2029s we liked at the Summer Kickoff Classic

There was no shortage of fresh faces this weekend, found at both the [program_tooltip program_id='714566' first='Minnesota' last='Stars'] Summer Kickoff Classic and the [program_tooltip program_id='712697' first='MN' last='Crossfire'] Battle on the Hardwood. We began the weekend at Kennedy High School in Bloomington, the primary site of the Kickoff Classic. There we found plenty of new talent among players in the Class of 2029, as well as one more intriguing prospect among the upperclassmen. Here are those players.   Emily Haase – 2029 Guard, Osceola (WI)   This [program_tooltip program_id='712700' first='Minnesota' last='Suns'] 2029 Black guard made an early impression on us Friday evening. With a strong nose for the ball and the ability to jump passing lanes, Haase was able to wrack up numerous steals, leading to transition scoring opportunities for her team. The Osceola, Wisconsin 8th grader also demonstrated tremendous off-ball movement on offense, using sharp, speedy cuts to open up the floor. With no fear of contact at the rim and the ability to finish at a high rate, Emily excels at both driving to the basket in the half court and scoring in transition. We also saw a glimpse of her outside shot, which has a smooth, textbook release.   Rowan Hausmann – 2029 Guard/Forward, Becker   Another member of the [program_tooltip program_id='712700' first='Minnesota' last='Suns'] 2029 Black squad, Hausmann demonstrated a significant degree of tenacity and toughness on Friday night. Using both her strong frame and physicality, the 5 '10 forward applied the pressure on the defensive end, forcing her opponents into numerous mistakes and creating extra possessions for her team. Rowan uses her length to create deflections, grab rebounds, and block shots. With an endless motor, high athleticism and the ability to run the floor, and a strong competitive edge, the Becker 8th grader certainly has the potential to play at the next level. Having competed with the Bulldogs varsity squad this winter, Hausmann is looking ready to take on an even bigger role in her freshman season.    Eva O'Brien – 2029 Guard, Visitation   Our final Suns 29 Black prospect to highlight is O'Brien, a bouncy young guard from Visitation in Mendota Heights. Standing at 5'6 with a smaller frame, the 8th grader is not physically imposing. She is, however, incredibly quick and highly effective on the floor. With light feet and quick hands, Eva is a pickpocket when guarding the perimeter. It wasn't long before we lost count of how many steals and deflections she had created in Friday's game. Once the ball is in her hands, O'Brien is a strong finisher in transition. In the half court we were impressed with Eva's ability to read the defense – knowing when to shoot, attack the basket, or make the pass to an open teammate. She led all scorers with 10 points.    [player_tooltip player_id='1117021' first='Harper' last='Rutz'] & Emma Kortuem – 2029 Guards, Cleveland   The two guards from [program_tooltip program_id='712699' first='Minnesota' last='Rise'] 2029 Heiderscheidt made a big impact on Friday night. Both on the smaller side, Rutz and Kortuem are quick, light on their feet, and athletic. Harper, a 5'2 8th grader from Cleveland, was a nightmarish match-up on the defensive end. On one possession, she picked up back-to-back steals in the full court press leading to two buckets for her team. Rutz is a high IQ player who doesn't force shots. She sees the floor well and is a keen passer. Emma, who is also from Cleveland, has an immense work ethic and never gives up on the play. Several times we saw her sprinting back on defense, diving for loose balls, and coming up with extra possessions for the Rise. Emma's athleticism is most evident in her excellent lateral movement and elevation. Kortuem can easily hit shots from the outside, knocking down a few in the contest.    Emily Schoenrock – 2027 Forward, St. Francis   The 6'3 post player of [program_tooltip program_id='712689' first='Minnesota' last='Heat'] Waterworth is impossible to miss when she steps on the court. With immense length and a strong muscular frame, the sophomore from Saint Francis is already built like a college athlete. Add in light feet, the ability to run the floor with ease, and a high degree of body control and Schoenrock becomes an even more intriguing prospect. While we didn't get the chance to see much of her offensive capabilities in the game we watched (though she did put up two double figures performances over the weekend), we did see Emily's keen ability to catch the ball in the low post, her willingness to drive to the basket from the perimeter, and a high degree of hustle. This is a prospectwho is definitely worth coming to see.

There was no shortage of fresh faces this weekend, found at both the Minnesota Stars Summer Kickoff Classic and the MN Crossfire Battle on the Hardwood. We began the weekend at Kennedy High School in Bloomington, the primary site of the Kickoff Classic. There we found plenty of new talent among players in the Class of 2029, as well as one more intriguing prospect among the upperclassmen. Here are those players.