Who is ready for a breakout season in Class AAAA?

With four weeks of fall league complete, and two days of official practice in the books, we're starting to get serious about what lies ahead as the high school season approaches. One of the key questions we always seem to ask at this time of year is this: Which players are poised for a breakout season?   Let's start with Class AAAA where one player who should definitely be on the list is junior [player_tooltip player_id='520270' first='Harley' last='Wock'] of Minnetonka. The athletic guard/forward demonstrated clearly at fall league that she deserves a major role on Brian Cosgriff's team. Since we just wrote about her, we'll leave Wock out of today's conversation, but you can <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/2023/11/breakdown-fall-league-wraps-up-sneak-preview-season/">click here</a> to read last week's look at Harley's performance and potential.   There are plenty of others in the mix, too, but here are five prospects who appear ready for a breakout season in Class AAAA.   [player_tooltip player_id='344333' first='Cail' last='Jahnke'] – 2026 wing , St. Michael-Albertville   Fresh off their 2023 state championship, the Knights of St. Michael-Albertville still have a lot going for themselves. Even after graduation losses – most notably South Carolina freshman and 2023 Ms. Basketball Tessa Johnson – STMA returns a good portion of its nucleus. Last year Jahnke served as a spark for the Knights, infusing bursts of excellence into the proceedings as needed. This year she's ready to be a star. Ranked in the Top 5 among Minnesota sophomores, the 6'2 wing checks all the boxes in regards to athleticism. She is fast, agile, and extremely long, allowing her to get up and down the floor with ease. Jahnke is also incredibly skilled and versatile. On offense, she can score at every level, and is especially strong from the 3-point line. On defense, she can guard positions 1-5 and is a solid paint or perimeter defender. Look out for what lies ahead!   [player_tooltip player_id='453753' first='Lauren' last='Hillesheim'] – 2025 forward, Hopkins 2025   For the better part of the last decade, Hopkins has had an incredible depth of talent on its roster. Even after losing such outstanding players as Nunu Agara (Stanford) and Taylor Woodson (Michigan), this season should be no exception. One player who is highly likely to have a bit more spotlight this year is Hillesheim, a versatile 5'10 junior. Lauren is one of those players who has the ability to dominate opponents with her grit and physicality. She has a muscular build that allows her to rebound well and repeatedly win the battle for loose balls. Whether it be stealing the ball and getting out in transition, or her consistent 3-point shot with a textbook release, Hillesheim is productive in a number of ways on the offensive end. She can shoot from all over or muscle her way to the basket, where she has an impressive set of footwork and moves to choose from. As a major contender for the Class AAAA title once again, the Royals, and Hillesheim, are set for a great season.   [player_tooltip player_id='339094' first='Kendra' last='Overskei'] – 2025 forward, Maple Grove   From the first time we did a formal evaluation of Kendra's game way back at the Freshman Showcase in 2021, it was obvious that she is going to be a player. Fast forward two years and the lengthy forward, who has now grown to 6 feet tall, is poised for a Breakout junior season. Back then Kendra was one of the premier shooters in the Class of 2025, with a quick release and the ability to elevate over defenders. That's still true. But now Overskei has added so much more to her game and has put in endless amounts of work to improve. Ranked in Minnesota's Top 50 junior prospects, Kendra is ready for a big year. She runs the floor and attacks the basket. She plays consistently hard. And Overskei's mental game has gotten better. All that is nice but her commitment to defend is the key to earning floor time at Maple Grove. If that happens, she's headed for a great season.   [player_tooltip player_id='763004' first='Lyla' last='Hentges'] – 2027 guard, Chanhassen   Last winter at Chaska, Lyla played primarily on the junior varsity with occasional cameos on varsity, mostly in situations where the outcome of the game had largely been determined already. If her play this summer is an accurate indication, then Lyla should not only be a varsity regular but ought to be a key piece for the Storm. Hentges can flat out score from all three levels. Pictured above, Lyla plays with poise and confidence with strong fundamentals, advanced maturity and a knack for executing the big play. She has yet to fill out and physically mature but Hentges has everything else required to excel as a freshmen. She earned the #15 position in the first Prep Girls Hoops ranking of the Class of 2027, which tells you what we think of her long-term potential. At 5'10, Lyla is skilled with nice handles, great court vision and strong shooting. And she hustles. If the Chan coaches are seeing what we're seeing, then Hentges is ready to make an impact.   [player_tooltip player_id='806429' first='Amelia' last='Mills'] – 2028 guard, Rochester Mayo   The crafty guard from Rochester is one of many terrific prospects in the Prep Girls Hoops Class of 2028. Now having a full season of varsity basketball under her belt, this 8th grader appears ready for another, even better, year ahead. Standing about 5'6, Mills is small, but mighty. She is lightning fast on the court, and uses her quick feet and explosive first step to blow right past defenders and get to the hoop. In addition to her scoring ability, Mills sees the floor incredibly well and is an excellent passer. She has an innate sense of timing and spacing that allows her to distribute the ball at a high level. On the other end, Amelia is a feisty, tenacious defender. Her lateral movement and ability to read passing lanes for the steal is exceptional. Great things are ahead for this one!   PGH scout Ally McGinnis contributed to this report.

With four weeks of fall league complete, and two days of official practice in the books, we're starting to get serious about what lies ahead as the high school season approaches. One of the key questions we always seem to ask at this time of year is this: Which players are poised for a breakout season?