Final 2024 rankings: Shuffling the deck one last time

The time has come to publish our final Prep Girls Hoops prospect rankings for the Class of 2024. With the end of their high school careers little more than a month away, this year's graduates have had quite the journey. When we first scouted this class back in 2020 there was so much uncertainty in our lives. The AAU season was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic that was sweeping the globe, and there was no telling when varsity play would resume.   Our first real evaluations that summer took place on an outdoor court in the Southwest Metro where [program_tooltip program_id='712687' first='Minnesota' last='Fury'] club director Nick Storm was putting his top 2024 squad through their paces under sunny skies. I sat in a lawn chair under a scrawny tree watching a very talented group do their thing. The girls were clearly enjoying each other's company and the fact that they could once again be on the court together. I was just happy to be there, too. I met a few parents that evening, folks I would come to know well in the ensuing years, and I remember being super-impressed by what I saw from [player_tooltip player_id='215944' first='Ava' last='Cossette'] and [player_tooltip player_id='215953' first='Marisa' last='Frost'] that night.   Ava made the top 20 that fall when we first published rankings of the Class of 2024. So did Marisa and their teammate [player_tooltip player_id='177728' first='Olivia' last='Olson'], who was #1 in the class back then and remains there today. Ava's career has taken a rollercoaster ride in the ensuing years thanks to a serious knee injury, but she remains in the top 20 in today's final ranking of the class. A few others who were included in that first list four years ago are still there, too, including [player_tooltip player_id='178269' first='Liv' last='McGill'], [player_tooltip player_id='215958' first='Tori' last='McKinney'], [player_tooltip player_id='215956' first='Claire' last='Stern'], [player_tooltip player_id='178270' first='Finley' last='Ohnstad'], [player_tooltip player_id='178263' first='Laura' last='Hauge'], [player_tooltip player_id='215957' first='Gabby' last='Betton'] and [player_tooltip player_id='178274' first='Amy' last='Thompson']. Sorry if I missed some names.   Others now in the top 20 were not even ranked at that time, including new members of the top 10 [player_tooltip player_id='302297' first='Alyssa' last='Sand'] and [player_tooltip player_id='339129' first='Ja'Kahla' last='Craft']. I think [player_tooltip player_id='322999' first='Jocelyn' last='Land'] was still living in Vermont. [player_tooltip player_id='335641' first='Trinity' last='Wilson'] was sidelined by knee surgery. [player_tooltip player_id='302307' first='Elisabeth' last='Gadient'] didn't make in onto the list until the following spring. A couple of athletes who were ranked in the top 20 at the time have since retired from basketball, including [player_tooltip player_id='178272' first='Mikayla' last='Thomas'] and [player_tooltip player_id='215955' first='Lauren' last='Machacek'].   Today we bring you updates on those players in the top 50 who raised their stock one last time. Tomorrow we will provide the biggest overall stock risers and introduce you to the newcomers. One player has returned to the rankings after coming out of retirement. That would be [player_tooltip player_id='178259' first='Kaylie' last='Cox'] of St. Michael-Albertville who, if memory serves me correctly, was a member of that 2024 Fury team back in the day. Eight others took their last opportunity to enter the rankings for the first time.  We have also removed a number of players who aren't playing basketball anymore or have made a college commitment in an alternative sport. That leaves the final number at 208.   One more thing: The Prep Girls Hoops rankings are a gauge of a player's potential at the collegiate level. Obviously, by the time an athlete enters the final month of their senior year potential and performance are a lot closer than they were four years ago. Still we know that players will move on to different roles in college, their particular dimensions or skills might be used differently, and their level of play can rise depending on the situation. If you'd like a primer on how the whole rankings process works just click on our <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/how-we-rank/">How We Rank</a> page.   WELCOME TO THE TOP 10   #6 [player_tooltip player_id='302297' first='Alyssa' last='Sand'] – forward, Albany   Alyssa's career has been a classic case of growth – both in skill development and actual inches. Sand is listed at 6'2 but every time we watch her play it looks like Alyssa got taller and longer. She has certainly become a force on the court against all manner of opponents. Alyssa committed some time ago to the University of St. Thomas where she will no doubt form the backbone of Coach Ruth Sinn's build toward a new level of success in the Tommies' transition to Division 1. Alyssa entered the rankings in the spring of 2021 at #32 and has risen consistently over time. Now she  moves up five positions to #6.   #8 [player_tooltip player_id='339129' first='Ja'Kahla' last='Craft'] – guard, St. Michael-Albertville   The first time I watched Ja'Kahla play was at a Blue Star workout of some sort if I am recalling correctly. You could see then how much potential she had. With plenty of athleticism, lots of skill and more than enough moxie, Craft was clearly heading in the right direction. Somehow, we missed out on putting her in the rankings for another year. No question that was a big miss on our part. It wasn't long before Craft shot up the rankings making it into the top 15 last summer after leading STMA to the Class 4A state title. Over the past several months, we've seen her continue to improve, evolve and lead. Craft moves up four positions to #8, and is heading to Seton Hall of the Big East.   ENTERING THE TOP 30   #17 [player_tooltip player_id='302307' first='Elisabeth' last='Gadient'] – The gifted point guard from Goodhue is an incredible success story. We've watched her evolve over the years into an elite talent who can direct a basketball game with the best of them. She's long and smooth and skillful. Liz started out at #62 in the Class of 2024 rankings before rising steadily to #54, #27, #24, #22 and now moves into the top 20 at #17. Gadient is a D1 talent who has elected to play D2 ball at MSU-Mankato. She will no doubt kill it in the Northern Sun Conference.   #19 [player_tooltip player_id='215979' first='Cece' last='McNair'] – The 6'2 power forward from Prior Lake had the advantage of size right from the get-go, which will almost always earn you a fairly lofty spot in the prospect rankings. Early on she would show flashes of what was possible from time to time. Then those strong performances were more frequent, Cece became a dominant force and a commitment to D1 UW-Milwaukee soon followed. McNair started in the top 40 and finishes in the top 20, moving up seven places to #19.   #26 [player_tooltip player_id='304938' first='Alexis' last='Rose'] – Four years ago Lexi was very much in the shadows at Becker playing behind a powerhouse lineup of guards that include standouts like Maren Westin, Julia Bengtson, Ayla Brown, Dani Nuest and Addy Kent. When Lexi finally made it onto the court, it was well worth the wait. She worked her way into the top 30 in the summer of 2022. After missing a year with an ACL injury, Rose is having a stellar senior season and rewriting records. The University of Sioux Falls commit rises four spots to #26.   OTHER NOTABLE RISERS IN THE TOP 50   #37 [player_tooltip player_id='178266' first='Angel' last='Hill'] – The Minnehaha Academy guard, who has yet to make a college commitment, has raised her game this winter and is playing with more energy and greater attention to detail on a nightly basis. The big guard moves up three positions as a result to #37.   #40 [player_tooltip player_id='178271' first='Willow' last='Thiel'] – The Perham power forward has rewritten the record books for the Yellowjackets having reached 2,000 career points just last night to go with her 1,000 rebounds. The UM-Crookston commit plays with power and passion and has the scoring touch to match. She rises five places to enter the top 40.   #47 [player_tooltip player_id='461358' first='Mallory' last='Czinano'] – The Watertown-Mayer power forward is a classic late bloomer, following the same pattern that took her older sisters Monika (Iowa) and Maggie (Minnesota) to collegiate success. Last year Mallory took her game to a new level and rose over 100 positions in the rankings. Now the MSU-Mankato signee goes up five more spots to #47.   #50 [player_tooltip player_id='302310' first='Aubrey' last='Heyer'] – The Chaska guard started out in the shadows of her older sister Mallory, currently starring at the University of Minnesota, but over time carved her own niche as a versatile guard who excels at both ends of the floor. Aubrey has done an outstanding job at Chaska and will no doubt do the same at Bemidji State. She joins the top 50.   <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/minnesota/rankings/2024-rankings/">Click here</a> to see the complete Minnesota 2024 rankings.

The time has come to publish our final Prep Girls Hoops prospect rankings for the Class of 2024. With the end of their high school careers little more than a month away, this year's graduates have had quite the journey. When we first scouted this class back in 2020 there was so much uncertainty in our lives. The AAU season was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic that was sweeping the globe, and there was no telling when varsity play would resume.