2028s and 2029s who stood out in AAU Week #2

From a light schedule last Saturday to multiple tournaments and a boatload of talent on offer this weekend, our quest to find the up-and-coming 2028s bore plenty of fruit. Over two days at the Midwest Kickoff in Bloomington and the Suns Spring Showcase in Hopkins, we saw plenty of candidates for the Freshmen 50 this fall. I'm sure there were some at the Comets Shootout in St. Cloud, as well, but we couldn't make it there to see for ourselves. Ally McGinnis and yours truly were able to navigate the 20-minute drive between Jefferson and Hopkins. Here are some of the top performers from the Classes of 2028 along with a few 2029s for your consideration.   [player_tooltip player_id='893406' first='Ellie' last='Panner'] – 2028, [program_tooltip program_id='712665' first='Metro' last='Stars'] Makepeace   The state high school champions from Minnetonka are loaded all the way down to middle schoolers like Ellie, who would be a varsity regular at most high schools. We've been impressed with her speed, quickness and skill since our first look back at the Fall Exclusive in 2022. Now, having migrated from [program_tooltip program_id='712722' first='North' last='Tartan'] to the Daniel Makepeace-coached [program_tooltip program_id='712665' first='Metro' last='Stars'] squad, Ellie is a standout on a solid roster. In addition to being a disruptive defender, she understands the game on offense, sees the floor, distributes it well and she can score. Panner had 35 points in three games to spark the squad to three wins and the title in the top 2028 division.   [player_tooltip player_id='786314' first='Tate' last='Addler'] – 2028, [program_tooltip program_id='712665' first='Metro' last='Stars'] Makepeace   We last saw Tate at the 2023 Fall Exclusive, where she made an impression every week with her ball handling, high IQ play, and ability to score at all levels. Since then it seems the Minnetonka guard may have grown a couple of inches. Now listed at 5'10, Tate has also grown the maturity of her game over the winter months. In Saturday's game against [program_tooltip program_id='714566' first='Minnesota' last='Stars'] 2029 Hinze, Addler was the game's leading scorer, with 16 points. With a ton of length, Tate's game will grow exponentially when she learns to take maximum advantage of her natural speed and athleticism, two gifts that will make it difficult to defend her when she's going downhill with pace.   [player_tooltip player_id='716527' first='Ashna' last='Ramlall'] – 2028, [program_tooltip program_id='712687' first='Minnesota' last='Fury'] UAA   Varsity experience is a great separator among incoming freshmen. In 8th grade games it's normally not difficult to tell who has it and who doesn't. Ashna is a perfect example. The 5'8 guard from Rosemount is already a varsity standout, as are her two 9th grade sisters. She finished top three in scoring on a strong Irish squad this winter. This weekend Ramlall demonstrated clearly how that type of experience matters. The Fury's top 2028 team went 3-1 on the weekend playing up a grade while Ashna averaged 18 points per game. She is an elite three-point shooter and made 13 triples over the weekend, but she does so much more. We love Ashna's leadership, poise and the joy with which she plays the game.   Anaya Shaffa & Nora Ivey – 2028s, [program_tooltip program_id='714566' first='Minnesota' last='Stars'] OU   The [program_tooltip program_id='714566' first='Minnesota' last='Stars'] OU squad brought an impressive amount of speed and athleticism to the floor when we watched on Saturday. From the opening tip the group set the tempo for the contest against Sanford Sports. Shaffa was aggressive from the get-go, using her quick hands to disrupt the passing lanes and get her team transition buckets. She was not afraid to push the pace, but always remained in control while doing so. She also showcased her ability to elevate and grab boards over her opponents. Ivey demonstrated her willingness to attack the basket, using a burst of speed to blow by defenders on her way to the rim. This team has tons of talent and is fun to watch.   [player_tooltip player_id='644878' first='Sahara' last='Wilson'] & [player_tooltip player_id='815083' first='Amelia' last='Ecker'] – 2028s, [program_tooltip program_id='712722' first='North' last='Tartan'] Nike   [program_tooltip program_id='712722' first='North' last='Tartan']'s top 8th grade team gave us much to take notice of at the Midwest Kickoff. We were impressed with the performances of Wilson and Ecker, a pair of forwards whose long-term potential is off the charts. Wilson, a giant post with guard -like-skills, plays for Lakeville North. She delivered a tremendous defensive performance on Saturday. Wilson was incredibly disciplined in protecting the paint and took no possessions off. Her natural feel for finding positioning and rebounding the basketball is impressive. We first saw Ecker last fall at the start of the high school season playing for East Ridge. We were impressed at the time with her raw ability. In the months since she appears to have grown her skillset and strength, as well as her confidence on the floor. Ecker has a big body that will look right at home in the college game.   Mackenzie Birdman, Ireland Stier, [player_tooltip player_id='1246851' first='Aza' last='Baartman'], Marissa Kelly – 2029s, [program_tooltip program_id='714566' first='Minnesota' last='Stars'] Zabel/Post   During our trip to Hopkins for the Suns Spring Showcase, we saw several intriguing prospects on the [program_tooltip program_id='714566' first='Minnesota' last='Stars'] 2029 Zabel/Post squad. The group was able to get a win in a complete team effort, with the scoring spread pretty evenly across the roster. Kelly was a fastbreak scoring machine, using active defense and good instincts to churn out a number of steals that led to points for herself or teammates. Bartman showcased her knack for creating her own shot off the dribble, as well as an ability to finish consistently on the drive. She led the team with 11 points while still being an unselfish passer.   Stier, younger sister of MSU-Mankato standout Ava Stier, got things done on the defensive end. Ireland is bouncy and incredibly light on her feet. When guarding on the ball, her lateral movement and speed is obvious. Birdman is tall, standing around 5'7 give or take, and is solidly built for her age. We were impressed with her strong instincts and natural sense of timing, as well as her passing abilities. With veteran coaches Bri Zabel and Jeremy Post in charge, you know this team will play hard and defend with gusto.   [player_tooltip player_id='939001' first='Gabby' last='McCarney'], Naomi Corley, [player_tooltip player_id='1244229' first='Lucy' last='Hilgert'] – 2029s, Crossfire Corley   We only had a brief look at this trio of 2029s who form the backbone of coach Dan Corley's 7th grade Crossfire team so we'll just offer a few short thoughts before circling back to see them later in the season. Gabby is a gym rat, a bouncy guard from Lakeville South who is playing the role of lead ball handler for the first time according to her coach. She looked the part when we watched. McCarney is smooth, skilled and athletic, the kind of player who catches your eye immediately.   Naomi has size and strength for her age. After a season of varsity at United Christian Academy that saw her evolve into her team's 6th player, Corley possesses a relatively mature game. Her calling card is defense and a high basketball IQ, not at all surprising for the daughter of a long-time coach. Her scoring ability will come in due course. Lucy is a talented scorer from Chanhassen. She has a big motor and is a solid on-ball defender. Her game will grow as she gains game experience, particularly in team defense.   PGH scout Ally McGinnis contributed to these player evaluations.

From a light schedule last Saturday to multiple tournaments and a boatload of talent on offer this weekend, our quest to find the up-and-coming 2028s bore plenty of fruit. Over two days at the Midwest Kickoff in Bloomington and the Suns Spring Showcase in Hopkins, we saw plenty of candidates for the Freshmen 50 this fall. I'm sure there were some at the Comets Shootout in St. Cloud, as well, but we couldn't make it there to see for ourselves. Ally McGinnis and yours truly were able to navigate the 20-minute drive between Jefferson and Hopkins. Here are some of the top performers from the Classes of 2028 along with a few 2029s for your consideration.