2027 AAU Breakout Player of the Year: Mariko Lang

What a difference a year makes – especially when we're talking about 9th grade. Every player improves at their own pace, of course, but freshman year is a common time period when we see prospects take big steps forward in their development, both physically and mentally. That was certainly the case for [player_tooltip player_id='764215' first='Mariko' last='Lang']. The soon-to-be sophomore from Hill-Murray has been transformed over the past 12 months into a top 50 prospect. Now we are pleased to select the [program_tooltip program_id='712362' first='Legacy' last='Hoops'] guard as our Prep Girls Hoops 2027 AAU Breakout Player of the Year.   Mari's growth over the past year is nothing short of remarkable. We certainly liked her game in the summer and fall of 2023, but the equation has been multiplied several times over in the months since. Lang's AAU coach Caitlin McKernon has had a front row seat to the evolution. She offered a laundry list of areas where Mari has grown her game.   “Mari's athleticism is always there, as you know,” said McKernon. “What she improved on was her basketball IQ and the mental toughness in every aspect of the game. Seeing the floor, being able to take charge, delegating to her teammates on the floor, situational plays on offense or defense, getting to the rim and finishing when a bucket is needed, finishing at the free throw line.”   We wrote about Lang prior to last high school season at the Breakdown Fall League where she was starting to figure things out and adapting to rigorous varsity competition with Hill-Murray. (That's when we took the photo above which doesn't do justice to her current physique.) She was solid then at both ends of the court in the fall. We watched again during the high school season and were most impressed by her growing confidence. Come spring, however, it was obvious that Lang had physically matured, become a whole lot stronger, and continued to hone her skill set. Everything just kind of blew up at that point – in a good way!   “It has helped tremendously,” McKernon said of Lang's physical transformation. “Even though she's about 5'11, I can still trust her handling the ball, but now we can also throw her inside when she has a mismatch. She's shifty around the rim and the size and height has been a huge factor for her there.”   Mari is long and bouncy. She's both quick and fast, and has the type of elevation and explosiveness that enables her to get up and over taller opponents at both ends of the floor. She's scrappy, too. Lang's motor constantly runs hot, and she never met a 50-50 ball she wasn't going to compete for in the fiercest ways possible. “The level of effort is always there. If the gym is open, she's in it!” said McKernon. “She is a wonderful kid. I am always happy I get to coach her and help her grow as an athlete.”   RUNNER-UP   [player_tooltip player_id='764229' first='Toni' last='Fisher'] – [program_tooltip program_id='712687' first='Minnesota' last='Fury'] 2027 UAA   It can often be difficult for players to stand out on AAU rosters that are positively loaded with scholarship-level prospects, but that wasn't the case for Fisher this summer. Week after week the Prior Lake sophomore-to-be showed big improvements in her aggressiveness and consistency on the floor, riding the momentum of her early success at the high school level. This past winter she appeared in 16 contests and averaged nearly 6 points per game on a veteran Lakers roster. The 5'10 guard has also grown quite a bit, getting both taller and stronger in recent months. At our last rankings update in June, Fisher rose 12 spots to move into the top 25 – a reflection of how much higher her ceiling has become. Much like her sister [player_tooltip player_id='453731' first='Haven' last='Fisher'] – our Class of 2025 Breakout Player of the Year – Toni could be a late bloomer, too. There's no telling how much bigger and better she will get.   HONORABLE MENTIONS   [player_tooltip player_id='639702' first='Ellie' last='Drange'] – [program_tooltip program_id='712687' first='Minnesota' last='Fury'] S40   The Hill-Murray guard had a breakout AAU season this summer in her first year with the Fury. Instantly she was a valuable asset for the S40 team, providing tangible contributions for her team on both ends of the floor. Some big performances in May earned Ellie an All-Tournament honorable mention at the AAU State Tournament and the next month she was rewarded in the PGH 2027 rankings update with a 14-spot jump to #45. Her increased offensive production and assertiveness that has served her well with the Fury will be just as valuable as she heads into her sophomore season at Hill-Murray. With an young core, the Pioneers will rely on Drange and Lang to play big roles this winter along with 2027 #1 [player_tooltip player_id='377583' first='Mya' last='Wilson'] and 2030 phenom [player_tooltip player_id='923286' first='Ashlee' last='Wilson'].   [player_tooltip player_id='764182' first='Ava' last='Litecky'] – [program_tooltip program_id='712687' first='Minnesota' last='Fury'] S40   Another honorable mention for 2027 AAU Breakout Player of the Year player goes to the lengthy guard from Totino-Grace, who made her debut with the Fury's S40 squad this spring. After a strong freshman season with the Eagles, the 5'11 guard made a big impact on the offensive end for the S40s. Ava put up big numbers in several tournaments, including a 21-point performance at the Summer Kickoff Classic and an 18-point game at the Mill City Invitational. Litecky's game has grown immensely in recent months and she is just scratching the surface of her potential. She has improved in her touch around the rim, pace, and understanding of the game. Litecky is ranked #54 in the 2027 class.   [player_tooltip player_id='667778' first='Laila' last='Moses'] – [program_tooltip program_id='712722' first='North' last='Tartan'] EYBL   The versatile guard/forward from DeLaSalle was a crucial component for Tartan's 15U EYBL team at several points throughout the 2024 AAU season. After moving up from the Elite squad, Laila provided an immediate infusion of scoring, particularly in transition. She had some big performances in the AAU State Championship series, including 8 crucial points that changed the momentum of the championship game against Fury 2027 UAA. Moses earned All-Tournament honors for her performances on the big stage. Laila's improvements in her defense and consistency has raised her stock as a college prospect, earning her a 6-spot jump in the rankings at the last update into the top 20.   PGH scout Ally McGinnis contributed to this article.

What a difference a year makes – especially when we're talking about 9th grade. Every player improves at their own pace, of course, but freshman year is a common time period when we see prospects take big steps forward in their development, both physically and mentally. That was certainly the case for Mariko Lang Mariko Lang 5'10" | CG Hill Murray | 2027 State MN . The soon-to-be sophomore from Hill-Murray has been transformed over the past 12 months into a top 50 prospect. Now we are pleased to select the Legacy Hoops guard as our Prep Girls Hoops 2027 AAU Breakout Player of the Year.