Previewing State: What to watch in 2028 and 2029

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The clock is ticking down to the opening of the AAU State Championships weekend Friday night in Bloomington. Ally McGinnis and I will be in Shakopee Saturday and Sunday where D1 games will be played in the four high school classes; Tony Ragulen will be back and forth covering the Class of 2030. It's a bracketed tournament – #1 vs #16, #2 vs #15 and so on – which is the right way to determine the best of the best a la March Madness.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Earlier in the week we brought you separate previews of the 2026 and 2027 divisions. Our intent was to do the same with the 2028s and 2029s. Unfortunately, real life steps in sometimes and chews up the available hours so this is our plan B – a brief overview of what to watch among the state's best 8th and 9th graders. Enjoy.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2028 (U15) STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Top 5 Seeds</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#1 [program_tooltip program_id='712722' first='North' last='Tartan'] 2028 EYBL</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#2 [program_tooltip program_id='713021' first='West' last='Central United'] 2028 Blue</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#3 [program_tooltip program_id='712687' first='Minnesota' last='Fury'] 2028 UAA</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#4 [program_tooltip program_id='714566' first='Minnesota' last='Stars'] 2028 3SSB</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#5 [program_tooltip program_id='767539' first='Minnesota' last='Comets'] 2028 Elite</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>5 Elite Prospects to See</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='908260' first='Maggie' last='Dyer'] – The big guard from [program_tooltip program_id='712722' first='North' last='Tartan'] <strong>EYBL</strong> (Rochester Mayo) is off to a flying start this AAU season. She's ranked #4 in Minnesota's freshman class and she can dominate a game.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='772240' first='Sarah' last='Poepard'] – The lengthy wing from [program_tooltip program_id='712687' first='Minnesota' last='Fury'] <strong>UAA</strong> suffered a broken nose on the UAA circuit two weeks ago and did not let that deter her. The #6 prospect is a smooth shooter, even with two black eyes!</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='911664' first='Brianna' last='Eggers'] – The big post from [program_tooltip program_id='767539' first='Minnesota' last='Comets'] <strong>Elite</strong> (Buffalo) continues to own the paint for a solid Comets team that keeps improving. She's ranked #9 in the state among freshmen.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='904190' first='Malin' last='Youngberg'] – The lengthy guard from [program_tooltip program_id='713021' first='West' last='Central United'] <strong>Blue</strong> (Little Falls) turned in a virtuoso performance at the Prelims at both ends of the floor. She's top 10 for so many reasons.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='914941' first='Briana' last='Foster'] – The gifted guard from [program_tooltip program_id='714566' first='Minnesota' last='Stars'] <strong>3SSB</strong> (Minnehaha Academy) is consistently good trending to great and she's just getting started. Bri is ranked #14 and rising.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Best Opening Round Game</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#6 [program_tooltip program_id='712687' first='Minnesota' last='Fury'] 2028 S40 vs #11 [program_tooltip program_id='712722' first='North' last='Tartan'] 2028 EYCL</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Troy Zaiser's Fury squad is led by dynamic 2029 guard [player_tooltip player_id='939000' first='Kiera' last='Willis'] of Benilde-St. Margaret's, a highly skilled athlete with a world of potential. She averaged over 10 points per game at the Prelims. [player_tooltip player_id='992382' first='Allie' last='Hudgens'] of Minnetonka wasn't far behind. Take a look at crafty guard [player_tooltip player_id='991212' first='Callie' last='Lynch'] (#61)  of Northfield, a pint-sized dynamo. They'll face a new [program_tooltip program_id='712722' first='North' last='Tartan'] team put together in conjunction with ETS Academy that has recruited some impressive ranked players. They include [player_tooltip player_id='953273' first='Kaelee' last='Hansen'] (#30),  [player_tooltip player_id='918649' first='Reese' last='Keating'] (#35), [player_tooltip player_id='804247' first='Brielle' last='Gray'] (#37), [player_tooltip player_id='989050' first='Jenna' last='Nelson'] (#52) [player_tooltip player_id='1133948' first='Brooke' last='Estochen'] (#54) and [player_tooltip player_id='992383' first='Allie' last='Lima'] (#66). The game is at 8:25 p.m. Friday at Kennedy on court 4.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1233604,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2025/04/Korbin-Tanner_2029-NLS-crop-3770x2476-1744736236.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-1233604" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2029 (U14) STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Top Seeds</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#1 [program_tooltip program_id='712722' first='North' last='Tartan'] 2029 EYBL</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#2 [program_tooltip program_id='712687' first='Minnesota' last='Fury'] 2029 Blue</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#3 Inspired Athletics 2029 Jr EYBL</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#4 [program_tooltip program_id='714566' first='Minnesota' last='Stars'] 2029 Zabel</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#5 [program_tooltip program_id='712687' first='Minnesota' last='Fury'] 2029 Yellow</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>5 Elite Prospects to See</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='884449' first='Andie' last='Changamire'] – The long, athletic guard from [program_tooltip program_id='712722' first='North' last='Tartan'] <strong>EYBL</strong> (Becker) recorded a 43-point performance in a varsity game this winter. That says it all about her potential.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='932145' first='Brielle' last='Denkmann'] – The lengthy guard from [program_tooltip program_id='712687' first='Minnesota' last='Fury'] <strong>Blue</strong> (Wayzata) just might be the top prospect in the Class of 2029. She has all of the tools to achieve greatness.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='939003' first='Isabella' last='Deleeuw'] – The crafty floor general from [program_tooltip program_id='714566' first='Minnesota' last='Stars'] <strong>Hersch</strong> (Cretin-Derham Hall) already led her high school team to the Class 3A State Tournament as an 8th grader.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='1233136' first='Korbin' last='Tanner'] – The 6'2 8th grader from [program_tooltip program_id='713021' first='West' last='Central United'] <strong>Blue</strong> (New London-Spicer) is big, strong and fast, an emerging talent whose potential is sky high.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='1057125' first='Macie' last='Henrikson'] – The physical guard from [program_tooltip program_id='712687' first='Minnesota' last='Fury'] <strong>Yellow</strong> (Farmington) burst onto the high school scene in the second half of the season and she keeps on getting better.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Best Opening Round Game</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#3 Inspired Athletics Jr EYBL vs #14 [program_tooltip program_id='714566' first='Minnesota' last='Stars'] Wright</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>You aren't going to see a better #14 seed in this tournament than Willie Wright's 2029 Stars. They started in the H Pool at the State Prelims and cruised through their slate of opponents with an average winning margin in excess of 30 points. Watch high-skill guards [player_tooltip player_id='1090087' first='Lariah' last='Wright'] and <strong>Lamairah Wright </strong>along with <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1244956' first='Gianna' last='Diessner']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1246849' first='London' last='Clardy']</strong> and more. They'll face a feisty Inspired Athletics squad out of Fargo propelled by both North Dakota and Minnesota talent, including guard [player_tooltip player_id='1090102' first='Kimora' last='Givens'] from Minnehaha Academy. The game is at 7:20 p.m. Friday at Kennedy on court 6.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For tournament details and the complete schedule visit <strong><a href="https://aauevents.com/mn-aau-girls-state">aauevents.com</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->