Who raised their stock at the North Tartan Meltdown?

The 2024 AAU season is down to its last breaths. For players seeking opportunities to impress college coaches, July is the biggest stage of all. For some players, last weekend's [program_tooltip program_id='712722' first='North' last='Tartan'] Meltdown was their final AAU tournament of the year while others are still grinding it out this week across the country. Regardless, these are some of the Meltdown participants who raised their stock when it mattered the most.   [player_tooltip player_id='734370' first='Paige' last='Evans'] – 2025 guard, [program_tooltip program_id='779294' first='Northern' last='Lights']   The incoming senior from Proctor offered up impressive performances when we watched on Friday and again on Sunday morning, which is not unusual given the outstanding season she has had. Evans has been integral for Adam Johnson's AAU team from Northern Minnesota, providing scoring, elite defense, and excellent playmaking. She has great court vision and plays with a high level of basketball IQ, leading to very few mistakes. While not flashy, Paige's game is well-balanced and fundamentally sound. The 5'5 point guard was a varsity starter in her junior season, finishing third in scoring, averaging nearly 11 points and 3 assists per game. Paige is known for her ability to knock down shots from deep and made 42% of her attempts last winter. Look for Evans to move up the rankings as a senior.   [player_tooltip player_id='843697' first='Kenzie' last='Kiminski'] – 2026 guard, [program_tooltip program_id='779294' first='Northern' last='Lights']   Kenzie has made largely sporadic appearances in AAU thanks to a burgeoning volleyball career that causes her to juggle both sports year-round. What has kept Kiminski out of the limelight is not a lack of ability but rather a lack of visibility. Despite that, she is a top 150 prospect among Minnesota's 2026s and made her case at the Meltdown to move higher. The 5'11 junior-to-be turned in a strong performance on Sunday morning against Northwest Elite. Hailing from tiny Floodwood, an hour northwest of Duluth, Kenzie is a tremendous athlete with length, mobility and a scorer's touch. She has solid fundamentals and plays with hustle and pace. She has an innate ability for scoring the ball at multiple levels, and has amassed over 1,000 career points.     [player_tooltip player_id='773414' first='Elsie' last='Ostmoe'] – 2026 guard, [program_tooltip program_id='712722' first='North' last='Tartan'] Elite   The NT Elite guard has operated somewhat in the shadows to date, but she's had a strong end to her sophomore AAU season, helping Chad Flies' team to a record of 4-1 at the Meltdown. In Sunday's championship matchup against Rise 2026 Wolfe, Elsie was given the task of guarding top-15 prospect [player_tooltip player_id='339175' first='Brooklyn' last='Lewis'], a D1-level point guard out of New Ulm. Ostmoe's defense was reliable; she committed very few mistakes and did a tremendous job on Lewis, something very few opponents can say. Ostmoe stands around 5-foot-7. She has length and a solid frame, moves well, and is a fundamentally sound player who delivers plenty of hustle. The Elk River junior-to-be is able to score on the attack and can knock down shots from three, as well. Elsie, who is ranked #129 in the Class of 2026, averaged 8.7 points per game last winter.   [player_tooltip player_id='947972' first='Quinn' last='Osgood'] – 2027 guard, [program_tooltip program_id='712722' first='North' last='Tartan'] Southeast   The Austin freshman spent her AAU season with Russ Speer's Tartan Southeast squad, playing up two grade levels on the 17U team. While that task would be daunting for some, Quinn has taken things in stride all summer after a great freshman campaign in high school. The 5'7 guard has a strong, muscular frame and no fear on the court. She can score at multiple levels, knocking down step-back threes or exploding past defenders to finish at the rim. She has a plethora of moves in her bag to choose from when attacking the paint, and uses her creativity with the ball to get around defenders. Last winter with the Packers, Osgood was a consistent starter for coach Eric Zoske and was her team's second-leading scorer. She averaged 11.2 points and 5.6 rebounds per game. Look for Osgood to enter the Prep Girls Hoops rankings this fall.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-medium"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/07/Ellie-Herickhoff-crop-3565x2341-1721251244.jpg?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-948016" /></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='947971' first='Elly' last='Herickhoff'] – 2026 forward, [program_tooltip program_id='713021' first='West' last='Central United']   Watching Elly last fall was one thing; watching her this weekend at the Meltdown was something else altogether. That's how much progress the lanky forward from Sauk Centre has made over the past year. At 6'2, Elly has never had any trouble getting noticed. In the past it was all about potential. Now Herickhoff has become a highly productive member of WCU's 2026 squad out of Alexandria. Her most impactful contributions come on the defensive end of the equation. With prodigious length and good instincts, Elly is a disruptive competitor who can block shots and protect the rim. Offensively, her game has grown significantly. She can play with her back to the basket, executing down low with quality footwork. She can also can step out and make shots. Herickhoff has a ways to go in the strength department but her upside is real.   [player_tooltip player_id='453733' first='Emily' last='Anderson'] – 2025 forward, [program_tooltip program_id='712699' first='Minnesota' last='Rise']   There is a ton of similarity between Anderson and Herickhoff. From body type to height to frame size, they could pass for blood relatives. The difference is simply the passage of time. As an incoming senior, Emily has had one more year to fill out, get stronger and polish her tools to an attractive sheen. The Martin County West forward has positively blossomed this year, growing her game in all facets. The result has been an exceptionally good summer on a very strong Rise team coached by Bethany Lutheran's Emma Purfeerst. Now she's entertaining Division 2 opportunities. Emily has nice touch around the rim where she has amassed a good portion of her 1,000+ career points. Her mobility is good, her footwork is impressive, and the way her agility and mobility have improved over the years is notable. We love late bloomers and you should, too!   PGH scout Ally McGinnis contributed to these evaluations.

The 2024 AAU season is down to its last breaths. For players seeking opportunities to impress college coaches, July is the biggest stage of all. For some players, last weekend's North Tartan Meltdown was their final AAU tournament of the year while others are still grinding it out this week across the country. Regardless, these are some of the Meltdown participants who raised their stock when it mattered the most.