Fall Exclusive finale: Who raised their game in week 3?

The last hurrah. That's what Friday night's play at the Fall Exclusive was. As the three-week series of games hosted by Jr All-Star came to a close at Bloomington Jefferson, the opportunity was there for players who had made a good first impression in weeks one and two to leave a more lasting imprint in the minds of observers prior to the start of the winter season. The following half dozen prospects did just that on Friday night.   [player_tooltip player_id='1047086' first='Mckenna' last='Hulke'] – 2028 guard, New Ulm   Mckenna gave us solid performances each week of the competition, which really is no surprise given how skilled she is. Pictured above, Hulke is a strong, physical defender, but where she really shines is on the offensive end of the floor. She demonstrates a high basketball IQ by consistently making the right reads, whether taking her own shot or getting the ball to her teammates. She's crafty on the drive, with a quick first step and several different finishes around the rim. When Hulke gets downhill the odds are good that she's going to score the basketball.   Sylvia Heusinkvelt – 2029 guard, Stewartville   The blue team had several skilled players who gave consistent performances over the three weeks, including 2028 Minnetonka guard [player_tooltip player_id='786314' first='Tate' last='Addler'] and 2028 Waconia point guard [player_tooltip player_id='918668' first='Kherington' last='Braun']. Now, rounding out the pack, we have Heusinkvelt. This 7th grader from Stewartville is a long, lean guard and an overall hard worker. She runs the floor well, particularly in transition, and is an efficient scorer around the rim. We were impressed with her shot selection and ability to fire the three at a high clip. She is also a solid rebounder and proficient shot blocker. If one thing is for sure, it's that Stewartville has a lot of talent coming up the pipeline.   [player_tooltip player_id='994855' first='Izze' last='Austin'] – 2029 guard, Edina   Austin consistently impressed us over the course of the three weeks. She's a lean, quick guard with no shortage of skill. She regularly showcases her scoring ability, whether it's attacking the basket, or pulling up in the mid-range and beyond. Austin can shoot from anywhere on the floor, and often demonstrates great offensive reads and shot selection. Izze has quick hands, and is frequently disrupting passing lanes on the defensive end. We look forward to watching Austin grow her game in the coming few years. She's sure to figure in Edina coach Dre Jefferson's plans in the not too distant future.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-medium"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/11/Amyra-Mahik-crop-3226x2118-1699223545.jpg?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-801472" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Mahik</figcaption></figure>   Amyra Mahik – 2028 guard, Pipestone   A point guard from Pipestone, Amyra plays with a level of physicality and intensity not often demonstrated by 8th graders. She's solidly built, strong for her age, aggressive on both ends of the floor and not afraid to guard much larger players. On the offensive side of things, Amyra is a skilled ball handler who likes to attack the basket and finishes well through contact. We love Mahik's ability to shake off minor errors and come back to make a great play in short order. That's an underrated asset to be sure. She's a lock to make a big impact on varsity for the Arrows this winter.   [player_tooltip player_id='764211' first='Lucy' last='Johnson'] – 2027 guard/forward, Benilde-St. Margaret's   Lucy is a mid-size guard/forward with a muscular build. She is a strong, physical player with a lot of hustle. Johnson rebounds and runs the floor well, and is a confident ball handler. She sees the floor and frequently delivers well-timed, well-placed passes to her teammates. Lucy knows how to draw contact when attacking the basket, which often earns her a trip to the free throw line. We were also impressed with her quick feet, solid screens, and pretty shot release. The Benilde lineup is loaded so it might be awhile before Lucy gets to the varsity spotlight, but chances are good it's going to happen in due course.   Eleanor Frank – 2028 guard, St. Louis Park   Eleanor Frank is a bulldog on the floor, plain and simple. She is a strong, mid-size guard with a solid build who plays with a fire and intensity we don't often see. She's physical when attacking the basket and fights through contact to get to the line. She also has multiple different finishes around the rim. On the defensive end, her quick feet and great lateral movement make her an intimidating on-ball defender. She often pressures her opponents into turnovers, and has the ability to make impressive, long-bomb passes. Most of all, it seems, Frank just wants her team to win, and she consistently does the big and small things to get them there.

The last hurrah. That's what Friday night's play at the Fall Exclusive was. As the three-week series of games hosted by Jr All-Star came to a close at Bloomington Jefferson, the opportunity was there for players who had made a good first impression in weeks one and two to leave a more lasting imprint in the minds of observers prior to the start of the winter season. The following half dozen prospects did just that on Friday night.