Tony's takes on the Mill City Invitational

We're heading to into the dog days of summer, and things aren't just heating up outside. There were some fireworks going off in Chanhassen High School as the following players did their best to keep things just as hot inside as they were outside.   [player_tooltip player_id='643749' first='McKinley' last='Hoelscher'] - 2027 - [program_tooltip program_id='767539' first='Minnesota' last='Comets'] 9th   Hoelscher, along with backcourt mate [player_tooltip player_id='675971' first='Trinity' last='Baker'], are the batteries that make this super-charged Comet team go. The 5'7 combo guard, currently rated 39th in the 2027 class, fills it up in a variety of ways and led the Comets with 17 points per game to propel her squad to a 4-0 record at the Mill City Invitational. Hoelscher (pictured above) plays with great pace and gets to her spot using her strong upper body to carve out space to finish at the rim. When the defense relaxed, she made them pay by knocking down the 3-ball with pretty good accuracy. She averaged 2 makes per game from downtown over the tournament keeping the defense on their toes. Looking ahead, Hoelscher will be making her case to enhance her role at Alexandria this upcoming high school season.   [player_tooltip player_id='889671' first='Nesa' last='Namjoshi'] - 2027 - [program_tooltip program_id='712687' first='Minnesota' last='Fury'] S40   Anyone who has followed me for any amount of time knows I have a soft spot for the small guards, and Namjoshi is no exception. She's fearless and never stops coming at you. She locked horns with another up-and-coming point guard in [player_tooltip player_id='675971' first='Trinity' last='Baker'] from the MN Comets and held her own. What Nesa lacks in size, she more than makes up for with effort, and when you're giving up some size you have to be a tenacious on-ball defender, not afraid to mix it up in the paint, and be able to knock down open jump shots: check, check and check. We're not quite sure what the future holds at Eden Prairie as they are returning a senior heavy roster, but being able to compete with that group in practice every day can't help but make Namjoshi battle-tested and ready when her number is called.   [player_tooltip player_id='550024' first='Chloe' last='Nuss'] - 2025 - [program_tooltip program_id='712687' first='Minnesota' last='Fury'] S40   Among the many things there is to like about watching Chloe play, it was her patience that stood out to me the most. A 19-ppg scorer during the high school season at Totino-Grace, she is used to having the ball in her hands the bulk of the time, but she has no qualms about sharing the wealth. Nuss didn't get antsy and start to force the issue during the Mill City Invitational, she just found other ways to contribute. Using her 5'10 frame, she made it difficult for opponents to get clean looks around the rim and was able to change and block shots without fouling. When the opportunity presented itself on the offensive end, she didn't hesitate. Nuss used her quick first step and long strides to beat defenders to the rim showing the ability to finish with either hand. She's a willing passer and a pretty good offensive rebounder as she has no issue crashing the boards to give her team extra possessions. Ultimately, her ability to play without the ball in her hands makes Nuss just that more dangerous and will be looking to carry this momentum into her senior season for the Eagles.   [player_tooltip player_id='904190' first='Malin' last='Youngberg'] - 2028 -West United Central   The footwork on Youngberg at this early stage of her career is off the charts. Spin moves, up and under, Euro-steps in traffic, you name it, she can do it; and that's just in the paint. All of that work in the lane and her ability to knock down the 3-ball makes her a matchup nightmare. The Little Falls native plays with enthusiasm and seems to have a genuine love for the game that's infectious. During the Mill City Invitational, she averaged just over 12 ppg and dropped a game-high 18 points in a 3-point loss to the [program_tooltip program_id='718403' first='Minnesota' last='Freeze'] in a nail-bitter. She's a fun player to watch and the sky is the limit for Youngberg.   [player_tooltip player_id='565313' first='Elsa' last='Retzlaff'] - 2028 - [program_tooltip program_id='713021' first='West' last='Central United']   Retzlaff plays with the swag and confidence of a player 2-3 years her senior. She moves so gracefully up and down the court and is just the ultimate competitor. She scored in double figures in two of the four games including a 25-point explosion against the Wisconsin Lakers leading her squad to a convincing victory. Her ability to finish through traffic with either hand is a testament to the work she's putting in, and her dedication to improving every time she steps on the court. Defensively she fly's around causing havoc, speeding up her opponents and forcing them into tough situations that ultimately works out in her favor more times than not. Hillcrest Lutheran Academy by way of Fergus Falls has a real gem in this one. Stayed tuned as she's just getting started.   Other players of note:   [player_tooltip player_id='918684' first='Quinn' last='Kemper'] - 2028- [program_tooltip program_id='714566' first='Minnesota' last='Stars'] Desart   [player_tooltip player_id='502569' first='Clara' last='Goodman'] - 2025 - [program_tooltip program_id='712722' first='North' last='Tartan'] 16 Elite   [player_tooltip player_id='455051' first='Vivian' last='Carter'] - 2026 - [program_tooltip program_id='712687' first='Minnesota' last='Fury'] 2S40   [player_tooltip player_id='937518' first='Lehla' last='Gaulden'] - 2025 - [program_tooltip program_id='713420' first='Minnesota' last='Diamond Elite'] McMillan   [player_tooltip player_id='675886' first='Ava' last='Klein'] - 2027 - [program_tooltip program_id='718403' first='Minnesota' last='Freeze']

We're heading to into the dog days of summer, and things aren't just heating up outside. There were some fireworks going off in Chanhassen High School as the following players did their best to keep things just as hot inside as they were outside.