State Championships preview: 2027 (16U) Division

Relative parity. That's been the history when it comes to the Class of 2027 at the AAU State Championships. This year's top seed – [program_tooltip program_id='712722' first='North' last='Tartan'] EYBL – captured last year's championship by a basket over [program_tooltip program_id='712687' first='Minnesota' last='Fury'] UAA. [program_tooltip program_id='714566' first='Minnesota' last='Stars'] Antl finished third. The year before it was the Fury who won, the Stars finished 2nd and Tartan was 3rd. Who knows what will happen in 2025. At the Prelims, Tartan scored a 13-point win over the Fury while the [program_tooltip program_id='712665' first='Metro' last='Stars'] 3SSB squad knocked off [program_tooltip program_id='712687' first='Minnesota' last='Fury'] S40 by two for the #3 seed. In other words, the division is up for debate. Here's a preview of the 2027 State Championship chase.   #1 seed – [program_tooltip program_id='712722' first='North' last='Tartan'] 2027 EYBL   Coached by Minnetonka assistant Macy Hattlestad, this is a talented group with a wide variety of sizes and skills. There have been a couple of important lineup changes that could have a significant impact on the tournament outcome. PLAYERS: Versatile guard [player_tooltip player_id='529357' first='Emma' last='Millerbernd'] of Providence Academy, the #4-rated prospect in the Class of 2027, is a mainstay for the squad along with #12 [player_tooltip player_id='659119' first='Maren' last='Day'], #13 [player_tooltip player_id='763004' first='Lyla' last='Hentges'], #14 [player_tooltip player_id='630241' first='Kate' last='Arnold'] and #18 [player_tooltip player_id='667778' first='Laila' last='Moses']. Big Jordan Christofferson of Fargo brings size, strength and grit to the proceedings. 7th-ranked [player_tooltip player_id='377584' first='Ava' last='Cupito'] of Hopkins played a few minutes at the Prelims but she's still recovering from a knee injury. KEY ADDITIONS: The recruitment of 6th-ranked [player_tooltip player_id='558627' first='Erma' last='Walker'] of Hopkins is huge for the Tartan 2027s. Coming off a dominant high school season, she was a big difference-maker at the Prelims. The team has added 2028 standout [player_tooltip player_id='806429' first='Amelia' last='Mills'] along with Wisconsin #21 Aubryn Clark from Rhinelander.   #2 seed – [program_tooltip program_id='712687' first='Minnesota' last='Fury'] 2027 UAA   This, too, is a team that is loaded with next-level talent. Coached by Sam Ebenreiter, this Fury group was very good from the start and has continued to add pieces every year. The gap between Tartan and the Fury in this age group is too small to quantify as last year's 2-point margin in the championship game will attest. PLAYERS: Highly recruited Benilde-St. Margaret's standout [player_tooltip player_id='498661' first='Pressley' last='Watkins'] (#2 in the Class) and #3 [player_tooltip player_id='578467' first='Amisha' last='Ramlall'] of Rosemount (University of Minnesota commit) highlight a Fury Roster that includes eight players among the top 20 sophomores. #9 [player_tooltip player_id='659118' first='Alivia' last='Bell'], #16 [player_tooltip player_id='764229' first='Toni' last='Fisher'], #17 [player_tooltip player_id='644100' first='Annika' last='Kieser'] and #20 [player_tooltip player_id='630245' first='Gianna' last='Carpentier'] represent a solid core. #26 [player_tooltip player_id='766676' first='Skyler' last='Mancini'] is having a breakout campaign. KEY ADDITIONS: The Fury added point guard [player_tooltip player_id='498658' first='Morgan' last='Mathiowetz'] from the Rise, the 11th-ranked prospect in the Class, along with post [player_tooltip player_id='764943' first='Mariah' last='Sexton'], who is currently ranked #10.   #3 seed – [program_tooltip program_id='712665' first='Metro' last='Stars'] 2027 3SSB   This roster has been largely revamped from last season with a handful of holdovers. Coached by Macalaster College assistant Zenise Chambers, the 2027s came within 8 points of [program_tooltip program_id='712722' first='North' last='Tartan'] on Friday night at the Prelims. They fell to the Rise on Saturday morning before rebounding with wins over the Stars and a two-point victory against [program_tooltip program_id='712687' first='Minnesota' last='Fury'] S40 in the contest for the #3 seed. PLAYERS: Back from last year's squad are #41 [player_tooltip player_id='734360' first='Gigi' last='Coleman'], #42 [player_tooltip player_id='764292' first='Aaliyah' last='Williams'], breakout performer #58 [player_tooltip player_id='764207' first='Kinnley' last='Colligan'] and versatile workhorse #66 [player_tooltip player_id='657022' first='Ava' last='Brynteson']. KEY ADDITIONS: The most significant addition is point guard [player_tooltip player_id='659130' first='Jaliyah' last='Diggs'], the 15th-ranked player in the Class of 2027, who is coming off a high school state championship run with Hopkins. The team also added #32 [player_tooltip player_id='644101' first='Samira' last='Taylor'], #40 [player_tooltip player_id='667779' first='Grace' last='Prose'], #43 [player_tooltip player_id='529334' first='Isa' last='Griefenhagen'] along with [player_tooltip player_id='897934' first='Lanaia' last='Durant'] and 2028 forward [player_tooltip player_id='1209360' first='Ava' last='Smith'] of Hopkins.   OTHER TEAMS TO WATCH   #4 seed [program_tooltip program_id='712687' first='Minnesota' last='Fury'] S40 returned five players this spring and added some nice pieces. The team is led by 34th-ranked [player_tooltip player_id='630243' first='Arshia' last='Ramlall'] of Rosemount and #53 [player_tooltip player_id='764183' first='Berkley' last='Blaisdell'] of Mahtomedi, who came over from the UAA squad.  #46 [player_tooltip player_id='639702' first='Ellie' last='Drange'], #49 [player_tooltip player_id='662003' first='Ava' last='Doherty'], #74 [player_tooltip player_id='764197' first='Hailey' last='Sicard'] and #82 [player_tooltip player_id='867054' first='Brynn' last='Verbout'] are experienced competitors. Crafty guard [player_tooltip player_id='889671' first='Nesa' last='Namjoshi'] was full of energy at the Prelims. The Fury added size with #57 [player_tooltip player_id='662002' first='Sara' last='Stern'] and #86 [player_tooltip player_id='932009' first='Cara' last='Sarbacker'].   #5 seed [program_tooltip program_id='712699' first='Minnesota' last='Rise'] Purfeerst finished in the top 5 at last year's State Championships but they return to the tournament minus elite talent [player_tooltip player_id='498658' first='Morgan' last='Mathiowetz'], who is now with the Fury's top UAA team. That is an enormous blow but it's still a talented collection of athletes led by 21st-ranked [player_tooltip player_id='595199' first='Maya' last='Kilian'] of New Prague and #25 [player_tooltip player_id='654990' first='Kayla' last='Stork'], a versatile guard from Byron. Workhorse [player_tooltip player_id='675954' first='Brooke' last='Mickolichek'], ranked #39, is an impactful competitor. The roster also includes  #51 [player_tooltip player_id='498657' first='Aubrey' last='Steffl'], #56 [player_tooltip player_id='764209' first='Kylie' last='Southworth'], #60 [player_tooltip player_id='947972' first='Quinn' last='Osgood'], #61 [player_tooltip player_id='764222' first='Olivia' last='Bungum'], #76 [player_tooltip player_id='764173' first='Lexi' last='Nicolai'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1257459' first='Amira' last='Williams'].   The darkhorse in this year's race is [program_tooltip program_id='714566' first='Minnesota' last='Stars'] 2027 3SSB. This is the former Scott Antl squad that has had so much success in the grade. The roster is not quite the same, however, after losing top-20 prospect [player_tooltip player_id='600748' first='Kaja' last='Nash'] to All-Iowa Attack. They earned the #7 seed at the Prelims. Top 10 [player_tooltip player_id='665719' first='Addison' last='Bjorklund'] of Brainerd, a University of North Dakota commit, is the backbone of the team, along with #23 [player_tooltip player_id='665720' first='Jersey' last='Coleman'], #24 [player_tooltip player_id='766677' first='Sienna' last='Duininck'], #29 [player_tooltip player_id='866100' first='Addie' last='Iversen'] and #47 [player_tooltip player_id='764194' first='Fiona' last='Anttila']. The addition of #22 [player_tooltip player_id='567389' first='Sydney' last='Friedly'] and #28 [player_tooltip player_id='764182' first='Ava' last='Litecky'] is a shot in the arm along with crafty guard [player_tooltip player_id='764213' first='Madalynn' last='McLaughlin'] (#68) and versatile [player_tooltip player_id='675981' first='Kaidyn' last='Roisum'].   OTHER PROSPECTS TO SEE   #35 [player_tooltip player_id='665721' first='Peyton' last='Walker'] – [program_tooltip program_id='714566' first='Minnesota' last='Stars'] Lodermeier   #36 [player_tooltip player_id='764215' first='Mariko' last='Lang'] – [program_tooltip program_id='712362' first='Legacy' last='Hoops'] 10th Elite   #37 [player_tooltip player_id='644107' first='Inarah' last='Nesbitt'] – [program_tooltip program_id='713348' first='E1T1' last=''] Queens   #48 [player_tooltip player_id='630225' first='Alexa' last='Juntunen'] – [program_tooltip program_id='714566' first='Minnesota' last='Stars'] Lodermeier   #55 [player_tooltip player_id='764224' first='Rachel' last='Wassermann'] – [program_tooltip program_id='714566' first='Minnesota' last='Stars'] Lodermeier

Relative parity. That's been the history when it comes to the Class of 2027 at the AAU State Championships. This year's top seed – North Tartan EYBL – captured last year's championship by a basket over Minnesota Fury UAA. Minnesota Stars Antl finished third. The year before it was the Fury who won, the Stars finished 2nd and Tartan was 3rd. Who knows what will happen in 2025. At the Prelims, Tartan scored a 13-point win over the Fury while the Metro Stars 3SSB squad knocked off Minnesota Fury S40 by two for the #3 seed. In other words, the division is up for debate. Here's a preview of the 2027 State Championship chase.