Who are the Top 10 prospects in the South, Southwest?

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As we've noted throughout this week's series, the depth of girls basketball talent across Greater Minnesota is no longer a secret. What began as a slow and steady emergence more than a decade ago has now become a full-fledged movement – and the pipeline keeps on flowing. We saw it “Up North” on Monday. We wrote about it Tuesday in our look at the West Central region. And today we turn our attention to the South and Southwest.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For the purposes of this list, we've defined South and Southwest as the region stretching west of Interstate 35 to the South Dakota border and south of Highway 212 to the Iowa line. It's a big footprint, covering a wide range of communities. Many of the schools in the area are small, but that hasn't stopped them from turning out some serious next-level girls basketball talent.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Much of the credit for that growth goes to the [program_tooltip program_id='712699' first='Minnesota' last='Rise'], an AAU program that has become the beating heart of girls basketball in the region. Under the direction of Ryan Hulke, the Rise has been instrumental in identifying, developing, and elevating elite-level talent in an area where athletes are often pulled in multiple directions. In small schools, multi-sport participation is the norm – a fact that can make it difficult to field quality spring and summer squads. That's changing.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>At the top levels of the Rise program, players are expected to commit at a higher level. That expectation has paid off, not just in wins and tournament success, but in skill development, exposure, and ultimately college offers. No team epitomizes that better than the Rise 2026 squad, which has been one of the state's best for the past several years. The 2027 team has been really good, as well. It's no surprise, then, that nine of the top 10 players on this list are current or former members of the Rise program.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Today we spotlight the Top 10 prospects in South/Southwest Minnesota, along with 10 more players to watch.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#1</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='280354' first='Tucker' last='Downs'] <strong>– 2026 guard, Mankato West (South Dakota)<br></strong>After missing the summer of 2024 due to injury, Tucker returned in a big way this year, showing why she remains the top prospect in South/Southwest Minnesota. The 5'11 guard is a graceful, explosive athlete with elite length, elevation, and touch. Although it was later than planned, Tucker's transition from the Rise to the [program_tooltip program_id='712687' first='Minnesota' last='Fury'] was a big success. She has committed to the University of South Dakota.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#2</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='515673' first='Brielle' last='Janssen'] <strong>– 2026 forward, MACCRAY (MSU-Mankato)<br></strong>Janssen is a multi-sport athlete who shifted her focus from volleyball to basketball with great success. That decision vaulted Brielle into the top 15 of Minnesota's senior class. The talented forward from MACCRAY is long, athletic, instinctive, and increasingly dominant. Her runner-up finish for Class A Player of the Year and superb summer with the [program_tooltip program_id='712699' first='Minnesota' last='Rise'] illustrate just how high her stock has climbed.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#3</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='498658' first='Morgan' last='Mathiowetz'] <strong>– 2027 guard, Sleepy Eye St. Mary's (North Dakota State)</strong><br>Mathiowetz elevated her game and her exposure this summer by joining the top [program_tooltip program_id='712687' first='Minnesota' last='Fury'] UAA squad, cementing her status as a top-10 prospect and leading to a Division 1 commitment to NDSU. Morgan's July live period was exceptional. The reigning Class A Player of the Year has high-end skills, great basketball IQ, and relentless energy.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#4</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='339175' first='Brooklyn' last='Lewis'] <strong>– 2026, New Ulm (MSU-Mankato)<br></strong>Lewis has delivered on her early promise, elevating to #18 in the 2026 class and committing to MSU-Mankato. The [program_tooltip program_id='712699' first='Minnesota' last='Rise'] point guard is a gifted playmaker with elite ball-handling, fast hands, and superior court vision. She plays with poise, shoots it well, and knows how to run a team. Lewis is the engine that has powered one of the most talented Rise squads ever.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#5</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='589276' first='Taleigha' last='Bigler'] <strong>– 2026 guard, Marshall (SW Minnesota State)</strong><br>Bigler's growth spurt transformed her game, pairing skill and smarts with length and toughness. After a strong season at Marshall, Bigler cemented herself as a top-20 prospect. The [program_tooltip program_id='712699' first='Minnesota' last='Rise'] point guard is a gritty two-way player who defends hard and makes intelligent decisions. The daughter of SMSU men's coach Brad Bigler, she'll stay home to play for the Mustangs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#6</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='339179' first='Brylee' last='Miller'] <strong>– 2026 guard, Fairmont (MSU-Mankato)<br></strong>Miller is an athletic, high-motor guard who thrives on chaos. Another product of the [program_tooltip program_id='712699' first='Minnesota' last='Rise'], Brylee is a disruptive defender and relentless attacker. Miller is a top 25 prospect whose skill set will be perfect in the innovative MSU-Mankato system. With a unique combination of speed, hops, and intensity, Miller brings junkyard-dog energy to every play.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#7</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='866655' first='Maggie' last='Joyce'] <strong>– 2028 guard/forward, New Ulm<br></strong>Joyce had a challenging summer but that doesn't diminish her status as a top-20 prospect thanks to her size, toughness, and skillset. At 6 feet tall, Joyce is solidly built, strong for her age, and plays with grit. Maggie's ball handling has improved as has her shooting range. Look for Joyce to step up, embrace the challenge and take her game to new highs this winter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#8</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='498662' first='Jadyn' last='Kor'] <strong>– 2026 guard, Pipestone</strong><br>Kor's profile has steadily risen over the years, especially after transferring from AAU in South Dakota to the [program_tooltip program_id='712699' first='Minnesota' last='Rise']. Now a top 30 prospect in the Class of 2026, the Pipestone standout became her school's all-time scoring leader last winter. &nbsp;A big-bodied guard with scoring ability, passing instincts, and defensive tenacity, Kor's best basketball is still ahead of her.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#9</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='766677' first='Sienna' last='Duininck'] <strong>– 2027 guard, Central MN Christian</strong><br>Duininck may come from a tiny private school in Prinsburg, but her impact is big by every measure. A skilled, cerebral point guard, Sienna competes at a high level with [program_tooltip program_id='714566' first='Minnesota' last='Stars'] and has already passed 1,000 career points in high school. A top-30 player in her class, Duininck combines floor leadership, vision, and a knack for making the right play at the right time.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#10</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='773408' first='Lily' last='Hubin'] <strong>– 2026 guard, Buffalo Lake-Hector-Stewart (SW Minnesota State)<br></strong>Another member of the [program_tooltip program_id='712699' first='Minnesota' last='Rise'] 2026 squad, Hubin has climbed into the top 50 with her consistent scoring, tough on-ball defense, and gritty playmaking. She averaged 20+ points per game for BLHS and showed her clutch scoring ability and midrange touch in AAU play. The 5'9 guard committed early to Southwest Minnesota State and continues to grow her game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>OTHERS TO WATCH</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='502551' first='Brooklin' last='Hinze'] – 2026 guard, St. Clair</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='911448' first='Kylie' last='Olson'] – 2027 forward, NRHEG</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='498657' first='Aubrey' last='Steffl'] – 2027 guard, Cedar Mountain</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='764209' first='Kylie' last='Southworth'] – 2027 guard, St. Peter</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='764222' first='Olivia' last='Bungum'] – 2027 guard, United South Central</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='999555' first='Ivy' last='O'Rourke'] – 2027 guard, United South Central</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='991284' first='Sydney' last='Towne'] – 2028 guard, Marshall</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='902567' first='Amyra' last='Mahik'] – 2028 guard, Pipestone</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='981166' first='Leah' last='Brustad'] – 2029 guard, New Ulm</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='1106575' first='Zadi' last='Farmer'] – 2029 guard, Jackson County Central</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->