The best of week 1 at the Fall Exclusive

Way back in 2020, the Fall Exclusive was created to fill a gap that was created when the beginning of the high school season was delayed by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. A joint venture of Prep Girls Hoops and Jr All Star, the three-session event proved to be a big hit with players who were anxious to compete. Here we are four years later and Jr All Star continues to host these fun Friday night sessions. The Fall Exclusive – edition #5 – tipped off last Friday. I've been on a much-needed vacation for the past week but PGH scout Ally McGinnis was in the gym. Here are a few players Ally liked on opening night.   FRESH FACES   [player_tooltip player_id='1244956' first='Gianna' last='Diessner'] – Minnetonka (2029)   There was quite a bit of talent on the pink USC team Friday night, and the Minnetonka 8th grader was one of several who brought their A-game. With a long, athletic build, Gianna caught our eye immediately, but it was her versatile, fundamental style of play that kept us watching. Whether boxing out, crashing the glass for a well-timed board, setting screens, or moving off the ball, the 5'11 prospect did many of the little things that are essential to a team's success. Diessner demonstrated her versatility, playing from both the low post and the perimeter. Gianna can also knock down shots from range with a quick textbook release. She will play for Stars Wright next spring.   Macie Henrikson – Farmington (2029)   The Fury guard certainly impressed Friday on behalf of the Duke squad, displaying her aggressiveness and skill all night long. With an athletic, muscular build, Henrikson brings a physical presence to the floor that is as strong as her mental acumen. To put it simply, Macie plays hard. She hustles for every possession, can score at multiple levels and is a strong defender, as well. In several instances, we got to witness the Farmington 8th grader play some beautiful transition basketball, stealing the ball and finishing at the other end of the floor despite being heavily guarded. Macie exhibits a tremendous amount of body control when she attacks the basket allowing her to execute multiple types of tough finishes at the rim.   Kendall Malmgren – St. James (2030)   Next in line among the Malmgren sisters from St. James, 7th grader Kendall had an immensely productive performance on Friday night. The forward is incredibly long, moves well, and has a high-revving motor. Despite her young age, Kendall already has a decent repertoire of post footwork along with a natural ability for cashing in around the rim. On numerous occasions, we saw her finish through loads of contact or with several defenders around her. Malmgren consistently brought hustle and energy to every play, providing a huge spark for the K-State team. Like many players who grow quickly at a young age, it may take Malmgren some time to become a more coordinated, mature post player like her older sister [player_tooltip player_id='396427' first='Madelyn' last='Malmgren'], who recently committed to the University of Jamestown. Once the pieces fall into place, Kendall will be a force to be reckoned with in the paint.   MORE YOUNGSTERS OF NOTE   Melanie Carlson of the South Carolina squad looked like a younger version of the near-legendary Joey Batt, the point guard extraordinaire from New Ulm who just finished her collegiate career by leading MSU-Mankato to the D2 national championship. Carlson is a skilled guard who has strong handles, excellent court vision and is a quality passer. Defensively she is very aggressive, has quick lateral movement and plays with a high motor, a trifecta of attributes that led to some nice steals on opening night. The lefty can also fire the three-ball. Carlson just seems to have the ‘it factor' with tons of confidence and plenty of swagger.   [player_tooltip player_id='1246851' first='Aza' last='Baartman'], also of the South Carolina team, is a 2029 prospect from Goodhue who we saw a little bit this summer playing for the Stars Zabel/Post squad. The lengthy forward has a good-sized frame and an athletic build. We loved how she crashed the glass on night one at the Fall Exclusive. She is a sound fundamental performer who defends well and never got beat on the drive. She has a high basketball IQ, a strong motor, and the type of consistent work rate that definitely rate a ‘hustle player' designation.   STOCK RISER   [player_tooltip player_id='520266' first='Desirai' last='Chappell'] – Richfield (2025)   While the younger group was full of fresh faces, the late-night session gave us a chance to see a great group of familiar college prospects. Among them was Chappell, a senior guard from Richfield (pictured above) who gave an excellent performance on the first night of the three-week event. Competing for the Lynx team, Desirai spent much of the evening using her aggressive defense and lightning quick hands to pick off passes and loose balls from her opponents, often leading to buckets in transition. The 5'6 veteran also showed off her ability to be explosive on the downhill, attacking the basket with confidence and crafty ball handling. Chappell is a top 100 prospect in the Class of 2025. She is expected to play a big role once again for the Spartans in her final season of high school basketball.   PGH scout Ally McGinnis wrote these evaluations.

Way back in 2020, the Fall Exclusive was created to fill a gap that was created when the beginning of the high school season was delayed by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. A joint venture of Prep Girls Hoops and Jr All Star, the three-session event proved to be a big hit with players who were anxious to compete. Here we are four years later and Jr All Star continues to host these fun Friday night sessions. The Fall Exclusive – edition #5 – tipped off last Friday. I've been on a much-needed vacation for the past week but PGH scout Ally McGinnis was in the gym. Here are a few players Ally liked on opening night.