5 unheralded upperclassmen we liked at Mill City

Every week at AAU tournaments there are so many top performers who draw the most attention. At the same time, there are plenty of talented prospects who go about the business of helping their teams win basketball games in relative anonymity. Here are five unheralded upperclassman we liked at the Mill City Invitational.   [player_tooltip player_id='502569' first='Clara' last='Goodman'] – 2026 point guard, [program_tooltip program_id='712722' first='North' last='Tartan'] Elite   There is no shortage of influential folks who fawn over players on the top teams of every big AAU club in the country. For those on the so-called “second” teams, however, it can be an uphill battle to get their just desserts. Goodman (pictured above) is a textbook example of this phenomenon. The 5'4 junior-to-be from Eastview is one of the most gifted point guards in her class, a talented performer with tremendous basketball instincts, a well-honed set of skills and hoops pedigree in spades. At Mill City, we were reminded just how good Clara can be. She scored 19 points against Fury S40 when we watched, and averaged 11 points per game. Even though we don't have numbers for you, it is assists that paint a clearer picture of what Goodman can do, which is a whole lot. Clara's shot is textbook, her one-on-one skills are elite and her feel for the game is special. We think the complete package is worthy of a much brighter spotlight.   [player_tooltip player_id='937656' first='Kendal' last='Damon'] – 2026 guard/forward, [program_tooltip program_id='774819' first='MN' last='P.R.E.P.'] Buerman   The Forest Lake junior-to-be put on quite a show Saturday morning against Fury 2028 UAA. She posted 20 points, including three made shots from beyond the arc. Some 16 of those points came in the first half. Kendal stands at 5'10 with a solid, muscular frame. She is versatile enough to play multiple positions and is a scoring threat on many levels. She has a smooth, quick release and in AAU has been bombing threes at a prodigious clip all summer long. Overall, Damon is just a fundamentally sound competitor who plays high IQ basketball on a consistent basis. Damon played a pivotal role for the Forest Lake varsity squad this past winter, starting the last 20 games. She was second in scoring and minutes played and third in assists, earning Suburban East All Conference honorable mention. At Mill City we saw why she's going to be a quality performer at the next level.   [player_tooltip player_id='937518' first='Lehla' last='Gaulden'] – 2025 forward, [program_tooltip program_id='713420' first='Minnesota' last='Diamond Elite']   We love a success story, especially when it is written with the sweat of good old-fashioned hard work. That's the tale of Gaulden, a 5'11 power forward from Minneapolis Southwest. She arrived at the school as a raw 9th grader with limited basketball experience but quickly progressed from B squad to JV to varsity. The fruits of her labor were on full display at Mill City. Gaulden has turned into a consistent scorer and elite rebounder, who averaged a double-double last winter for the 23-5 Lakers. She improved her finishing ability and developed some quality post moves, too. Her touch around the rim is impressive. At Summer Jam, she scored 63 points and had 57 rebounds! Lehla can run the floor at pace, has a ton of size and strength, and owns an innate sense of where to be to corral rebounds. Gaulden appears to check every box: great teammate, great student, hard worker, and team captain.   [player_tooltip player_id='937528' first='Braelin' last='Weber'] – 2026 forward, [program_tooltip program_id='712699' first='Minnesota' last='Rise'] Wendland   It's not very often that you find a young prospect who stands at 6 feet 4 inches tall. That was Weber's listed height last winter but she's probably 6'5 or more. We've been keeping an eye on Braelin's progress for some time now, but it's her improvement in the last couple months that has been nothing short of remarkable. Weber got a late start in basketball but finally said ‘yes' to St. Peter coach Bob Southworth, who had been after her for many months to join his program. Since then the incoming junior has grasped the fundamentals of the game and is playing with an increased level of confidence. Her IQ and touch around the rim have improved, as well. In Sunday's matchup against Diamond Elite Walker, Weber impressed us with her defense. She was incredibly vocal, calling out screens and switches and playing the backside help with ease. With that kind of size and willingness to put in the work, there's no telling where she can go.   [player_tooltip player_id='339206' first='Maliyah' last='White'] – 2025 point guard, [program_tooltip program_id='712689' first='Minnesota' last='Heat'] Hinck   When we saw the Hopkins junior show up in a Heat uniform this spring we were surprised to say the least. Having watched her numerous times with coach Bill Hinck's 2025 squad since then, we are convinced it was a great choice for the crafty point guard. At Hopkins, White is a cog in a very big wheel. Her role is important but she's not the primary option on a team loaded with talent. With the Heat, she is the ringmaster of the show. Maliyah can handle the ball, score in large numbers, knock down three-pointers at high volume and defend with athleticism and mobility like nobody's business. What has been most impressive, however, are her leadership skills and ability to make everyone around her better. At Mill City, White put up nearly 10 points per game. In the AAU State Tournament she averaged 15. White has been a top 50 prospect since her class was first ranked in the fall of 2021. Once again this weekend she showed why.   PGH scout Ally McGinnis contributed to these prospect evaluations.

Every week at AAU tournaments there are so many top performers who draw the most attention. At the same time, there are plenty of talented prospects who go about the business of helping their teams win basketball games in relative anonymity. Here are five unheralded upperclassman we liked at the Mill City Invitational.