Emerging talent we liked at the Heat's Battle for Mom

Scouting a player on video is one thing; seeing them live while sitting six feet from the baseline is a whole difference deal. We were reminded of this once again on Saturday at the [program_tooltip program_id='712689' first='Minnesota' last='Heat'] Battle for Mom where a sophomore from Braham put herself in the spotlight in a big hurry and we had a front row seat to witness it. That intriguing prospect leads the way today as we bring you some emerging talent we liked Saturday in Forest Lake.   [player_tooltip player_id='1175103' first='Morgan' last='Rysdam'] – 2027 guard, Braham   We watched Morgan a lot on video this winter. It was the only way we could make it work to catch a glimpses of the lengthy 5'8 guard. After seeking opinions from our eyes up North, as well as high school coaches who had faced Rysdam, we added Morgan to the Class of 2027 rankings at #114. Upon seeing her live for the first time on Saturday I can tell you we missed the mark. By a mile.   Rysdam's speed, quickness and athleticism jumped right out and immediately poked us between the eyes. Morgan is explosive, with light feet and a zero-to-60 burst that is elite. She moves well laterally, keeps her opponent in front of her effectively, and can guard players closely without fouling. She does a lot with the ball in her hands and has a nice, quick release on her shot. We watched Rysdam play three games, including a 26-point performance against Heat Bernardy.   Rysdam is coming off an outstanding sophomore season for a resurgent Braham program that went 23-6. She led the team in scoring at 18.3 points per game with multiple 30-point games. Morgan also averaged 9.1 rebounds, 4.3 steals and 3.4 assists while earning All-State Honorable Mention status from both the high school coaches and Prep Girls Hoops. In Saturday's second game, Rysdam was guarded by Proctor sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='665721' first='Peyton' last='Walker'] of Stars Lodermeier. The top 35 prospect offered a great measuring stick for where Morgan is at right now. It was a terrific battle and neither player surrendered an inch.   Rysdam joined Opportunity 10 North this spring after not participating in AAU in 2024. She played for the independent Northpost team prior to that. With her natural assets and the trajectory she's on, we would expect bigger clubs to be knocking on Morgan's door next year. The college coaches won't be far behind. As for that ranking, based on what we saw Saturday I think we're talking about a top 50 prospect here. We look forward to more opportunities to watch her play in the weeks ahead.   If you'd like to see more, click the link to her Hudl highlights below:   <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/18826135/67e46df6b94f342b6cd2c7da">https://www.hudl.com/video/3/18826135/67e46df6b94f342b6cd2c7da</a>     <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2025/04/Mallory-Clepper_Pine-City-crop-2669x1752-1744049836.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1229275" /></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='1229274' first='Mallory' last='Clepper'] – 2026 forward, Pine City   Saturday offered our first look at Mallory, an intriguing prospect who is competing for former Kansas State standout Rachel Ranke's [program_tooltip program_id='712689' first='Minnesota' last='Heat'] squad. Clepper's bigger frame promptly caught our attention. She's listed at 5'11 but looks bigger. Although she does need to get stronger, Mallory showed a willingness to do battle inside against good opponents. The lefty's skill set has grown over the past year and her productivity for the Dragons this winter emphasizes that improvement. Clepper led Pine City in points (14 per game), rebounds (9.9) and assists (3.2). Her mental toughness has improved as has her understanding of the game. The building blocks are definitely there for a positive long-term outcome. Mallory has plenty of stuff to work on but the track and tennis athlete has a chance to be good.   [player_tooltip player_id='990349' first='Jailynn' last='Sherill'] – 2028 forward, Hermantown   The 6-foot forward from [program_tooltip program_id='714566' first='Minnesota' last='Stars'] 2028 Hollie made a splash last fall at the Prep Girls Hoops Freshmen Showcase, so much so that she earned the #38 ranking in the Freshmen 50. After a highly productive winter for 18-9 Hermantown, Sherill arrived at the Battle for Mom ready to show off her enhanced physicality and toughness. She went at it with Addie Bergstad of Stillwater in one of the more physical confrontations of the afternoon. Jailynn is really good at using her superior length to advantage, employing her size and mobility to score over defenders. She can guard pretty much any position and shows lots of room for growth. Playing for coach Nia Hollie this spring is bound to help Sherill improve. The former Miss Basketball from Hopkins and Michigan State knows a thing or two about making opponents pay.   [player_tooltip player_id='910063' first='Taylor' last='Whitehill'] – 2027 guard, Mounds View   The 5'11 guard from [program_tooltip program_id='714566' first='Minnesota' last='Stars'] Lodermeier has had a nice growth spurt over the past year. Although she's still adapting to her new-found length, Whitehill is coming off an excellent season at Mounds View where she shared the backcourt with 7th grade phenom [player_tooltip player_id='1120672' first='Jaycie' last='Helmer']. Taylor averaged 6.6 points per game for the Mustangs. On Saturday she got stronger in every game, showing off some nice moves down low as well as the ability to elevate and score in heavy traffic. Whitehill has really long arms which are a huge asset at both ends of the floor, of course. She's still pretty raw but has plenty of upside. Taylor has just started working with trainer Robie Tensaie over at Verve Basketball. If she dives headfirst into that type of skill development, there's no telling how good Taylor might get.   OTHERS TO WATCH   There were a few other players who caught our eye on Saturday that we weren't able to fully evaluate yet. Aiyanna Ballard is a shifty guard from [program_tooltip program_id='713348' first='E1T1' last=''] Queens and Minneapolis Camden High School. With a strong build and plenty of athleticism, Ballard showed off her ability to take on defenders one-on-one. She can definitely score as her 19.6 points per game average this winter will attest. She scored her 1,000th career point in Frebruary. With more game experience and a team-first approach, the sophomore has the potential to play at the next level.   The Opportunity 10 North squad features several smaller guards, all of whom got noticed with the speed, skill and overall aggressiveness we are constantly seeking. We'll circle back later to provide more comprehensive evaluations but here are four names to know.   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='1213266' first='Ellie' last='Thill'] made 13 appearances for Forest Lake this winter, averaging 7.8 points per game.</li>   <li>Kylie Storkamp of Foley is a 5'5 shooting guard who was an all-6AA selection this winter and had multiple games over 20 points.</li>   <li>[player_tooltip player_id='1211276' first='Autumn' last='Hayes'] of Osseo played in 12 games for the Orioles, averaging 3.7 ppg.</li>   <li>[player_tooltip player_id='1211416' first='Olive' last='Maly'] was the 4th-leading scorer for Minneapolis Roosevelt at 5.8 ppg with 3.2 rebounds.</li> </ul>

Scouting a player on video is one thing; seeing them live while sitting six feet from the baseline is a whole difference deal. We were reminded of this once again on Saturday at the Minnesota Heat Battle for Mom where a sophomore from Braham put herself in the spotlight in a big hurry and we had a front row seat to witness it. That intriguing prospect leads the way today as we bring you some emerging talent we liked Saturday in Forest Lake.