PGH Freshman Showcase: The best of Team 11

More than 100 prospects put their skills on display Sunday at the third annual Prep Girls Hoops Minnesota Freshman Showcase. The talented field at Hopkins High School was divided into 12 teams chosen at random by the super-secret (but less than perfect) PGH algorithm. The squads weren't exactly even, but our focus was on the individual performances rather than game outcomes or team play. We're analyzing players on a team-by-team basis. Here are the top performers from Team 11.    What I really enjoyed about watching Holmberg was her understanding of the moment. She had more than her fair share of ball dominant guards on her team so she found other ways to impact the game. She was one of few players that sprinted end to end whether they were the recipient of a pass or not. She kept moving and did a great job of staying spaced and giving her teammates driving lanes. Holmberg had opportunities to maybe force up a shot or two, but opted to make the right play and keep the ball moving for a better shot. She's lighting fast with the ball in her hands and when she did decide to attack, she got downhill with no wasted dribbles. I'd like to see her assert herself a little more offensively because she has the tools and puts it all out there for her team.     Reedy was one of the few from the class of 2029 participating in the Freshman Showcase and she wanted all the smoke. She is the definition of a gym rat, and that's what it takes to be successful in this game. This was a great opportunity for Reedy to face older, stronger competition, not something that's unusual for this athlete. Chloe was up for the challenge and didn't hide when the lights came on. Reedy pushed pace, attacked the basket and took good shots. The Royalton natives loves the game and is willing to do whatever it takes to come out on top.     Ohnstad was one of a few kids that didn't just walk into the gym and start firing 25 foot bombs to warm up. I saw her on the far end of the gym doing the Mikan drill to get the juices flowing. Once the games got underway, Piper was already a few steps ahead of the competition. The Class of 2028 is full of shooters, and when Ohnstad's feet are set, she ranks among the best of them. She has a nice handle and with her strong build, she's able to muscle her way to the bucket for the hoop and the harm. The last name may sound familiar, but we're gonna focus on Piper and let her carve out her own path.     Castle loves to shoot the rock from beyond the arc, and she should as well as she shoots it. Macy has a lighting quick release and will let it fly from anywhere with great success. She's no one-trick pony, either, as she can also put the ball on the deck and get into the paint where she is a crafty playmaker whether it's for herself or a teammate. There was a sequence where she knocked down a 3, on the ensuing defensive possession she blocked a shot which led to a transition bucket. On the very next offensive possession Castle knocked down another 3. In a 20-second span she accounted for 8 straight points. I'll take that kind of production seven out of seven days and twice on Sunday!     Like a few other paint-oriented players, Stender was at the mercy of the guards. She didn't sulk, didn't play outside of herself, she just put her head down and hit the offensive glass. Rim running is becoming a lost art as the game has shifted to the perimeter, but Stender is an example of not making excuses and going to get it herself. She was the recipient of bad shots being forced up and she just simply followed the ball and used her soft hands and ability to play angles for easy put-backs. Defensively she kept her head on a swivel and was willing to slide over into help and get back to hers to contest shots and come up with defensive rebounds so her team could get out and run. Adding a consistent 15- to 17-foot jump shot to her offensive bag will make her that much tougher of a cover.

More than 100 prospects put their skills on display Sunday at the third annual Prep Girls Hoops Minnesota Freshman Showcase. The talented field at Hopkins High School was divided into 12 teams chosen at random by the super-secret (but less than perfect) PGH algorithm. The squads weren't exactly even, but our focus was on the individual performances rather than game outcomes or team play. We're analyzing players on a team-by-team basis. Here are the top performers from Team 11.