Team takeaways from the first big weekend of AAU

The AAU Prelims and State Tournament are still a couple of weeks out but there was plenty of conversation this weekend in the gym about which teams might be able to make a deep run at the hardware in 2024. We had an opportunity to watch some of the elite units up close – strong teams from the Minnesota Fury , North Tartan , the Metro Stars and Minnesota Stars , as well as the Minnesota Suns . Here are some takeaways from the weekend.

Fury 2027 UAA: The rich got richer

Despite being the reigning AAU state champions in their grade, the Fury's top 9th grade team has undergone a bit of makeover this season with the additions of three stud prospects – 2nd-ranked Pressley Watkins Pressley Watkins 6'0" | CG Benilde-St. Margaret's School | 2027 State MN (Benilde-St. Margaret's), #9 Alivia Bell Alivia Bell 5'7" | PG Hopkins | 2027 State MN (Winona) and #18 Annika Kieser Annika Kieser 5'10" | SF Wayzata | 2027 State MN (Wayzata). All three players were key components on their respective varsity rosters this winter, with Watkins and Keiser playing in some particularly tough matchups against top high school teams in the state.

In Saturday's competition, Watkins demonstrated her prowess for scoring the basketball that we so often saw this winter. She totaled 35 points over three games, including 22 in the Fury's contest against Playmakers Bluestar 16U. Kieser has grown her game a ton in recent months and is playing with confidence and intensity. She continues to be an unselfish teammate who is willing to do the dirty work from start to finish.

As for Bell (pictured above), watching her play is simply a treat. While there is no shortage of incredible basketball players in Minnesota, it is rare to see a prospect whose skills are as polished as Alivia's, especially in the 9th grade. It seems that every time the ball touches her hands she makes the right play for her team, which is especially important given her role as a point guard.

With the additions of Bell's IQ and skill level, Keiser's work ethic, and Watkins' scoring, the Fury 2027 UAA team is a formidable group. By the way, the veteran core has a bevy of talented performers including #3 Amisha Ramlall Amisha Ramlall 5'11" | CG Rosemount | 2027 State MN (Rosemount), #16 Gianna Carpentier Gianna Carpentier 5'10" | PG Farmington | 2027 State MN (Farmington), #26 Skyler Mancini Skyler Mancini 6'3" | SF Chanhassen | 2027 State MN (Chanhassen), #35 Toni Fisher Toni Fisher 5'11" | CG Prior Lake | 2027 State MN (Prior Lake) and #57 Berkley Blaisdell Berkley Blaisdell 5'8" | CG Mahtomedi | 2027 State MN (Mahtomedi) plus dynamic guard Devin Larson of Hudson, Wisconsin. One of last year's biggest pieces – Olivia LaBlanc of Hudson – is out with a torn ACL.

Stars 2027 3SSB: The Antl squad is deep

Lest you perceive that the Fury's run to a repeat title at this year's State Championship is a foregone conclusion, let me remind you that Scott Antl's 2027 Minnesota Stars group has long been a power in this class. It was only Ramlall's shooting outburst that enabled the Fury to knock off the Stars in last spring's championship game. There's a pretty good chance the two teams will meet again this time around.

Perhaps the biggest news this spring is the return of power forward Kaelyn Bjorklund Kaelyn Bjorklund 6'1" | PF Lakeville South | 2027 MN of Lakeville South, the 12th-ranked prospect in the class. She had intended to depart summer basketball to focus on her burgeoning volleyball career but changed her mind. That's huge. Literally. Her partner in crime in the front court is Addison Bjorklund Addison Bjorklund 6'1" | PF Brainerd | 2027 State MN (no relation) of Brainerd, ranked #11. She is a force inside and out. It is 15th-ranked Kaja Nash Kaja Nash 5'10" | CG/SG Wayzata | 2027 State MN of Southwest Christian who runs the show at the point along with 39th-ranked Tessa Frank Tessa Frank 5'7" | PG Wayzata | 2027 State MN of Wayzata.

The lineup also includes lights-out shooter Analaya Salanoa Analaya Salanoa 5'6" | SG Roseville | 2027 State MN of Roseville (#23) and versatile competitors Isa Griefenhagen Isa Griefenhagen 5'10" | CG DeLaSalle | 2027 State MN (#30, Minnehaha Academy), Fiona Anttila Fiona Anttila 5'8" | SG Prior Lake | 2027 State MN (#36, Prior Lake) and Isla Silk Isla Silk 5'8" | SG Rosemount | 2027 State MN (#44, Rosemount). On Saturday the impact of the team's two additions was obvious as combo guard Sienna Duininck Sienna Duininck 5'7" | CG Central MN Christian | 2027 State MN of Central Minnesota Christian (ranked #27) and power forward Jersey Coleman Jersey Coleman 6'0" | PF Owatonna | 2027 State MN of Owatonna (#19) made it clear that they will put their mark on the Stars' season. Stay tuned because this is a rivalry worth watching.

Suns 2025 S40: It's still Tori's team

One other team we watched over the weekend was the new edition of Dre Jefferson's Minnesota Suns 17U squad. Last year's version made it all the way to the state championship game but the vast majority of that lineup has now graduated. The only one remaining is 2026 standout Tori Oehrlein Tori Oehrlein 5'11" | CG Crosby-Ironton | 2026 State MN of Crosby-Ironton. If you are going to construct a new squad around one player, you can't do any better than Tori. We saw some inevitable growing pains from this group on Sunday. We also witnessed a talented crew that has a chance to be very good.

In addition to Oehrlein, the core includes 15th-ranked junior Tatum Woodson Tatum Woodson 5'9" | CG Hopkins | 2025 State MN of Hopkins, #19 Danielle Coleman Danielle Coleman 6'1" | SG Lakeville South | 2025 State MN of Lakeville South, and elite shooter Gabrielle Fineday Gabrielle Fineday 5'8" | SG Cass Lake-Bena | 2025 State MN of Cass Lake Bena (#60). The individual who made the biggest impression, however, was junior forward Allison Berns Allison Berns 6'0" | PF Wayzata | 2025 State MN of Wayzata. Allie has raised her stock dramatically over the past year and half and it showed on Sunday.

Coming off a solid junior season with the Trojans, the 62nd-ranked Berns has stepped up her physicality and intensity on the floor. She used her ample strength to dominate the front court, whether protecting the paint on defense or fighting for position to grab every rebound that came her way, Allie left it all out on the floor. On the offensive end, we were impressed with her footwork and post moves in the paint, as well as her willingness to play unselfishly, making the extra pass to a teammate with an open look. That kind of performance is exactly what the Suns will need if they are to compete with the best from Tartan, the Fury, Metro or the Stars. The 17U Division is a good one and we're fired up to see what happens at State.

Two quality teams, two amazing individuals

Two up-and-coming young squads went head-to-head at the Midwest Kickoff and we weren't about to miss the contest between the top 2028 team from Inspired Athletics in Fargo coached by Monty Gordon and the 2027 Minnesota Rise led by Rich Busse. The game featured a classic matchup between two elite prospects: 2028 Lakyn Donnelly of West Fargo Horace and 2027 Morgan Mathiowetz Morgan Mathiowetz 5'8" | PG Sleepy Eye St. Mary's | 2027 State MN of Sleepy Eye St. Mary's. It did not disappoint.

Donnelly is one of the most-gifted floor generals we've seen, regardless of class. She has an incredible skill set with truly elite handles and the ability to make shots from anywhere. But it is her feel for the game that really makes her special, with court vision and passing ability that enable Lakyn to be an outstanding distributor. She's clearly the best 8th grader in North Dakota and would be among Minnesota's elite, as well.

Mathiowetz is a force herself. Already a 1,000-point varsity scorer, Morgan is an outstanding athlete with a high-level skill set and a motor than revs and revs and revs. She's crafty and can score at all three levels. Nobody's going to outwork or out-hustle her, either. The outcome, for the record, was a 49-43 win for the team from Fargo. The entertainment value was immeasurable.

PGH scout Ally McGinnis contributed to this report.