Imported talent made a huge impact on Minnesota AAU

Minnesota AAU has a long history of attracting talent from neighboring states as top prospects from the Dakotas, Wisconsin and to a lesser extent Iowa have crossed borders for better competition and increased exposure. It's a long list headlined by former Notre Dame and now Dallas Wings star Arike Ogunbowale, who suited up for North Tartan several years ago. The 2023 campaign was no different.

We made the decision a few years ago to restrict our AAU post-season awards to players who live and attend high school in Minnesota. For better or worse, that leaves out talented prospects who might otherwise have made their age-group all star teams or been serious contenders for a variety of other accolades. That doesn't mean the interlopers should not be lauded for their achievements. Although there were many more imports who stood out, here are a select few from 8th grade and up who made their mark.

THE TOP 5

LeeLee Bell – 2026 forward, Minnesota Stars 3SSB Hill

The Minot, North Dakota prospect once again led P.J. Hill's squad to a Minnesota state AAU championship and an Adidas national championship, as well. Bell is ranked #1 in North Dakota's Class of 2026 by Prep Girls Hoops and is one of the best prospects in the country. The 6-footer is a rare commodity – a player with a power forward's size and build who has legitimate guard skills. She can put the ball on the floor and beat you one-on-one, finishing at the rim with either hand. She can knock down shots, as well, with a well-honed delivery. Teams struggle to contain Bell while she makes opponents suffer. Over the past few weeks of the AAU season the collegiate offers started to roll in for LeeLee, who will no doubt have the opportunity to play at the highest level.

Rainey Welson – 2025 guard, North Tartan 17U EYBL

The Hortonville, Wisconsin native (pictured above) has been playing for North Tartan long enough that we sometimes forget she's not one of us. The big guard is uber-skilled in so many different ways. She's got size, speed and superior skill. She can be the dominant piece of your offense, or play any position or role you need her to play. Whatever the task at hand, Rainey is going to bury opponents with her physicality and drive and out-skill the vast majority of them, too. Welson has earned the #2 ranking in Wisconsin's Class of 2025. Welson's offensive numbers in AAU are impressive but in high school she is a veritable scoring machine, an uber-productive performer who is among her state's very best.

Olivia LaBlanc – 2027 forward, Minnesota Fury Blue

Unlike Bell – who lives 500 miles from the Twin Cities – or Welson, who has an 8-hour round trip to play AAU in Minnesota, Olivia resides just a few minutes over the Wisconsin border in Hudson. That's not a big journey but the impact she made on Minnesota's AAU scene this summer was bigger than big. Along with our PGH Newcomer of the Year Amisha Ramlall Amisha Ramlall 5'11" | CG Rosemount | 2027 State MN , Olivia led the Fury's top 8th graders to a state championship. She was so consistent all summer, using her size, athleticism, and overt physical presence to bully opponents inside while employing her substantial skill set and shooting ability to be among the top scorers pretty much every week. Olivia is a leader who sets the tone and delivers when her team needs it the most.

Jaiden Haile – 2025 forward, North Tartan 16U EYBL

Hailing from Horace High School in West Fargo, North Dakota, Haile is a sizable power forward who knows how to use her superior physical assets to hammer opponents inside at both ends of the floor while contributing her share of the offensive load and more. Ranked #3 among North Dakota juniors, Haile played last AAU season for Minnesota Starks out of Duluth. This year she transitioned to the top North Tartan team in her age group and didn't miss a beat. She formed a potent inside combination with Abby Hoselton Abby Hoselton 5'11" | PF STMA | 2025 State MN to make life difficult for opponents across the country. Haile's high school numbers are really good – 14 points and 14 rebounds per game and a ton of blocks – but her impact goes way beyond that.

Ashton Safranski Ashton Safranski 5'7" | PG Fargo Davies | 2024 State ND – 2024 guard, Minnesota Stars 3SSB

Another long-time Minnesota AAU participant, the crafty point guard from Davies High School in Fargo, North Dakota is ranked #2 in her state and it's not hard to see why. The 5'7 floor general knows how to control a game, setting the tempo exactly how she wants it, running the show with style and smarts, and getting the ball where it needs to go when it needs to go there. Safranski is an elite shooter who has lived in the gym to develop a great stroke, hone her superior handles, and get a strong feel for the game. Ashton is a next-level prospect who has already committed to Division 2 MSU-Moorhead.

4 MORE STANDOUTS

Lila Posthuma – 2024 forward, Minnesota Suns S40

The 6'1 forward from Prescott, Wisconsin (just across the river from Hastings) is a long-time member of Dre Jefferson's Minnesota Suns S40 team. Over time we have watched her game mature substantially as the lengthy post player got smoother, gained more skill and developed a real feel for the game. She is an elite rim protector who can guard anyone, and a skilled offensive player who can score inside and out. Lila has committed to D1 Bradley University.

Maggie Fricke Maggie Fricke 5'7" | PG Minot | 2025 ND – 2026 guard, North Tartan 16U EYBL

Maggie is a bulldog. The 5'8 point guard from Minot, North Dakota is the 2nd-ranked prospect in the Class of 2025 and she showed us why once again this summer. Fricke handles the ball very well and can shoot threes with the best of them. It is her toughness, physicality and sheer grit that really make the difference for Maggie, who is a strong Division 1 prospect. The motor this kid has is unbelievable. Now entering her 4th season as Minot's starting point guard, the sky is the limit for Fricke.

Ella Carstensen – 2024 guard, North Tartan Elite

Also coming from Hudson, the versatile 5'11 prospect can do it all. She runs the floor, handles the ball, attacks the basket off the dribble and shoots it very well from the outside. Defensively her length and athleticism are real assets that she uses to rebound very effectively at both ends of the floor. She is also a high-level perimeter defender. Playing AAU with North Tartan Elite has been absolutely crucial for Ella given her high school team's conservative approach to the game and she has proven she can compete. Ella is currently ranked #41 by Prep Girls Hoops Wisconsin.

McKenna Johnson McKenna Johnson 6'2" | PF Mandan | 2025 State ND – 2025 forward, North Tartan 16U EYBL

The Mandan , North Dakota native is currently ranked #2 in her state's 2025 prospect ratings. At 6'2 Johnson has the size and length to compete with anyone. She is also very athletic which makes McKenna an intriguing candidate for a variety of college programs. She is highly skilled inside, and can get the better of opponents with her basketball intelligence, vast array of post moves, and solid footwork. A true stretch 4, Johnson can also step outside and make shots with range that extends past the three-point line. Defensively she has the assets to rebound the ball at a high level and own her space inside as well as be an effective shot blocker.