AAU Awards: Meet the 2024 Hard Hat All Stars

Sure you need scorers to win basketball games. Playmakers are crucial, too. But how would those key offensive pieces do their best work if it wasn’t for the players in the trenches – those hard-working, always-hustling, never-say-die competitors who show up every day and deliver their best efforts in whatever role the team needs them to play. It is these lunch-pail prospects we aim to highlight in our annual selection of the Prep Girls Hoops AAU Hard Hat All Stars, our final award of the grassroots spring and summer season.

What, exactly, earns a player a berth on this team? How about diving for loose balls, taking charges, making deflections, setting good screens, contesting shots, rebounding hard, always maintaining a high level of energy, and more. It’s not a secret that we like well-rounded competitors who will do whatever it takes to win.

We also love kids who “play the right way.” What does that mean? It means they communicate effectively, maintain eye contact with coaches when they are talking or listening. It means they are vocal cheerleaders from the bench. It means they are always hustling on the floor, playing with energy and passion and grit. They never take a play off, have the mental toughness to make it through adversity, the resilience to recover from their mistakes, and a commitment to the game that sets them apart. They simply do what needs to be done, how it needs to be done, when it needs to be done. One more thing: they aren’t afraid to be physical in whatever way is required.

Selection to the Hard Hat All Star team is reserved for players who check as many of these boxes as possible but often don’t get the recognition they deserve. They are rarely selected for the standard accolades of the award season. Of course, there are big-time players winning awards who meet all of the criteria described above. Players like Tori Schlagel Tori Schlagel 5'9" | CG Eden Prairie | 2025 State MN , Jordan Ode Jordan Ode 6'0" | CG Maple Grove | 2025 State MN and Rae Ehrman Rae Ehrman 5'9" | SF Eden Prairie | 2025 State MN , for example.

If they had not already been chosen for other awards this month, we would certainly have included 2028 Annabelle Gothmann Annabelle Gothmann 5'10" | CG Milaca | 2028 State MN of the Minnesota Comets , 2026 Audrey Schmidtke Audrey Schmidtke 5'11" | CG Lakeville South | 2026 State MN of Metro Stars , and 2025s London Harris London Harris 5'10" | CG Hopkins | 2025 State MN of Metro Stars and Addison Hoof Addison Hoof 5'5" | CG Lester Prairie | 2025 State MN of Minnesota Fury . Kudos to all of them and more. Here are some less-heralded players who haven’t received as much recognition this season. Without further ado, let’s meet the 2024 AAU Hard Hat All Stars.

FIRST TEAM

Lexi Hanna Lexi Hanna 5'9" | SG Maple Grove | 2025 State MN – As a top 50 prospect, the 2025 guard from Maple Grove and MN Crossfire has certainly had her time in the spotlight over the years. Given that this was her last AAU summer, however, we wanted to be sure that Lexi was recognized one more time for her lunch-pail approach to the game. She is committed to D2 Missouri-St. Louis.

Ella Hardwick Ella Hardwick 5'8" | SG Eden Prairie | 2025 State MN – The evolution of this uber-competitive 2025 guard from Eden Prairie and Real Phenom MN is a testament to her hard-hat mentality. Every year Ella got better, taking advantage of her opportunities and honing her craft. This summer she committed to D1 LaSalle University in Philadelphia, an opportunity that was 100% earned.

Madelyn Malmgren Madelyn Malmgren 6'0" | PF St. James | 2025 State MN – The big power forward from St. James and Minnesota Rise Purfeerst brings the fire every time out. That was the case from the first time we watched. Then came the skill development and experience and confidence. Now the 6-footer is a top 60 senior, a true blue collar competitior who makes opponents fight for everything they get.

Halle Eischens Halle Eischens 5'9" | CG Park Rapids | 2025 State MN – The 2025 guard from Park Rapids was one of the unsung heroes of Dre Jefferson’s Minnesota Suns S40 squad. While several other bigger names earned well-deserved in-season accolades for their efforts, Halle simply went about her business by making smart plays, keeping an even keel on the floor, and putting in the work it takes to win.

Emma Hanson Emma Hanson 5'9" Waconia | 2026 State MN – The 2026 guard from Waconia and Legacy Hoops is the quintessential blue collar competitor. Standing 5’9 with a solid build and plenty of strength, Emma can bang with the best of them and she’s got skills, too. Where she really shines, though, is on defense. We don’t talk about plus-minus stats very often but she may be the queen of the category.

SECOND TEAM

Camilla Thorsen Camilla Thorsen 5'7" | CG Edina | 2025 State MN – Speaking of playing the game the right way, how about the 2025 guard from Edina and Legacy Hoops Elite. The 5’8 senior can handle the ball, sees the court at a high level, and has the kind of basketball IQ that enables her to make one correct play after another. Millie’s constant hustle and defensive commitment has been a hallmark of her game.

Ellie Davis Ellie Davis 6'1" | PF Cambridge-Isanti | 2025 State MN – The 2025 forward from Cambridge-Isanti and Minnesota Stars Peterson has evolved into a physical force who can rebound, score and defend at a very high level. Standing about 6’1, Ellie has put in the work to forge herself into a top 75 prospect with an excellent future at the next level. We’ve never seen her give anything less than everything.

Kendyl Lodermeier Kendyl Lodermeier 6'0" | PF/SF Goodhue | 2025 State MN – If you watched the Minnesota high school state tournament last spring then we don’t have to tell you just how much Kendyl can impact a basketball game. Through sheer will, effort and physical presence, the 5’10 forward from Goodhue and Minnesota Stars Peterson has emerged as a top 50 prospect in the Class of 2025.

Mia Banks Mia Banks 5'10" | SF Rochester Mayo | 2026 State MN – There’s a lot to like about the 2026 guard from Rochester Mayo and North Tartan EYCL. Her skillset has grown so much over the past couple of years. Combined with her athleticism, strength and impressive level of effort, Mia more than made her mark this summer. She has definitely earned a hard hat and an opportunity at the next level.

Kendal Damon Kendal Damon 5'10" | SF Forest Lake | 2026 State MN – The hard-nosed 2026 forward/guard from Forest Lake and MN P.R.E.P. Buerman stands 5’10 with a big frame and a muscular build. She’s not afraid to be physical and competes super hard on a consistent basis. Thanks to a high IQ, deceptive quickness, and a fundamental skillset, Damon can also score the basketball in a variety of ways.