PGH Sophomore ID Camp: Team 3 standouts

Nearly 100 players competed on Sunday at the first Prep Girls Hoops Minnesota Sophomore ID Camp, a showcase for the Class of 2027 at Hopkins High School. Throughout the week, PGH scouts Tony Ragulen, Ally McGinnis and I will bring you team-by-team evaluations of the standout performers on each squad. Here are the top performers on Team 3.    Heading into her sophomore year, Drange has made some big leaps in her game. The first thing to jump out to us on Sunday was how much bigger and stronger she is. With a larger frame and an increased level of confidence in her play, Ellie was able to make the most of the day. She was impactful all over the floor, moving off the ball and setting screens, hitting three-pointers, and corralling rebounds. On offense Drange shared the ball well and didn't ever panic when facing an aggressive defender. We're fans of her calm, business-like demeanor and willingness to do whatever is needed of her on the court. Ellie played a big role for the Pioneers last season and these days her level of experience is really beginning to show.     Sunday was outstanding for the young Rangers guard. From the 3 x 3 play at the beginning of the day, all the way to the final buzzer of the last game of 5 x 5, Neyens played with a tremendous amount of energy and intensity. She was everywhere on the defensive end, displaying her quick lateral movement and ability to disrupt the passing lanes and apply ball pressure. On the other end of the floor Anna showed her speed, ability to read the defense and make well-timed cuts, and make the extra pass to an open teammate. She scored at multiple levels, driving to the basket and draining several long distance threes. Mountain Iron-Buhl will be building anew over the next couple years but look to be in great shape with Neyens running the show.     Coming from a West Central Wisconsin town of just over 1,000 people, Avery was a completely new face for our scouts at the start of the showcase. By the end of the day, we were wondering when we might get to see her play next. So much of Avery's game is textbook: her shot, the way she boxes out and grabs rebounds, the screens she sets, and her defense, too. From what we can tell, she has put some serious time into the fundamentals of the game. Standing at 5 '10 with a big frame, Glenz is a forward with guard skills. She's confident with the ball and can take it end-to-end, she can play both inside the paint and on the perimeter, and she can knock down shots from three rather efficiently.     Yet another Hill-Murray guard who gave a strong performance on Sunday was Nicholson, a 5'11 sophomore who is a prospect on the rise. The Legacy forward really stood out to us on the offensive end, showing off her ability to impact and score in a variety of ways. On the fast break, Kennedy ran the floor to get the easy finish; other times she made well-timed cuts to the basket for a layup. She showed off her footwork and handles when attacking the basket, where she was often met with contact that resulted in a trip to the free throw line. Nicholson also demonstrated a pretty spin move into the paint, followed by a left-hand finish, as well as a silky smooth pull-up jumper that looked like a piece of cake thanks to her length and ability to elevate over the defense.     The very first thing we noticed about the Wayzata guard at Sunday's showcase was the two or three inches she appears to have grown in recent months. Now standing at 6-foot-1, with tons of length and athleticism, Maren has a distinct physical advantage over most of her competitors. With a ton of star power on Team 3's roster for 5 x 5 play, Maren showcased the ability to do the little things. Day was relentless on the glass, used her length to disrupt ball movement on the defensive end, and never hesitated to make the extra pass to an open teammate. She also illustrated her understanding of the game in her ability to read the defense and create offense both for herself and others on her team. Coming off of a very strong AAU season with Tartan's top 2027 team, Day is expected to play a key role for the Trojans once again this winter.    PGH scout Ally McGinnis wrote these evaluations.

Nearly 100 players competed on Sunday at the first Prep Girls Hoops Minnesota Sophomore ID Camp, a showcase for the Class of 2027 at Hopkins High School. Throughout the week, PGH scouts Tony Ragulen, Ally McGinnis and I will bring you team-by-team evaluations of the standout performers on each squad. Here are the top performers on Team 3.