AAU Awards: Top defenders of the year

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Defense wins basketball games. Coaches know it. Players know it. We know it. When post-season awards are handed out at every level, however, it seems it is the scorers who get all of the attention. That's why we do our best to recognize the top defenders at the conclusion of both the high school and grassroots seasons. This time around, we polled more than a dozen AAU coaches to ask their opinions on the top defenders they had seen this spring and summer. The results were interesting. Then we combined their opinions with our thoughts to come up with our AAU top defenders of the year delineated by class.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Some of the players cited here are regulars in this category. 2027 guard [player_tooltip player_id='529357' first='Emma' last='Millerbernd'] won our high school defender of the year award when she was in the 8th grade! That's never happened before – such a young player capturing top honors on defense – and it probably won't happen again. Last year Millerbernd earned honorable mention status in our AAU defender of the year category behind two all-time greats – <strong>Tori McKinney</strong> (now at the University of Minnesota) and <strong>Liv McGill</strong> (Florida). Not surprisingly, Emma leads the way here in the Class of 2027.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Emma isn't the only regular among this year's honorees. We'd also include 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='262910' first='Tori' last='Schlagel'] of [program_tooltip program_id='712722' first='North' last='Tartan'] and 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='205310' first='Tori' last='Oehrlein'] of [program_tooltip program_id='712700' first='Minnesota' last='Suns']. We could have included 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='252381' first='Maddyn' last='Greenway'], too, but given how much recognition Maddyn gets on a regular basis we wanted to spread the love around a little. There are a couple of players we do want to single out, names that kept coming up when we talked with the coaches:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='478365' first='Audrey' last='Schmidtke'] – The 2026 guard from the [program_tooltip program_id='712665' first='Metro' last='Stars'] and Lakeville South is a bulldog. Nobody brings the energy, effort and physicality more than Audrey. She is just really difficult to play against and absolutely relishes the opportunity to go head-to-head with the top offensive players in the state. Schmidtke plays with equal parts ferocity and joy – a rare combination.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='471360' first='Mya' last='Moore'] – The uber-skilled guard from [program_tooltip program_id='712722' first='North' last='Tartan'] and Orono is one of the most gifted offensive players in the state, a top prospect who can distribute, shoot and score with the best of them. But it is Mya's reliable defensive presence that sets her apart. When Tartan needed to call someone up to their 17U squad mid-season, that was one of the key reasons why Moore got the nod and she delivered.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='215457' first='London' last='Harris'] – The elite defender from the [program_tooltip program_id='712665' first='Metro' last='Stars'] top 2025 squad excelled once again this summer just as she did last winter at Hopkins. Much like Schlagel, London does so much good work on a regular basis that she sometimes gets overlooked. Harris brings the energy, high intelligence and commitment to craft that all great defenders seem to have. Nobody is more dialed in than London with the possible exception of her AAU teammate [player_tooltip player_id='296527' first='Aneisha' last='Scott'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='346165' first='Hadley' last='Thul'] – There's nothing like length to alter the course of a basketball game on the defensive end. There aren't many longer forwards in Minnesota than the South Dakota State commit from [program_tooltip program_id='712722' first='North' last='Tartan'] EYBL and Alexandria. Over the years, Thul has added strength, physicality and toughness to the equation, which has taken her defense to another level.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='498661' first='Pressley' last='Watkins'] – The do-it-all talent from [program_tooltip program_id='712687' first='Minnesota' last='Fury'] 2027 UAA can certainly deliver on the offensive end of the floor. In reality, though, her defense has just as much impact on her team's success. After winning a state high school championship in her first year at Benilde-St. Margaret's, Pressley rolled into the AAU season and delivered week after week.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>CLASS OF 2025</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>First Team</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='262910' first='Tori' last='Schlagel'] – [program_tooltip program_id='712722' first='North' last='Tartan'] EYBL (Eden Prairie)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='346165' first='Hadley' last='Thul'] – [program_tooltip program_id='712722' first='North' last='Tartan'] EYBL (Alexandria)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='215457' first='London' last='Harris'] – [program_tooltip program_id='712665' first='Metro' last='Stars'] 2025 Pryor (Hopkins)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='296527' first='Aneisha' last='Scott'] – [program_tooltip program_id='712665' first='Metro' last='Stars'] 2025 Pryor (DeLaSalle)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='205298' first='Jordan' last='Ode'] – [program_tooltip program_id='712687' first='Minnesota' last='Fury'] UA (Maple Grove)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Second Team</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='330744' first='Savannah' last='Borowicz'] – [program_tooltip program_id='714566' first='Minnesota' last='Stars'] 3SSB (Jordan)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='296528' first='Sam' last='Wills'] – [program_tooltip program_id='714566' first='Minnesota' last='Stars'] 3SSB (Visitation)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='396435' first='Addison' last='Hoof'] – [program_tooltip program_id='712687' first='Minnesota' last='Fury'] UAA (Lester Prairie)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='296531' first='Tatum' last='Woodson'] – [program_tooltip program_id='712700' first='Minnesota' last='Suns'] S40 (Hopkins)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='296517' first='Katie' last='Kelzenberg'] – <strong>Real Phenom</strong> S40 (Wayzata)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>CLASS OF 2026</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>First Team</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='471360' first='Mya' last='Moore'] – [program_tooltip program_id='712722' first='North' last='Tartan'] EYBL (Orono)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='344333' first='Cail' last='Jahnke'] – [program_tooltip program_id='712722' first='North' last='Tartan'] EYBL (St. Michael-Albertville)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='478365' first='Audrey' last='Schmidtke'] – [program_tooltip program_id='712665' first='Metro' last='Stars'] 3SSB (Lakeville South)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='205310' first='Tori' last='Oehrlein'] – [program_tooltip program_id='712700' first='Minnesota' last='Suns'] 2025 S40 (Crosby-Ironton)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='339179' first='Brylee' last='Miller'] – [program_tooltip program_id='712699' first='Minnesota' last='Rise'] Wolfe (Fairmont)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Second Team</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='458302' first='Abbie' last='Pietila'] – [program_tooltip program_id='712687' first='Minnesota' last='Fury'] UAA (Delano)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='344332' first='Kate' last='Holmquist'] – [program_tooltip program_id='712687' first='Minnesota' last='Fury'] UAA (Maple Grove)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='721209' first='Ayla' last='Caskey'] – [program_tooltip program_id='712722' first='North' last='Tartan'] Elite (New London-Spicer)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='472446' first='Amaya' last='Penn'] – [program_tooltip program_id='714566' first='Minnesota' last='Stars'] 3SSB (St. Croix Lutheran)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='515688' first='Lexie' last='Mathews'] – [program_tooltip program_id='712665' first='Metro' last='Stars'] 3SSB (Eastview)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>CLASS OF 2027</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>First Team</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='498661' first='Pressley' last='Watkins'] – [program_tooltip program_id='712687' first='Minnesota' last='Fury'] UAA (Benilde-St. Margaret's)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='659118' first='Alivia' last='Bell'] – [program_tooltip program_id='712687' first='Minnesota' last='Fury'] UAA (Hopkins)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='529357' first='Emma' last='Millerbernd'] – [program_tooltip program_id='712722' first='North' last='Tartan'] EYBL (Providence Academy)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='567389' first='Sydney' last='Friedly'] – [program_tooltip program_id='712722' first='North' last='Tartan'] EYBL (Benilde-St. Margaret's)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='600748' first='Kaja' last='Nash'] – [program_tooltip program_id='714566' first='Minnesota' last='Stars'] Antl (Wayzata)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Second Team</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='529334' first='Isa' last='Griefenhagen'] – [program_tooltip program_id='714566' first='Minnesota' last='Stars'] Antl (Minnehaha Academy)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='644100' first='Annika' last='Kieser'] – [program_tooltip program_id='712687' first='Minnesota' last='Fury'] UAA (Wayzata)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='764209' first='Kylie' last='Southworth'] – [program_tooltip program_id='712699' first='Minnesota' last='Rise'] Busse (St. Peter)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='558627' first='Erma' last='Walker'] – [program_tooltip program_id='712665' first='Metro' last='Stars'] 2025 3SSB (Hopkins)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='911448' first='Kylie' last='Olson'] – [program_tooltip program_id='713291' first='Minnesota' last='Nice'] 2025 (NRHEG)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>CLASS OF 2028</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>First Team</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='897050' first='Annabelle' last='Gothmann'] – [program_tooltip program_id='767539' first='Minnesota' last='Comets'] Boone (Milaca)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='911664' first='Brianna' last='Eggers'] – [program_tooltip program_id='767539' first='Minnesota' last='Comets'] Boone (Buffalo)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='953273' first='Kaelee' last='Hansen'] – [program_tooltip program_id='718403' first='Minnesota' last='Freeze'] (Elk River)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='644898' first='Ally' last='Moore'] – [program_tooltip program_id='712722' first='North' last='Tartan'] Nike (Lakeville North)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='904190' first='Malin' last='Youngberg'] – [program_tooltip program_id='713021' first='West' last='Central United'] (Little Falls)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Second Team</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='565313' first='Elsa' last='Retzlaff'] – [program_tooltip program_id='713021' first='West' last='Central United'] (Hillcrest Lutheran)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='908286' first='Lauren' last='Robison'] – [program_tooltip program_id='712722' first='North' last='Tartan'] Nike (Lakeville North)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='630242' first='Caelyn' last='Foster'] – [program_tooltip program_id='712697' first='MN' last='Crossfire'] (St. Michael-Albertville)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='866655' first='Maggie' last='Joyce'] – [program_tooltip program_id='712699' first='Minnesota' last='Rise'] Wright (New Ulm)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='644896' first='Logan' last='Miller'] – [program_tooltip program_id='712687' first='Minnesota' last='Fury'] UAA (Andover)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list -->