' last='Williams'] <strong>– guard, Hopkins (Legacy Hoops Gold)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>When Williams arrived here a couple of years ago from Alaska we were impressed with her potential at AAU tryouts. After launching her Minnesota high school career at White Bear Lake, Le'Sedra migrated to Hopkins where her game is advancing rapidly. She played on a couple of AAU teams last summer before settling in this year with Legacy Hoops 2025 Gold where she has blossomed. The 6-footer has all of the innate ability necessary to be great. Le'Sedra is super long with nice touch and a scorer's mentality. She is a quality outside shooter and can finish at the rim with either hand. Williams is naturally suited to play out on the wing but should eventually be quite versatile. Williams is a gym rat but also a work in progress. With a monster wingspan and quick feet, she has the potential to be an elite defender both down low and out on the perimeter. As her communication skills improve and she learns to perform consistently with high intensity, the possibilities should be more obvious. Her #55 ranking is indicative of that potential.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#70</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='662404' first='Emerson' last='Johnson'] <strong>– guard, Eden Prairie (Fury 2026 Premier)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Watching players like Emerson is a ton of fun, primarily because she moves so well with that certain grace and ease that standout athletes usually have. At 5'9 she is plenty long with light feet, quick hands and a nice feel for the game. Johnson loves to attack. If there's an opening – even the smallest variety – she's going to take it. Thanks to a quick first step, Johnson will more than likely slip through that seam and gain a great opportunity to score. Given any sort of time and space, Emerson can launch smooth threes in quick succession. She has been a go-to performer for coach Sam Dengerud's Fury Premier squad, scoring consistently throughout the summer with a big outburst back at the Lake Slam. Along the way her skills have improved, her confidence has grown, and her decision-making has gotten better. When Emerson fills out she could be exceptional. Johnson makes her rankings debut at #70.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#72</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='667540' first='Reece' last='Watson'] <strong>– guard, Hopkins (Crossfire Gee)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's easy to get lost in a program as deep as Hopkins. That's why AAU is so important for young players. It's an opportunity to prove yourself, gain exposure and get better. Reece has done all three things this summer. Playing for Carlos Gee's Crossfire team, the 5'8 combo guard has put her athleticism, high skill set and ability to bomb it from downtown on full display. Reece has shot the heck out of it all summer. She can create space for herself with ease in a variety of situations and bury opportunities from just about anywhere. One-on-one she is very good, as well, with quick feet, excellent agility and the ability to finish consistently at the basket. Watson also has the tools to be a great defender but needs to focus more intently on a consistent basis in order to maximize that part of her game. Once her defensive intensity matches up to her offensive production Watson will be a player to reckon with. She makes her debut at #72.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#74</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='716895' first='Lexi' last='Mahlen'] <strong>– forward, Fosston ([program_tooltip program_id='713021' first='West' last='Central United'])</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We just wrote about Lexi a couple of days ago in our recaps of the Mill City Invitational where she played very, very well and demonstrated a ton of next-level potential. We love the subtlety of Mahlen's game. She's not going to bring you out of your seat. She's not going to make your mixtape highlights. She's not likely to find her named splashed in the headlines. But man she is going to win you some basketball games. At 5'11, Lexi has size and length. She's athletic enough to get from point A to point B in plenty of time, whether that's in a straight line or laterally. When she arrives at the destination, Mahlen will probably know just what play to make next. She rebounds, shoots and scores at a high level and she's not afraid to bang and crash as necessary. Total all of that up and the sum of the parts is very intriguing. Lexi enters the rankings at #74 but she's likely going to trend upwards in a hurry.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>WELCOME TO THE PARTY</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here are the rest of the newcomers to the Prep Girls Hoops Class of 2026 rankings.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>#78 [player_tooltip player_id='502591' first='Allie' last='Gillette'] – guard, Randolph (MN Stars Joerger)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>#79 [player_tooltip player_id='502598' first='Kathryn' last='Simonsen'] – guard, Eagan (MN Bobcats)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>#80 [player_tooltip player_id='502592' first='Molly' last='Monson'] – guard, Centennial (Fury 2026 Premier)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>#81 [player_tooltip player_id='667491' first='Monica' last='Stang'] – guard, Maple Grove (Fury 2026 UAA)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>#83 [player_tooltip player_id='676689' first='Addison' last='Ruda'] – forward, Monticello (MN Suns Blue Star)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>#84 [player_tooltip player_id='676690' first='Abby' last='Ruda'] – forward, Monticello (MN Suns Blue Star)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>#85 [player_tooltip player_id='717664' first='Izzy' last='Guetzlaff'] – forward, Red Wing (MN Stars Nilsen)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>#86 [player_tooltip player_id='717665' first='Kate' last='Lee'] – guard, Centennial (Fury 2026 Premier)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>#87 [player_tooltip player_id='675882' first='Marisa' last='Tusler'] – guard, West Lutheran ([program_tooltip program_id='712722' first='North' last='Tartan'] Elite)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>#88 [player_tooltip player_id='658914' first='Mira' last='Jackson'] – guard, Roseville (MN Stars Nilsen)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>#90 [player_tooltip player_id='502596' first='Kiersti' last='Joerger'] – guard, Visitation (MN Stars Nilsen)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>#91 [player_tooltip player_id='717668' first='Evelyn' last='Miller'] – forward, Orono ([program_tooltip program_id='712665' first='Metro' last='Stars'] Wiese)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>#92 [player_tooltip player_id='643393' first='Brooke' last='Goerish'] – guard, Spring Lake Park ([program_tooltip program_id='712722' first='North' last='Tartan'] Elite)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>#93 [player_tooltip player_id='502563' first='Lauren' last='Hust'] – forward, Rochester Lourdes ([program_tooltip program_id='712722' first='North' last='Tartan'] Southeast)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>#94 [player_tooltip player_id='717675' first='Harmoni' last='Mayberry'] – guard, Park Center ([program_tooltip program_id='714562' first='FBC' last='North'] 2025)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>#95 [player_tooltip player_id='717676' first='Addison' last='Bryfczynski'] – forward, Waconia (Legacy Hoops Elite)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>#96 [player_tooltip player_id='687389' first='Sophia' last='Olson'] – guard, Lakeville North ([program_tooltip program_id='712665' first='Metro' last='Stars'] Wiese)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>#97 [player_tooltip player_id='717688' first='Mya' last='Jacobson'] – forward, Rochester Century ([program_tooltip program_id='712722' first='North' last='Tartan'] Southeast)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>#98 [player_tooltip player_id='502550' first='Mia' last='Banks'] – forward, Rochester Mayo ([program_tooltip program_id='712722' first='North' last='Tartan'] Elite)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>#99 [player_tooltip player_id='502600' first='Jayda' last='Wilson'] – forward, Eastview (MN Diamond Elite)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>#100 [player_tooltip player_id='717689' first='Kalli' last='McGrane'] – guard, North St. Paul ([program_tooltip program_id='714562' first='FBC' last='North'])</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->