Stock risers at the St. Kate’s MLK Day Classic

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Martin Luther King Jr. Day has emerged in recent years as an important stage for basketball events across the country, opportunities to showcase top talent and honoring the life and legacy of Dr. King. We were at St. Catherine University in St. Paul on Monday for the St. Kate's MLK Day Classic where there were five contests. Here are a few players who raised their recruiting stock on Monday.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='840299' first='Audrey' last='McNeil'] <strong>– 2025 guard, Osseo</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The MLK Day Classic was our first opportunity to see the Orioles of Osseo this season and while they weren't able to keep up with Minnehaha Academy's high-octane offense, we saw a few noteworthy prospects. Running the point for the Orioles was junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='840299' first='Audrey' last='McNeil']. Despite being undersized, McNeil is very effective on the floor, utilizing her quickness and ability to handle the ball under pressure. She sees the court well, racking up several assists when her teammates were able to cash in on the opportunities she created. On the defensive end, Audrey is a high intensity defender with good lateral movement and fast hands. She frequently ties up the ball and forces turnovers. We were impressed with the tenacity and hustle she displayed all game long, fighting for possessions and diving for every loose ball in her reach.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='425385' first='Amina' last='Allen'] <strong>– 2025 guard, Minnehaha Academy</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There is no shortage of talent on the roster for the Redhawks this season as usual. One player who has raised her stock in recent months is junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='425385' first='Amina' last='Allen']. Pictured above, Amina had a solid performance on Monday in Minnehaha's win over Osseo. Despite being held scoreless, she finished with 5 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals. A top 100 prospect in the 2025 class, Allen is gritty, unselfish, and an excellent three-point shooter. She is also an incredibly reliable and responsible defender, always keeping an eye on the ball and never losing her player. While the shots didn't fall on Monday, Amina found ways to positively impact the game for her team, impressing us most with her court vision and passing ability.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='840297' first='Ava' last='Carlson']<strong> – 2024 guard, Cloquet</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Senior [player_tooltip player_id='840297' first='Ava' last='Carlson'] was among several players on Cloquet's roster that had a great performance at the MLK Classic on Monday. The Lumberjacks faced off against the Holy Family Fire and, despite the loss, we were impressed with the team all around. Throughout the contest, Carlson showcased her outstanding elevation and ability to rebound over her opponents, often scoring through put-backs on the offensive glass. Ava is averaging 11.1 points per game this season; on Monday she finished with 14. She had a number of steals, as well, with her quick hands getting in passing lanes that most players can't reach, making her a disruptive defender. While only 5'9, Ava is able to establish a big defensive presence in the paint, allowing her to guard players much larger than herself.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='339115' first='Leilani' last='Fonoti'] <strong>– 2024 guard, Cloquet</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Another Cloquet senior with a solid performance on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day was [player_tooltip player_id='339115' first='Leilani' last='Fonoti']. We last saw Leilani in the fall at the Prep Girls Hoops Top 250 Expo where she stood out with her strength, ability to finish through contact, and willingness to put her team first. From what we saw on Monday, all of those attributes translate well to her high school team. Fonoti finished the matchup against Holy Family with 9 points, scoring in a variety of ways. We were impressed with her hands and footwork in the post, as well as her strong box-outs and ability to rebound over opponents. It is evident that Leilani is a leader, too. She's vocal, understands the game, and uplifts her teammates on a consistent basis– qualities that are always valued by coaches at the next level.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='502599' first='Reese' last='Hagenbart'] <strong>– 2026 forward, Champlin Park</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sophomore post [player_tooltip player_id='502599' first='Reese' last='Hagenbart'] has made her way into the starting lineup for the Champlin Park Rebels this season, after serving primarily as a rotation player in 9th grade. At 6-foot-1, Reese brings a tremendous amount of size and strength to the floor. She has a big frame, muscular build, and moves well up and down the floor. In Monday's matchup against Providence Academy, she showcased her defensive presence, rebounding, and ability to keep her game simple yet effective. When Reese gets the ball in the low post, she is difficult to contain. Ranked as a top 40 prospect in the 2026 class, Reese has a number of elements to her game that should translate to the next level. While the Rebels were unable to bring down Providence Academy, they bounced back Tuesday with a 64-57 win over Rogers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->