Sophomore ID Camp All-Showcase Team

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sunday's gathering at Hopkins High School was the first edition of the new Prep Girls Hoops Sophomore ID Camp, but it wasn't the first time we've seen the majority of the nearly 100 sophomores who showed up to strut their stuff. Fresh perspectives are always good, of course, and we collected many. Fresh faces with long-term potential are always exciting, and there were some of those, as well. We'll be bringing you team-by-team evaluations of the sophomore standouts over the next few days but we'll start out with the best of the best.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>These are the prospects who distinguished themselves the most at the first PGH Minnesota Sophomore ID Camp.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":998216,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-medium"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/09/Addison-Bjorklund_Mariah-Sexton-crop-1999x1313-1726503707.jpg?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-998216" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>BATTLE OF THE BIGS</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='665719' first='Addison' last='Bjorklund'] <strong>(Brainerd)</strong> <strong>vs [player_tooltip player_id='764943' first='Mariah' last='Sexton'] (STMA)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>When Sexton moved into Minnesota a few months back, the newest member of the St. Micheal-Albertville Knights was a highly regarded prospect in the state of Wisconsin. At 6'3, with a big body and no shortage of skill, it's no wonder that she was immediately awarded a top 10 ranking in Minnesota. At 6'1, with a ton of power and finesse, Bjorklund from Brainerd has been on our radar for several seasons now. She, too, has earned a top 10 ranking in the state. On Sunday, the two bigs went head to head and it was fun to watch. They battled down low with a ton of energy, showing off a little bit of “anything you can do I can do better” energy. Their competitiveness was evident, but so was the mutual respect. They even posed for a fun photo together afterwards. It won't be the last time the pair will face each other. Both play on high school teams in Section 8AAAA and their AAU squads for 2025 (Minneosta Fury for Sexton, [program_tooltip program_id='714566' first='Minnesota' last='Stars'] for Bjorklund) should be among the best next spring and summer.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":998220,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-medium"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/09/Alivia-Bell_Erma-Walker-crop-2016x1324-1726503792.jpg?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-998220" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>CHEMISTRY &amp; CHARISMA</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='659118' first='Alivia' last='Bell'] (Hopkins) &amp; [player_tooltip player_id='558627' first='Erma' last='Walker'] (Hopkins)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Although their games are total opposites, the crafty point guard and the skilled power forward are both top 10 prospects in the Class of 2027. That's where the similarities end. What they have in common now is the royal blue uniform of Hopkins High School. Ranked #9, and coming off a great summer with the [program_tooltip program_id='712687' first='Minnesota' last='Fury'], the 5'7 Bell has transferred to the Twin Cities from Winona where she has had a storied career to date. She'll join the 6-foot Walker, the 6th-ranked prospect in the class, who has been a mainstay at Hopkins since 7th grade and on the [program_tooltip program_id='712665' first='Metro' last='Stars']'s top team in AAU. What we saw on Sunday was two talented athletes playing with a ton of chemistry. Up and down the floor they went on behalf of Team 8, sharing the ball, setting themselves up for opportunities, and cashing in with high frequency. There were plenty of smiles and a few laughs involved, as well. It was impressive stuff and more than enough to earn all-showcase honors. That bodes well for their chances of success in the coming high school season where the pair will be vital for Hopkins.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":998226,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-medium"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/user-uploads/Pressley-Watkins-PGH-962-crop-2704x1776-1726504037.jpg?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-998226" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>MEETING EXPECTATIONS</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='498661' first='Pressley' last='Watkins'] (Benilde-St. Margaret's)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The #2 ranked prospect in the Class of 2027, Watkins has a long-established reputation as a highly skilled, uber-competitive athlete with a world of top-shelf potential. As she almost always does, Pressley showed off her rather substantial skill set on Sunday at the Sophomore ID camp on behalf of Team 5 where she teamed up with the likes of [player_tooltip player_id='659130' first='Jaliyah' last='Diggs'] (Hopkins) and [player_tooltip player_id='764182' first='Ava' last='Litecky'] (Totino-Grace) to do good work. The 6-footer competes in the winter for Benilde-St. Margaret's, which has been collecting high school state championships in bulk of late. Pressley's contributions to the cause are immeasurable. She's almost always worthy of an all-star selection and Sunday was no exception.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":998229,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-medium"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/user-uploads/Gigi-Coleman-PGH-327-crop-2714x1782-1726504145.jpg?w=300" alt="" class="wp-image-998229" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>COMING OUT PARTY</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='734360' first='Gigi' last='Coleman'] (Minnehaha Academy)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Prep Girls Hoops showcase events such as the Sophomore ID Camp offer a variety of opportunities for players depending entirely on their specific circumstances. Stars like Watkins and Bell and Walker reinforce their reputations. Rising standouts like Sexton and Bjorklund make scouts and college coaches remember why they are top 10 prospects. And then there are the stock risers, those who take their game to a new level on just the right stage. That's what Gigi did on Sunday.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The crafty point guard has long been on our radar. She has shown in both summer and winter ball that she is a solid next-level prospect. That's how Gigi earned the #65 ranking in the Class of 2027. At the sophomore event, she competed on behalf of Team 6, which featured point guard [player_tooltip player_id='498657' first='Aubrey' last='Steffl'] of Cedar Mountain, another rising star who had herself a day, as well. PGH scout Tony Ragulen will bring you the details when he analyzes Team 6. Coming off a terrific summer with the [program_tooltip program_id='712665' first='Metro' last='Stars'], Coleman showed us that she is ready to make an impact at Minnehaha Academy, where she has transferred this fall. Stay tuned.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>SECOND SIX</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='659130' first='Jaliyah' last='Diggs'] – guard, Hopkins</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='764222' first='Olivia' last='Bungum'] – guard, United South Central</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='498657' first='Aubrey' last='Steffl'] – guard, Cedar Mountain</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='654990' first='Kayla' last='Stork'] – guard, Byron</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='764229' first='Toni' last='Fisher'] – guard, Prior Lake</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='665720' first='Jersey' last='Coleman'] – forward, Owatonna</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list -->