PGH Freshman Showcase: The best of Team #3 and #4

Sunday's Prep Girls Hoops Freshmen Showcase attracted some of the very best talent in Minnesota's Class of 2027. It also served up some fresh faces who made their first impression on the evaluators watching in person and online. We're taking a look at the prospects who stood out on a team-by-team basis. On Sunday, we examined the <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/2023/09/pgh-freshman-showcase-the-best-of-team-1-and-2/">best of Teams #1 and #2</a>. Now we explore some players we liked on Teams #3 and #4.   5 STANDOUT PERFORMERS   [player_tooltip player_id='529334' first='Isa' last='Griefenhagen'] – Nobody has embraced the grind more than the 5'10 guard from Minnehaha Academy (pictured above). We saw it all summer with [program_tooltip program_id='712362' first='Legacy' last='Hoops'] and we watched it again on Sunday as Isa competed with passion on both sides of the ball. She's big and strong and powerful, with nice athleticism and a quality bag of tricks to work with. One minute she's getting to the rim on a sweet 360-degree spin move, the next she's hammering on an opponent on the defensive end. We love Isa's vocal presence, strong understanding of the game, and desire to be great. That's why Griefenhagen is a top-notch prospect.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-medium"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/09/Erma-Walker-crop-663x435-1694454976.jpg?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-760105" /></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='558627' first='Erma' last='Walker'] – The Freshman Showcase was a rare opportunity to watch the 6-foot forward from Hopkins compete at her own grade level. Erma has played way above her age group for a long time, making her debut in the star-studded Royals lineup as a 7th grader and playing a big role last year as an 8th grader. This summer she competed in 17U with the [program_tooltip program_id='712665' first='Metro' last='Stars'] and did very well. Against her peers, Erma's superior strength, size and physicality was a distinct advantage. She is a power forward with guard skills who can play multiple positions, defend at a high level and score the basketball at will. More often than not it was an unfair fight.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-medium"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/09/Maren-Day-crop-669x440-1694455087.jpg?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-760113" /></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='659119' first='Maren' last='Day'] – The 5'11 guard from Wayzata may not have drawn quite as much notice as she deserved this summer with [program_tooltip program_id='712722' first='North' last='Tartan'] Nike. That's on us because this is a high-level prospect with a ton of tools and a very bright future. That was obvious on Sunday. Day has plenty of length that she employs to her advantage on both sides of the ball. On offense, she is a consistent 3-point shooter who knows how to put a good screen to use. She got to the basket and finished in a variety of ways against all manner of defenders. Maren is a terrific passer and an unselfish teammate who is establishing herself as a scholarship contender.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-medium"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/09/Morgan-Mathiowetz-crop-665x437-1694455141.jpg?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-760115" /></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='498658' first='Morgan' last='Mathiowetz'] – As we told you in our preview of the PGH Freshmen Showcase, Morgan is one of the most highly-skilled guards in the Class of 2027. At 5'6 she's not very big but it really doesn't seem to matter because the Minnesota Rise standout is so quick, so fast and so shifty that most defenders can't do much to stop her. Hailing from tiny St. Mary's School in Sleepy Eye, Morgan has a terrific feel for the game. She sees the floor, is supremely confident with the ball, makes quality decisions and can finish with either hand. She is utterly fearless and gets to the free throw line a lot as a result. Needless to say, Morgan's ceiling is very high.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-medium"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/09/Gianna-Carpentier-crop-663x435-1694455205.jpg?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-760123" /></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='630245' first='Gianna' last='Carpentier'] – Some point guards are fast and flashy and play with a ton of swagger, frequently bringing the fans out of their seats. Gianna is the polar opposite. The 5'9 freshman from Farmington is one of the most cerebral table setters around, a no-nonsense coach's kid who understands the game, sees the floor, makes great decisions and gets the ball where it needs to be when it needs to be there. She's big and strong and sneaky athletic, too. Carpentier quarterbacked the [program_tooltip program_id='712687' first='Minnesota' last='Fury'] to a state championship this summer. On Sunday she reminded us how.   WHO RAISED THEIR STOCK?   [player_tooltip player_id='675954' first='Brooke' last='Mickolichek'] – The 5'9 guard from Glencoe-Silver Lake is a handful. She's just so strong with a solid base, a big frame and the ability and willingness to play physical every time she is on the court. This summer with [program_tooltip program_id='712722' first='North' last='Tartan'] Elite, Brooke was her team's most consistent performer and a consummate leader. At the Freshmen Showcase, that persona certainly carried over. She moved the ball, shot it well, rebounded effectively and defended with passion. No wonder Brooke made our AAU Hard Hat All Star team.   [player_tooltip player_id='662003' first='Ava' last='Doherty'] – The 5'9 guard from Wayzata is coming off a great summer with Crossfire Stern where she showed that she can handle the ball, make good passes and see the court in ways that make her a solid floor leader. On Sunday she used her ability to score on the baseline and shoot threes at a high level while also attacking with frequency and success. Doherty is a quality athlete with a well-developed skill set and the ability to score consistently. She's no doubt bound for scholarship-level basketball.   [player_tooltip player_id='639702' first='Ellie' last='Drange'] – The 5'8 guard from Hill-Murray showed off the improvements she has made over the course of the summer with [program_tooltip program_id='712722' first='North' last='Tartan'] Elite. Ellie is a natural athlete who moves well and knows how to use those assets on both sides of the ball. On offense, Drange can get to the rim and score and has a nice jump shot, as well. We look for intangibles at these events and Ellie showed once again that she is an unselfish teammate who'll do whatever is required to help her squad.   OTHERS WHO GOT NOTICED   D'naesha Stevens, a 5'4 guard from Owatonna and the Minnesota Rise, has quick feet and hands, both of which she uses effectively as a disruptive defender. She understands angles and reads on-court situations the right way. Maryn Prenevost of Orono has a lot of similar characteristics and also moves well. The 5'6 Crossfire guard made it clear that she isn't afraid to attack when the opportunity is there, even if she's giving up a lot of size to her defender.   Aniyah Gorman of Minnehaha Academy and [program_tooltip program_id='712362' first='Legacy' last='Hoops'] is another undersized (5'4) guard who doesn't let her stature hinder her ability to attack the rim and score through contact. She showed off a nice step-through move and the ability to finish in close with her left hand. We loved Aniyah's positive talk on the bench throughout the day as she was constantly encouraging her teammates.   Lexi Nicolai is a 5'10 forward from Providence Academy who played this year for [program_tooltip program_id='712722' first='North' last='Tartan'] Elite. She has great length and is a quality athlete whose shooting has improved a lot. We loved how she hustled and fought for loose balls. Guard Anna Smelser from Robbinsdale Armstrong also demonstrated some hustle. The 5'8 freshman is a confident ball handler who is constantly going. She set some nice screens, too. We were also impressed by 5'8 Hannah Jorgensen of Lakeville South and Crossfire who did well on both sides of the ball. She has nice length, great elevation, and showed some real skill inside against bigger players. Hannah worked hard all day and never stopped hustling.   Writer Ally McGinnis also contributed to this article.

Sunday's Prep Girls Hoops Freshmen Showcase attracted some of the very best talent in Minnesota's Class of 2027. It also served up some fresh faces who made their first impression on the evaluators watching in person and online. We're taking a look at the prospects who stood out on a team-by-team basis. On Sunday, we examined the best of Teams #1 and #2. Now we explore some players we liked on Teams #3 and #4.