Who was trending upwards at the Meltdown?
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The NCAA live viewing periods in July are all about being seen by the right people at the right time while playing your best basketball. In a perfect world that’s how it works. At the North Tartan Meltdown/AAU National Championships…
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Continue ReadingThe NCAA live viewing periods in July are all about being seen by the right people at the right time while playing your best basketball. In a perfect world that’s how it works. At the North Tartan Meltdown/AAU National Championships this weekend, there were plenty of players who managed to do just that in front of a throng of Division 1 coaches who came to the Twin Cities in search of talent. From the high major giants like Arizona, UCLA and Texas to regional mid-majors like Drake, South Dakota State, UW-Green Bay and the like, they showed up in droves to see some of Minnesota’s best. These players were among the prospects who made the most of their opportunities and are trending upward.
Tori McKinney Tori McKinney 6'1" | CG Minnetonka | 2024 State MN – 2024 guard, Minnetonka
The point guard from North Tartan 2024 EYBL is the highest-ranked prospect among Minnesota’s seniors-to-be who has yet to make a college commitment. That’s likely to change real soon, but at the Meltdown it made her the subject of much scrutiny. As she has all spring and summer, McKinney looked every bit like a high-major talent. Ranked #4 in the Class, McKinney is the best defender by far. On offense the 6-footer is an elite facilitator who scores as necessary and makes everyone around her a whole lot better. While 2025 #1 Aaliyah Crump Aaliyah Crump 6'1" | SF Minnetonka | 2025 State MN and 2026 #1 Maddyn Greenway Maddyn Greenway 5'8" | PG Providence Academy | 2026 State MN were drawing plenty of oohs and aahs for their outstanding play, it was McKinney who was doing all of the necessary but less-glamorous tasks that help others perform at a peak level. Whoever lands Tori for their program is going to be one happy coach.
Jordan Ode Jordan Ode 5'11" | CG Maple Grove | 2025 State MN – 2025 guard, Maple Grove
The third-ranked prospect among Minnesota’s incoming juniors, Ode was once again outstanding on behalf of Minnesota Fury 2025 UAA. The squad only participated in three games at the Meltdown before leaving to fulfill their UAA Circuit finals obligations in Cincinnati. They won them all in large part (as usual) to the play of Ode and her teammate Addison Mack Addison Mack 5'9" | PG Minnehaha Academy | 2025 State MN . Ode is highly athletic, extremely versatile and has one of the biggest motors around. Her desire to win, and willingness to do whatever it takesto do so, is unmatched. That’s one of the reasons why she has garnered more high-major offers over the past few weeks. Jordan averaged 13 points per game this weekend, which is par for the course for the 5’11 combo guard.
Tucker Downs Tucker Downs 5'11" | CG Mankato West | 2026 State MN – 2026 guard, Mankato West
We have been projecting greatness for the athletic guard/wing for the past two years and those bold prognostications are now bearing fruit. There were plenty of coaches on hand for every Minnesota Rise Wright contest this weekend and neither Tucker nor her teammates disappointed. They knocked off a strong All-Iowa Attack 10th EYBL squad 75-70 to capture the 15U Platinum Division crown, heady stuff for a non-circuit team against one of the country’s elite clubs. Downs played a key role in that as she and 15th-ranked Brooklyn Lewis Brooklyn Lewis 5'7" | PG New Ulm | 2026 State MN put up 30 ppg to lead the Rise to new heights. Many coaches, including high major programs, were watching Downs live for the first time this weekend and her recruiting activity is bound to blow up. Currently ranked #11 in the Class, Tucker is making a strong case that she should be elevated in the fall.
Chloe Johnson Chloe Johnson 5'11" | PG Duluth Marshall | 2028 MN – 2028 guard, Duluth Marshall
Nobody drew a bigger audience at the Meltdown than the 13-year-old who was playing four years up (yes we said four!) for All-Iowa Attack 17U EYBL as curious coaches packed the bleachers to see what the buzz is all about. Johnson moved from the regionally-based Minnesota Starks team out of Duluth to the national power from Ames just last week. What she’s done over the past few days is truly remarkable. No, she didn’t dominate but Chloe looked right at home on both sides of the ball, averaging 11 points per game and successfully defending the likes of Tree of Hope standout and Oregon commit Katie Fiso. We asked several coaches if they’d seen such a young player have that type of success playing at such a high level. The one name that came up the most was Sabrina Ionescu, the Oregon legend and New York Liberty star. Enough said.
Mya Moore Mya Moore 5'10" | PG Orono | 2026 State MN – 2026 guard, Orono
One of Minnesota’s most dynamic point guards, the incoming sophomore from North Tartan 2026 EYBL was gaining admirers every time she stepped on the floor. Moore (pictured above) has the ball on a string, with the ability to make the right play at the right time with a high degree of success because she is way more skilled than the vast majority of opponents she faces. Ranked #6 in Minnesota’s Class of 2026, Moore averaged over 13 points per game at the Meltdown and did an outstanding job of facilitation for an uber-talented group that includes #4 Kate Amelotte Kate Amelotte 5'11" | SF Wayzata | 2026 State MN , #5 Cail Jahnke Cail Jahnke 6'2" | CG St. Michael-Albertville | 2026 State MN , #8 Morgan Staloch Morgan Staloch 6'0" | PF Jordan | 2026 State MN , #9 Vienna Murray Vienna Murray 6'0" | SG East Ridge | 2026 State MN and likely 2027 #1 Mya Wilson Mya Wilson 6'1" | CG Hill-Murray | 2027 State MN . Moore has overcome early misperceptions that she might be too sleight to excel at the next level and showed once again this weekend that she is now a slam-dunk Division 1 talent. This kid can ball!
Samantha Voll Samantha Voll 5'9" | CG Monticello | 2026 State MN – 2026 guard, Monticello
Sam might be the least-known elite prospect in the state right now, but that’s going to change quickly. Playing up a year for Minnesota Comets Roberts 2025, Voll had her first real exposure to Division 1 coaches this weekend and she made a really nice impression for the few who took the time to see what she is capable of. At 5’10, Voll has length and size, is super-athletic, shows off a ton of toughness and possesses plenty of swagger. Voll scored 75 points in five games at the Meltdown, just one behind 16U Platinum Division leader Lauren Hillesheim Lauren Hillesheim 5'10" | SG Hopkins | 2025 State MN of Legacy Hoops. Currently ranked #24 in the Class, we’d expect her to rise quickly once she has more opportunity to show what she can do against elite-level prospects. That’s what the likes of Jordan Zubich Jordan Zubich 5'11" | SG Mountain Iron-Buhl | 2024 State MN (North Carolina commit) and Madison Mathiowetz (South Dakota State sophomore) had to do and Voll is trending in the same direction as they did.