Minnesota coaches 'official' All-State selections

Being chosen as an “All-State” player is one of the greatest honors a high school basketball participant can receive. In Minnesota, the ‘official’ selections are made by the Minnesota Girls Basketball Coaches Association through a nomination process that requires coaches to be a member of the association in order to participate. That has resulted in some glaring omissions over the years. The coach also has to nominate his or her player by a prescribed deadline, which has also caused deserving players to be left off past All-State teams, including some of the state’s biggest stars. It’s embarrassing for all involved, of course, but that’s how the process works like it or not.

This time around, however, I think the coaches have largely got it right. We used to do our own Prep Girls Hoops All-State selections but it seems pointless when about 90% of the players we would have chosen are the same as the official choices. We do feel compelled, though, to offer a few thoughts of our own.

THE OMISSIONS

The glaring omission this year is junior Sam Wills Sam Wills 6'0" | SG Visitation | 2025 State MN of Visitation in Class 2A. One of the top five players in the Class of 2025, Wills is the consummate team player and a do-it-all performer. Also absent is New Prague junior Katherine Boulanger Katherine Boulanger 5'11" | SF New Prague | 2025 State MN in Class 4A. She is rewriting the record books for the Trojans and led her team to their best season in years. I think you could make a case for either junior Savannah Borowicz Savannah Borowicz 5'9" | SG Jordan | 2025 State MN or sophomore Morgan Staloch Morgan Staloch 6'0" | PF Jordan | 2026 State MN of Jordan, which had a terrific year in 2A.

THE HONORABLE MENTIONS

Making the All-State list in any capacity is an accomplishment to be sure, but certain honorable mention selections definitely deserve to be in the top 10. At the pinnacle of that list in Class 2A is Pelican Rapids sophomore Morgan Korf Morgan Korf 5'7" | PG Pelican Rapids | 2026 State MN . She earned an honorable mention. As one of the premier point guards in the state, Morgan led her team to Friday’s Section 8AA championship game. For some reason there were 11 players named to the team in 2A. We would bump two of them to make way for Morgan.

In Class A it is inconceivable to leave Kadence Hesse Kadence Hesse 5'10" | PG Sleepy Eye | 2024 State MN of Sleepy Eye out of the top 10. She has shattered every record that matters for the Indians and performed at the highest level this year and in the past. We published a list last fall of the 10 best small town prospects in the state. Hesse was 2nd behind Jordan Zubich Jordan Zubich 5'11" | SG Mountain Iron-Buhl | 2024 State MN of Mountain Iron-Buhl. Enough said.

THE GEOGRAPHY

The MGBCA selections always seem to have a strong rural tone in Class 2A and 1A. That makes sense, for the most part, given the location of the majority of the small-school programs. The problem is that some of the players chosen played 90% of their games within an hour of home and never faced tougher competition. A program like Mountain Iron-Buhl will play any team in any location, regardless of class or record. They rack up untold amounts of miles every year. Although the Rangers always have players chosen for the All-State teams, it’s not exactly a level playing field.

THE OFFICIAL SELECTIONS

That’s enough nitpicking on our part. As stated above, the selections are great for the most part in our view. You can decide for yourself.

Class AAAA All-State

, senior, Hopkins (Florida)