One last lap for Minnesota’s classes of 2020 and 2021

With the college basketball season opening this week, the impact of Minnesota girls basketball on a national level is oh so obvious. That's particularly clear when it comes to the Class of 2020, a collection of elite talent that is now in its final season of what could be the most impressive showing by any class in recent memory. From Paige Bueckers (Hopkins) – the nation's #1 player entering the season – to Lauren Jensen (Lakeville North), Alyssa Ustby (Rochester Lourdes) and more, the COVID class has been and still is special. The 2021 graduates have been nearly as impressive. In a unique situation we hope will never be repeated, they are also college seniors in 2024-25.

The number of Minnesota graduates competing at the highest levels of the college game is truly remarkable. North Tartan and the Minnesota Fury – the state's premier AAU clubs – have nearly 100 D1 players between them, not to mention significant contributions from former Metro Stars , Minnesota Stars , Minnesota Comets , and more. I don't think there is another state that produces as many D1 players per capita as Minnesota does, although Iowa might make a case.

Without a doubt, Bueckers is the cream of the crop. Not only is she the premier performer to come out of Minnesota over the past decade – some would argue she's the best ever – but Paige has transcended the world of basketball to become an iconic figure beyond the gym. With Caitlin Clark having taken her three-ring circus to the WNBA, Paige is now the face of college basketball. Coming back from injury, Bueckers was nothing short of stellar last season for UConn. She started all 39 games, averaging 32 minutes, 22 points and 5.2 rebounds. She put up 150 assists, 86 steals and had 53 blocks while shooting 53% from the field and 42% from three. Paige has to be a lock for #1 pick in the WNBA draft if she remains healthy.

Jensen was the #2-ranked prospect in the Class of 2020. After starting her career at Iowa where she was bumped down the pecking order by Clark's late college commitment, Lauren transferred to Creighton as a sophomore and nailed the winning shot at the buzzer to eliminate the Hawkeyes from the NCAA tournament. Sweet karma! Last season she started all 32 games for the Bluejays, averaging 35 minutes and 17.4 points. She shot 44% from field and nearly 91% at the free throw line while dishing out 98 assists.

Ustby was ranked third by Prep Girls Hoops in the Class of 2020. In reality, she and Jensen were in a dead heat. Unfortunately, our rankings technology doesn't allow ties. Alyssa has had an outstanding career at North Carolina. Last year she started all 33 games. One of the more versatile players in the country, Ustby averaged 12.5 points on 47% shooting along with 9.5 rebounds. She had 118 assists, 55 steals and 44 blocks. Off the court she has been a high-profile student leader.

Remarkably, there are many more highly decorated 2020 graduates who have had unbelievable careers at the highest level. Liza Karlen of St. Paul, who played high school basketball at both St. Paul Central and Stillwater, was the 6th-rated prospect in the class. After leading Marquette last season with 17.7 points and 7.9 rebounds per game, she has transferred to Notre Dame as a graduate student and will surely be a starter.

5th-ranked Mallory Brake of Hastings and 7th-rated Molly Mogensen of Farmington both started every game last season at Creighton and were instrumental to the team's success. Abby Schulte of Maple Grove, ranked 9th in that class, played over 39 minutes per game at North Dakota State and is one of the most consistent players in Division 1. 4th-ranked Mackenzie Kramer of St. Michael-Albertville began her college career at Lehigh and is now a starter at Clemson.

8th-ranked Nneka Obiazor of Eden Prairie has experienced a ton of success at UNLV and is now at Grand Canyon University. And 10th-ranked Emily Russo of New Prague – always a D1 prospect in our opinion – helped MSU-Mankato to the D2 national championship last spring. Did we mention Anna Olson of Monticello? The big post has been an all-conference performer at the University of Vermont where she started all 37 games last season. She shot 56% from the field while averaging 11.6 points and 6.1 rebounds per game.

Like we said, 2020 was a remarkable year.

THE TRUE SENIORS OF 2021

What makes this year's senior class unique, of course, is the fact that there are actually two sets of players making their final lap of the college circuit. One of those four-year collegians who has done it all is point guard Jade Hill of the University of St. Thomas. Hill has been the backbone of the Tommies' transition to Division 1.

The former Prep Girls Hoops Top 10 prospect reminded us of that on Monday night as she scored 35 Points to lead UST to a dramatic overtime win against a strong UW-Milwaukee squad. In a game St. Thomas trailed by 7 points with under two minutes remaining in the 4th quarter, Hill seized the moment and willed her team to victory.

It was the type of show we've seen the Minneapolis South product put on since we first scouted her way back in 7th grade. “My teammates and coaches just give me the confidence to be able to do that,” she said at the post-game press conference. “They were just in my ear telling me, ‘You've got this.' That just really motivates me... Our offense is just a free-flowing motion. Anybody can score. Anybody can attack at any time. I think they just saw that I was on fire and they were getting me the ball so I could create for myself and for others.”

That's Hill's modesty speaking. Tommies head coach Ruth Sinn put it this way: “Jade needs to be a little more boastful,” her coach said. “She had the matchup and they couldn't stop her.” Playing 44 of the 45 minutes, Hill's scoring total set a St. Thomas record for points in a single game as she went 12-for-21 from the field and 9-for-12 at the free throw line.

Two other seniors were instrumental in the win over Milwaukee, including post Jo Langbehn of Elk River, who led the nation in field goal shooting percentage last season. On Monday, she went 6-for-9 from the field and 5-of-6 at the free throw line for 17 points. She also had the highest plus/minus rating in the game at +16. Another 2021 graduate who is crucial for UST is Jordyn Lamker of Maple Grove, a top 15 prospect in the class. Despite some injury setbacks early in her college career, Lamker has played 73 games for the Tommies and was in the starting lineup on opening night.

Elsewhere on Monday other 2021 graduates from Minnesota were also lighting it up, including Duluth Marshall graduate Gianna Kneepkens. The University of Utah standout is one of the premiere players in the country and was named to the pre-season watch list for the Naismith College Player of the Year award. After missing last season due to injury, Kneepkens stormed out of the gate against Southern Utah scoring 18 points and adding 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals and one block. She was 6-for-9 from the field and 4-of-6 from three. Not bad.

Kneepkens was a top 3 prospect in Minnesota's Class of 2021. Her Utah teammate Jenna Johnson of Wayzata was ranked 4th that year. The All-PAC 12 performer made the pre-season watchlist for the Katrina McClain Power Forward of the Year award. Jenna has over 1,000 career points and nearly 500 rebounds.

Paige Meyer is a former top 10-ranked prospect from Albany who has been pivotal for mid-major power South Dakota State. On Monday, Meyer had 12 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists in a come-from-behind 65-63 win over Rice University in Houston. The three-time All-Summit League selection scored her 1,000th career point last year against Utah in the first round of the NCAA tournament.

Among the many 2021 graduates who have had outstanding D1 college careers are guard Adalia McKenzie of Illinois, the top-rated prospect in the class when she played at Park Center. Then there are posts Sophie Hart at the University of Minnesota (Farmington), Anna Miller of Drake (Rochester Mayo) and Kierra Wheeler at Norfolk State (Robbinsdale Cooper).

We'd be remiss if we didn't mention one more Minnesota senior who has been dominant throughout her college career. That would be 6'6 post Ayoka Lee from Kansas State. The Byron graduate was a member of Minnesota's Class of 2018, but her career was extended due to multiple injuries. Yoki set an NCAA record in 2022 for points in a game with 61. The two-time All American has an endless list of accolades and will be a high WNBA draft pick if she chooses to play professionally.