PGH Freshman Showcase: The best of Team #1 and #2

We saw a ton of great stuff on Sunday at the Prep Girls Hoops Freshman Showcase. With nearly 120 players from Minnesota and surrounding states on hand, there was plenty to watch and a whole lot to digest. My writing hand is definitely cramping from taking notes on 12 teams for six hours! Kudos to Ally McGinnis for the big assist with that. It's always a challenge figuring out what to highlight in our recaps. This year we've decided to break the Freshman Showcase down on a team-by-team basis and look at standout performers, stock risers, and a nugget or two about other players who got themselves noticed at Hopkins High School. Our colleague Tony Ragulen will be handling teams #5, #6, #11 and #12. We'll be producing four recaps with two squads each beginning here with Teams #1 and #2. We'll follow up on Monday with a look at the best of Teams #3 and #4 as well as #7 and #8. On Tuesday we'll deliver the scoop on Teams #9 and #10. Enjoy!   5 STANDOUT PERFORMERS   [player_tooltip player_id='377583' first='Mya' last='Wilson'] – To the surprise of absolutely nobody, Mya (banner photo above) was the best prospect in the gym on Sunday. The 6-foot guard, formerly of Mahtomedi and now at Hill-Murray, has all of the tools to be successful at the highest levels of basketball. Over the past few months she has really filled out and grown stronger, as well, which has added to an already lethal package. Wilson is a truly elite athlete who has a unique combination of grace and power, speed and smarts, quickness and skill.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-medium"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/09/Jaliyah-Diggs-crop-530x348-1694391926.jpg?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-759196" /></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='659130' first='Jaliyah' last='Diggs'] – From the first time we laid eyes on the 5'4 guard from Park Center last year we were enamored but just how much punch she could produce from a small package. Now that she's maybe grown a smidge and gotten stronger, the [program_tooltip program_id='713348' first='E1T1' last=''] Queens point guard is even more effective. Jaliyah is explosive, with quick feet and a level of elevation that defies logic. She's not afraid of anyone on offense or defense. She can shoot it, handle it and score it and she is a positive influence on the floor. Watching Diggs go head to head with [player_tooltip player_id='498658' first='Morgan' last='Mathiowetz'] was a treat.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-medium"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/09/Inarah-Nesbitt-crop-531x349-1694392054.jpg?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-759224" /></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='644107' first='Inarah' last='Nesbitt'] – The 5'7 guard from Bloomington Jefferson had herself a great day. From the opening tip to the final whistle, Nesbitt was impacting the game in a variety of ways from disruptive defending to offensive production. Inarah plays way bigger than her listed height. She's strong and isn't afraid of making or taking contact. Combined with quick feet, those attributes enable the [program_tooltip program_id='713348' first='E1T1' last=''] Queens standout to get to the rim and draw fouls. She also showed off the ability to make space and create her own shot.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-medium"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/09/Alivia-Bell-crop-530x348-1694392116.jpg?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-759226" /></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='659118' first='Alivia' last='Bell'] – The 5'7 guard from Winona can do it all. Much of her success comes from having superior skills. She handles the ball very well, shoots it better than most and has the court vision and feel for the game that enable her to run the show at an elite level. Individually Alivia's athleticism and quickness are difficult to match. Defensively she is a bulldog. When you combine all of that with some good old-fashioned hustle, you end up with a formidable package that makes Bell one of the best of 2027.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-medium"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/09/Kaelyn-Bjorklund-crop-530x348-1694392252.jpg?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-759239" /></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='637605' first='Kaelyn' last='Bjorklund'] – The big forward from Lakeville South is capable of dominating a game at either end of the court through sheer will, determination and effort. When she's firing on all cylinders she makes life difficult for even the highest caliber opponents. Kaelyn's skill set has really grown over the past year, especially her ball handling. She can attack the basket in multiple ways now and she can knock down shots from distance. Bjorklund is making a strong case that she is a Top 10 prospect in this class.   WHO RAISED THEIR STOCK?   Hallie Hunter – The 6'0 guard from Mayer Lutheran looks an awful lot like many who have come before her in the Crusaders lineup – she's long and lean and athletic. Hallie uses her exceptional wingspan well on the defensive side of the ball, another common trait among Coach Kris Gustin's players. We loved how she walled up and held her ground without fouling. Hallie has a ways to go offensively but can be effective both inside and out. She played for Minnesota Stars Lindahl this summer.   [player_tooltip player_id='629645' first='Ellie' last='Pease'] – We watched the 5'8 guard from Proctor a lot this AAU season with [program_tooltip program_id='713214' first='Starks' last='Elite'] and she never failed to impress. Ellie is just so versatile. She is a nice three-point shooter, handles the ball well one-on-one and doesn't get rattled playing against the top dogs. Defensively she can guard bigger players, gets a hand in the passing lane with high frequency, and switches really well. There's a maturity to Ellie's game that moves her up a notch or two in the pecking order.   Toni Fisher – The 5'9 guard from Prior Lake is sneaky good. We saw it all summer with the [program_tooltip program_id='712687' first='Minnesota' last='Fury']'s state championship squad where Toni did so many of the little things well that contributed to the team's success. Fisher has some serious length which she uses well at both ends of the floor. She is highly skilled, is a really nice passer and can score the basketball. She also moves well away from the ball. When Toni fills out and gets stronger she's is going to be a force.   OTHERS WHO GOT NOTICED   A number of other players on Teams #1 and #2 made an impression on Sunday at Hopkins. That included 5'4 guard Aaliyah Williams of Rochester Lourdes, who earned recognition for her attacking mentality, ability to get to the rim and either finish or earn a trip to the free throw line. Williams, who'll play for Leah Szabla's [program_tooltip program_id='712665' first='Metro' last='Stars'] team next year, was also a really disruptive defender. Another player who did nice work on the defensive side of things was 5'3 guard Lily Lenninger of North Scott, Iowa, who was not intimidated by bigger, stronger opponents.   Sophia Person, a 5'5 guard from Totino-Grace did a really nice job in catch-and-shoot situations and showed her ability to knock down threes. She also excelled in the pick-and-roll and moved well off the ball. She defended well, too. 5'5 guard Jillian Murray from Riverdale, Illinois pushed the pace well and showed off her excellent court vision. Her positive attitude also made an impression.   Writer Ally McGinnis also contributed to this article.

We saw a ton of great stuff on Sunday at the Prep Girls Hoops Freshman Showcase. With nearly 120 players from Minnesota and surrounding states on hand, there was plenty to watch and a whole lot to digest. My writing hand is definitely cramping from taking notes on 12 teams for six hours! Kudos to Ally McGinnis for the big assist with that. It's always a challenge figuring out what to highlight in our recaps. This year we've decided to break the Freshman Showcase down on a team-by-team basis and look at standout performers, stock risers, and a nugget or two about other players who got themselves noticed at Hopkins High School. Our colleague Tony Ragulen will be handling teams #5, #6, #11 and #12. We'll be producing four recaps with two squads each beginning here with Teams #1 and #2. We'll follow up on Monday with a look at the best of Teams #3 and #4 as well as #7 and #8. On Tuesday we'll deliver the scoop on Teams #9 and #10. Enjoy!