Newcomer of the Year: Adele Changamire

Becker has had an incredible run over the past few seasons, but after a slew of graduations it was obvious this was going to be a rebuilding year. With four starting spots up for grabs, it wasn't clear who was going to step up and earn them. Not only did [player_tooltip player_id='630285' first='Adele' last='Changamire'] rise to the occasion, she became a bona fide varsity star in very short order. By year's end, Changamire was a unanimous all-conference selection and is widely considered one of the top prospects in Minnesota's Class of 2028. Now we are pleased to select the 8th grader as our Prep Girls Hoops Newcomer of the Year.   “I knew about the scoring. I knew how well she attacks the basket. I knew about the things she does on defense,” Becker coach Dan Baird said of Changamire. “What I didn't know about was the rebounding. She averaged 6 rebounds per game and she's one of our smallest kids! Her pursuit of the basketball was awesome.”   Bulldogs veteran leader [player_tooltip player_id='304938' first='Alexis' last='Rose'] agreed. “She was one of our most reliable and aggressive rebounders this season,” said the University of Sioux Falls commit. “She is amazing at attacking the basket and finishing through traffic. She has also significantly improved on her shooting, and continues to extend her range. Even though she's only an 8th grader, she played with no fear or nerves. She was a great spark for our team and will continue to be such an amazing asset for Becker basketball.”   The Newcomer of the Year award goes to a player who has not played a significant varsity role in previous years regardless of class. Our 2022 winner, for example, was [player_tooltip player_id='322999' first='Jocelyn' last='Land'] of Holy Family who had relocated to Minnesota from Vermont the previous summer. In 2023 we chose then-7th grader [player_tooltip player_id='433933' first='Chloe' last='Johnson'], a generational talent who took the state by storm in her first season of varsity competition. This year it's Changamire, a 5'8 guard who is a superior athlete with speed to burn and energy that never dissipates.   One year ago, Adele was a fresh-faced 7th grader with a ton of potential but very limited experience. Entering the summer season, Coach Baird had no idea what to expect from Changamire. During AAU competition, however, her productivity spiked as did her impact. When the high school exhibitions began, Adele quickly became a starter as the Bulldogs went 12-13 against a strong slate of opponents despite playing without Rose, who was still recovering from ACL surgery.   “Without Lexi around, Adele became our best player,” Baird said. “Not only that but she became our leader on the floor. I give AAU a lot of credit, because at the end of last year for us she was still nervous, her confidence level wasn't there yet. After the AAU season going into the summer, her confidence was sky high. She had a really good summer playing for us, and that led right into our season. There was never a question that she was going to be in our starting lineup.”   Adele is a multi-sport athlete who plays soccer at a high level and has already been to state in track and cross-country. Baird said Adele's 5K time was among the best in the country in her age group last year. “She's had multiple experiences having success at the varsity level already,” said the coach, “and I think that really helped for basketball. Plus she never gets tired.”   Changamire, who'll play AAU for Minnesota Stars OU, averaged over 11 points and 6 rebounds plus 2 steals per game. She was a leader on and off the floor, as well as a great example for her 7th grade sister [player_tooltip player_id='884449' first='Andie' last='Changamire'], who Baird says could turn out to be one of the best shooters in Becker history. The Changamire girls check every box. They work hard, have a great attitude, and love the game. “She is constantly smiling,” Baird said of Adele's personality. “She loves positive feedback, and she is so polite. She is extremely humble. She has no idea how good she is or is going to be.”   HONORABLE MENTIONS   [player_tooltip player_id='644100' first='Annika' last='Kieser'] & [player_tooltip player_id='659119' first='Maren' last='Day'] – 2027s, Wayzata   From the first week of the season at the Breakdown Tip Off Classic to the section final in March, Annika and Maren played pivotal roles for the Trojans. That's not all that common for freshmen in a powerful program like Wayzata. Right out of the gate, however, they made it obvious that not only would they fit into the rotation but would be key pieces. Of course it's not all that surprising that a pair of top 20 prospects should have an outstanding year. It was never a matter of “if” but “when” and the “when” turned out to be now.   Day is a 6-foot combo guard ranked #13 in the Class of 2027. She was top five in scoring at nearly 9 points per game and was impactful at both ends of the floor. She is long and athletic, with a certain smoothness to her game that breeds confidence in everyone around her. Maren is an excellent three-point shooter whose game is consistent and reliable. Kieser is a bulldog. Now ranked #18 in the Class, the 5'9 small forward competes so hard all the time. We figured Annika would fight her way into the rotation; we didn't know she'd do it while bombing threes. Throughout the year, Kieser offered the Trojans a spark of one kind or another almost every time she took to the court.   [player_tooltip player_id='763004' first='Lyla' last='Hentges'] – 2027 guard, Chanhassen   The Storm looked so much better this season, and Lyla was one of the most important reasons why. After appearing in just one varsity game as an 8th grader, Hentges earned her way into the starting lineup last fall and produced accordingly all winter. She was Chan's third-leading scorer at over 11 points per game while shooting 42% from the field and 44% from three-point range. At 5'10, Lyla's length is a huge asset. So, too, is her fluid athleticism, advanced skill set, and ability to score the basketball in a variety of ways. Hentges hasn't really filled out yet, but when she gets bigger and stronger Lyla has the potential to be an impact Division 1 player in college. Her Prep Girls Hoops prospect ranking of #17 is befitting of that potential.

Becker has had an incredible run over the past few seasons, but after a slew of graduations it was obvious this was going to be a rebuilding year. With four starting spots up for grabs, it wasn't clear who was going to step up and earn them. Not only did Adele Changamire Adele Changamire 5'8" | CG Becker | 2028 State MN rise to the occasion, she became a bona fide varsity star in very short order. By year's end, Changamire was a unanimous all-conference selection and is widely considered one of the top prospects in Minnesota's Class of 2028. Now we are pleased to select the 8th grader as our Prep Girls Hoops Newcomer of the Year.