PGH Newcomer of the Year: Madeleine Hamiel

Every year there are a handful of new prospects who burst onto the scene and make an immediate splash. Sometimes they are freshmen reaching varsity for the first time. Often they are players who have moved to Minnesota from elsewhere. The Newcomer of the Year award goes to a player who has not played a significant varsity role in Minnesota in previous years regardless of class.   Our 2022 winner, for example, was Jocelyn Land of Holy Family (now at Butler University) who had relocated to Minnesota from Vermont the previous summer. In 2023, we chose then-7th grader [player_tooltip player_id='433933' first='Chloe' last='Johnson'], a generational talent who took the state by storm in her first season of varsity competition. Last year it was [player_tooltip player_id='630285' first='Adele' last='Changamire'], who had an outstanding 8th grade season in Becker. This year's newcomer selection played an integral role in helping her team make it all the way to the State Tournament.   [player_tooltip player_id='897060' first='Madeleine' last='Hamiel'] – 2029 guard, Cretin-Derham Hall   When we first met Madeleine she was playing in an AAU tournament last spring in Bloomington wearing the uniform of TAP Manitoba from Winnipeg. Although we rarely take heed to players from out of state, there was something about her game that grabbed our attention. Before the contest was over, we learned that the Hamiel family would soon be relocating to Minnesota. That was a game changer.   In the fall Hamiel's name appeared on the roster at Cretin-Derham Hall where the 8th grader was part of a youth movement taking place in St. Paul led by 2nd-year head coach Tara Gunderson. She impressed again at the Breakdown Fall League and by the time we reached Christmas, Madeleine had become an impact player in Minnesota high school basketball.   How much of an impact? Along with fellow freshman [player_tooltip player_id='939003' first='Isabella' last='Deleeuw'] and junior [player_tooltip player_id='1164957' first='Sage' last='Gilbert'], Hamiel helped spark her team on an impressive roll that led all the way to Minneapolis in March. The Raiders knocked off undefeated Monticello in the opening round at State – their 21st victory of the year – before falling to Marshall in the semifinals. It was a terrific run led by younger players who have set the stage for what's to come at CDH.   Madeleine is a highly skilled athlete with a well-developed box of tools. What really separates Hamiel from the pack are her natural instincts and feel for the game. She always seems to be in the right place at the right time at both ends of the floor. And when she makes a mistake, she's usually the first one to the ball taking action to regain possession. Plus her motor never seems to stop running.   Hamiel averaged just under 11 points and 7 rebounds per game along with 1.3 assists and 1.7 steals while establishing herself as one of Minnesota's top prospects in the Class of 2029. We look forward to seeing what she does this spring with [program_tooltip program_id='712722' first='North' last='Tartan']'s best 8th graders.   HONORABLE MENTIONS   [player_tooltip player_id='939003' first='Isabella' last='Deleeuw'] – 2029 guard, Cretin-Derham Hall   If you're into Chinese philosophy then you might consider Hamiel as Cretin's “yin” to Deleeuw's “yang” – opposites in terms of style and approach but complementary forces that combined to form a cohesive whole greater than the sum of its parts. In other words, Isabella and Madeleine worked exceptionally well together as the pair played with maturity beyond their years. While Hamiel came from afar, Deleeuw grew up in CDH's backyard, graduating from St. Paul travel basketball and rising to the Raiders' starting lineup in a hurry. She's smart and savvy and plays with a ton of buzz. Despite a late season back injury, Deleeuw fought through the adversity to return in time for the State Tournament where we were reminded of just how bright her future can be.   [player_tooltip player_id='1090087' first='Lariah' last='Wright'] – 2030 guard, Minnetonka   Cracking the lineup of the defending Class 4A state champions was never going to be easy. Facing the elite level of competition dished up on a nightly basis in the venerable Lake Conference is obviously a daunting task. But none of that seemed to matter to Lariah. The precocious 7th grader emerged as a key piece for the Skippers, providing valuable minutes throughout the season. Wright is a highly skilled competitor with the type of court vision, basketball IQ and confidence in the heat of battle that you rarely see in younger players. Tasked with guarding some of the premier talent in the state, Wright was exceptional. Pressure? What pressure? Lariah delivered when it mattered and is clearly destined for big things.   [player_tooltip player_id='923286' first='Ashlee' last='Wilson'] – 2030 guard, Hill-Murray   Ashlee's arrival in high school basketball was highly anticipated. With a stellar record in travel ball and AAU, a boatload of natural attributes, and a special kind of carefree attitude and demeanor on the floor, we knew Wilson would be well worth watching. After all, every college coach we talk to about Ashlee's potential offers up effusive praises. Wilson did not disappoint. The lengthy 7th grader averaged 13.8 points per game and posted a season-high of 29 at Holy Angels as the Pioneers forged a record of 22-7. That's heady stuff for a newcomer trying to adapt to a more competitive environment and an old-school coach. We won't rank the Class of 2030 for another 18 months but when we do Wilson will surely be near the top.

Every year there are a handful of new prospects who burst onto the scene and make an immediate splash. Sometimes they are freshmen reaching varsity for the first time. Often they are players who have moved to Minnesota from elsewhere. The Newcomer of the Year award goes to a player who has not played a significant varsity role in Minnesota in previous years regardless of class.