2027 rankings: A big surprise among 16 newcomers

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A pleasant surprise. That's what we'd call the events of Saturday, our first day of attending AAU practices in preparation for the 2024 campaign. We were at [program_tooltip program_id='712722' first='North' last='Tartan']'s all-team session in Maple Grove when we stumbled upon 6'3 post [player_tooltip player_id='764943' first='Mariah' last='Sexton'] from Middleton, Wisconsin. Or should we say <em>formerly</em> of the Madison-area suburb. That's because Sexton is in the process of relocating to the Twin Cities where she is in enrolling at St. Michael-Albertville.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>What, you might ask, does this have to do with the Prep Girls Hoops Class of 2027 rankings? It means that less than three weeks after releasing an updated listing of the top freshmen in the state, we have had to make an amendment to the list because Sexton, previously named a top 10 prospect by Prep Girls Hoops Wisconsin, is now a top 10 prospect in Minnesota. We have slotted her in at #8, right after [player_tooltip player_id='630244' first='Jazmin' last='Daing'] of Rochester John Marshall and just ahead of [player_tooltip player_id='659118' first='Alivia' last='Bell'] of Winona. The top 10 now looks like this:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list {"ordered":true} --> <ol><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='377583' first='Mya' last='Wilson'] – guard, Hill-Murray</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='498661' first='Pressley' last='Watkins'] – guard, Benilde-St. Margaret's</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='578467' first='Amisha' last='Ramlall'] – guard, Rosemount</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='377584' first='Ava' last='Cupito'] – guard, Hopkins</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='529357' first='Emma' last='Millerbernd'] – guard, Providence Academy</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='558627' first='Erma' last='Walker'] – forward, Hopkins</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='630244' first='Jazmin' last='Daing'] – guard, Rochester John Marshall</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='764943' first='Mariah' last='Sexton'] – forward, St. Michael-Albertville</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='659118' first='Alivia' last='Bell'] – guard, Winona</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='498658' first='Morgan' last='Mathiowetz'] – guard, Sleepy Eye St. Mary's</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ol> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":755287,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/09/Mariah-Sexton.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-755287" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>A BIG ADDITION TO THE 2027s</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We were somewhat familiar with Sexton (pictured above in white) from previous AAU tournaments where she competed last summer with Wisconsin 608. At 6'3, with a lengthy build and nice athleticism, it's hard to miss Mariah when she steps on the floor. In a class that is seriously lacking in size, that's even more intriguing than usual. We'll defer to our Wisconsin colleague Brady Peterson, who wrote this about Sexton in his analysis of top 10 freshmen in the Dairy State:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“Sexton is the most talented traditional post player in the class… She's got the size at 6'3, and she's athletic for a back-to-the basket post… What makes me most excited about her is how willing she to be physical around the basket. I love that she has some moves she can go to in the block that she's comfortable with at this point, but as she gets to the physicality at the varsity level we'll see her improve as she gains more experience.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mariah's mom is from the Twin Cities and played some high-level basketball here 20 years ago, most notably for then-AAU power SUGAA Storm out of St. Paul and in college at MSU-Moorhead. Based on early impressions, it's likely Mariah is trending in a similar direction.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>MEET THE NEXT 5 NEWCOMERS</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#28</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='764185' first='Candice' last='Ndomb'] <strong>– 5'8 guard, Duluth East</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Candice moved to Minnesota from Michigan last year and immediately got herself noticed at the Prep Girls Hoops Freshmen Showcase last fall. This winter at Duluth East, she showed us even more by putting up good numbers and playing with a ton of fire. Candice handles the ball very well. She's athletic, gets up and down the court at pace, and can get downhill in a hurry to finish through contact. Ndomb is a crafty player who knows how to make things happen. With energy to burn, and a strong competitive fire, we think Ndomb has really good next-level potential. We look forward to seeing what she does this summer in AAU.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#33</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='866092' first='Lana' last='Wymer'] <strong>– 6'1 wing, Mounds View</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As we like to remind folks regularly, the Prep Girls Hoops prospect rankings are all about potential. It we were rating players based on their current performance, Wymer would be an anonymous blip on the radar. After all, she has spent more time over the past couple of years rehabbing from injury than she has playing. The versatile 6'1 forward/wing is now coming off a broken tibia. When she returns later this summer there's no telling what kind of shape her game will be in. What we do know is that Lana is a super-talented, ultra-long athlete who can run the floor, has a sweet mid-range game and great footwork around the basket. Defensively she is a quality rebounder and shot blocker. Both of Lana's parents were Division 1 athletes. If she's healthy Lana may turn out to be one herself.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#50</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='866100' first='Addie' last='Iversen'] <strong>– 5'9 guard, Delano</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Delano had an unbelievable year, going 27-2 while playing some highly entertaining basketball. Addie was a rotation player this year as a freshman, but she more than held her own against the older girls while showing flashes of what is to come. The 5'9 guard caught our attention in Fall League and kept it throughout the winter. Iversen is a slasher, a good athlete with some real bounce to her game. She sees the floor well, makes the right play at the right time, and has a nice basketball IQ. She can also shoot the three. Iversen's length is going to be an asset, as is her family history in the game. Brother Max is a high school star while dad Ryan played professionally.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#53</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='764224' first='Rachel' last='Wassermann'] <strong>– 6'1 forward, Delano</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Much like Iversen, Wassermann was in a support role for the Tigers of Delano this winter. She played key minutes at times and showed a nice game with a ton of room for growth. Now that Delano has graduated standouts [player_tooltip player_id='178273' first='Taylor' last='Tool'], [player_tooltip player_id='215972' first='Norah' last='Danielson'] and [player_tooltip player_id='671967' first='Sidney' last='Schmit'], there will be minutes available for Rachel to do her thing. Wassermann has an impressive wingspan that is a real asset on defense. She can handle the ball, gets up and down the court at pace, and can make shots. The three-sport athlete impressed at the Freshmen Showcase with her versatility and ability to hang with top prospects. Rachel is a gym rat who is working hard on skill development and in the weight room. If she keeps that up there might be a scholarship in her future.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#56</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='764209' first='Kylie' last='Southworth'] <strong>– 5'6 guard, St. Peter</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This winter – particularly during the last month – Kylie emerged from the shadows of her older sister Annika and made one big play after another as the Saints marched all the way to Minneapolis for a berth in the Class 3A State Tournment. With Annika out of the lineup with a hand injury in section play, Ky stepped up big time. Her three-point shooting was stellar. Her intense, in-your-face defense was impressive. Ditto for her ability to execute in pressure-filled situations and go head-to-head against top-end prospects and experienced varsity veterans. Kylie's ability to seize her opportunity and run with it has now earned her a spot in the Class of 2027 rankings.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>THE NEXT 10</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>#57 [player_tooltip player_id='764183' first='Berkley' last='Blaisdell'] – 5'4 guard, Mahtomedi</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>#58 [player_tooltip player_id='815121' first='Marie' last='Jacobson'] – 6'0 forward, Visitation</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>#59 [player_tooltip player_id='639702' first='Ellie' last='Drange'] – 5'7 guard, Hill-Murray</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>#60 [player_tooltip player_id='764292' first='Aaliyah' last='Williams'] – 5'5 guard, Rochester Lourdes</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>#61 [player_tooltip player_id='657022' first='Ava' last='Brynteson'] – 5'6 guard, Prior Lake</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>#62 [player_tooltip player_id='675971' first='Trinity' last='Baker'] – 5'5 guard, Underwood</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>#63 [player_tooltip player_id='734360' first='Gigi' last='Coleman'] – 5'6 guard, Southwest Christian</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>#64 [player_tooltip player_id='764182' first='Ava' last='Litecky'] – 5'10 guard, Totino-Grace</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>#65 [player_tooltip player_id='867054' first='Brynn' last='Verbout'] – 5'7 guard, Maple Grove</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>#66 [player_tooltip player_id='764222' first='Olivia' last='Bungum'] – 5'6 guard, United South Central</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->