PGH Legacy Region Finals: The best of last-chance 17U

The last chance. That's what 17U represents for college basketball prospects enduring their final summer of AAU, attempting to make one last great impression that leads to just the right next-level opportunity. July is the most important month in that quest. These four players kicked off their final month of AAU with standout performances last weekend at the PGH Circuit Legacy Region Finals in Wayzata.   Lucy Leininger – 2024 forward, Chapman Academy Gold Elite   Mission accomplished. If the ultimate goal is a college scholarship, Lucy put the exclamation point on that objective on Monday immediately following the conclusion of the tournament. That's when she announced her commitment to MSU-Mankato. The pronouncement was a fitting conclusion to a great weekend for Leininger, who hails from Germantown, WI where UConn commit KK Arnold grabbed most of the attention in recent times.   Ranked #28 in the Class of 2024 by PGH Wisconsin, Leininger is versatile 5'11 forward. Although she averaged over 12 points per game, and shot better than 50% from the field last winter, scoring isn't what Lucy is known for. No, her calling card is defense and she is so, so good at it. Leininger is one of Wisconsin's best shot blockers, not surprising given her length, athleticism and elevation ability that makes it possible for her to guard players two, three or four inches taller. Her rebounding is equally impressive. Our colleague Brady Peterson has called her one of Wisconsin's premier rim protectors. Based on what we saw this weekend, we don't doubt it. What makes it all work for Lucy is her intensity and anticipation. We saw her execute a couple of textbook steals on Sunday that led to easy transition baskets. And we watched her put the ball in the basket, too. We expect Lucy to excel in the Northern Sun Conference when she arrives in Southern Minnesota in 2024.   [player_tooltip player_id='461383' first='Bella' last='DeHaan'] – 2024 forward, Minnesota Diamond Elite   Bella has to be one of the least-known, most-unheralded next-level prospects in Minnesota. We should take some blame for that because we just haven't given her enough visibility. Sorry Bella! This weekend she demonstrated all the areas of her game that have improved over the past year or so: her footwork, finishing at the rim and her shooting prowess. No doubt there are others. Most of all DeHaan displayed an enhanced level of confidence that is palpable. She's more composed, calmer and more effective overall. There are 150 schools in the state where Bella would be a starter, but the 6-footer plays at Lakeville North where Vanderbilt commit [player_tooltip player_id='335641' first='Trinity' last='Wilson'] is the post with the most and [player_tooltip player_id='396430' first='Aduke' last='Ojullu'] is a rising star. If Bella plays this well going forward, though, it will be difficult for new North coach Andy Berkvam to keep her off the floor. Currently ranked #171 in the class, DeHaan is definitely trending in the right direction.   [player_tooltip player_id='582840' first='Audrie' last='Helmrichs'] – 2024 forward, Iowa Prep Red   Hailing from Edgewood-Colsburg High School in Iowa, about an hour east of Waterloo, Audrie is a 5'11 forward who joined the Prep Girls Hoops Iowa 2024 rankings in March. Currently rated #60, she certainly showed why at the Legacy Region Finals. Helmrichs isn't flashy. She just gets the job done in the most efficient way possible. With a great sense of timing, and the willingness to mix it up inside, Audrie is an outstanding rebounder. On the offensive end of the floor she is just as effective down low, positioning herself well and demonstrating the patience to wait for the right opportunity to put the ball up. That is such an underrated skill given how often we see post players just spit the ball randomly up towards the hoop at the first sign of trouble, the outcome of which is rarely any good. That combination of assets manifested itself last winter when Audrie averaged a double-double for the Vikings, at 11.5 ppg on 58.5% shooting and 11.2 rebounds to boot. That's a recipe for success at every level.   [player_tooltip player_id='339197' first='Olivia' last='Wren'] – 2024 guard, Minnesota Diamond Elite   We've become so accustomed to seeing Olivia do her thing for Diamond Elite that we sometimes forget just how much potential she has to be successful at the next level. Maybe it's because Wren is so smooth. She practically glides across the court with grace and athleticism, the kind of exceptionalism that makes you forget just how difficult it is to accomplish what she accomplishes. And make no mistake, Wren accomplishes a ton. We're not the only ones who appreciate what the 5'10 guard from Minneapolis Roosevelt can do. At PGH Live earlier this year, Ohio scout Angie Saiter said this of Wren: “Where do I begin? She has so many moves to choose from! She slithers between multiple players, making difficult shots in the paint look easy, buries outside shots, active hands on defense, and is all over the court. Baller!!” Yep. Wren scores, facilitates, leads and defends. After entering the PGH Minnesota rankings in the fall of 2021 at #109, Olivia rose to #78 last summer. Now she's at #47 and this year the college coaches have been paying a lot closer attention. The opportunities are sure to follow because Wren is a scholarship-level prospect with a very bright future.

The last chance. That's what 17U represents for college basketball prospects enduring their final summer of AAU, attempting to make one last great impression that leads to just the right next-level opportunity. July is the most important month in that quest. These four players kicked off their final month of AAU with standout performances last weekend at the PGH Circuit Legacy Region Finals in Wayzata.