Breakdown Tip Off Classic: The Future is Bright, Part 2

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Part two of my Breakdown Tip Off Classic coverage from this past weekend shifts the spotlight back onto the youngest hoopers making noise across the state. After a full weekend packed with tough matchups and plenty of statement performances, these 9th-grade and under prospects proved they're more than ready for the moment. The pace was fast, the competition was strong, and the youngsters showed out from start to finish. Here are the next wave of standouts who caught my attention.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='941745' first='Nevaeh' last='Grosse'] – 2029 guard, Eastview</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>You don't land inside the top 15 of your class by mistake, and Grosse (pictured above) – slotted at No. 12 in the 2029 class – reminded everyone why she's earned that spot. Saturday night against St. Michael-Albertville, she was locked in from the jump, drilling five threes and finishing with a team-high 19 points. Her poise with the ball kept the offense steady, and her shooting gave the Lightning the spark they needed in a strong 67-53 win over the Knights. She played with confidence, stayed within herself, and made winning plays possession after possession. Her growth curve is still climbing, and it feels like she's just getting started.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1246849' first='London' last='Clardy'] <strong>– 2029</strong></strong> <strong>guard, Eastview</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Clardy is another freshman at Eastview who's earning her minutes the right way – by locking in on defense. She brought energy from the moment she checked in, flying around, hitting the floor for loose balls, and making life tough for whoever she was guarding. Her quick feet and active hands stood out, and she never looked rattled by the pace or the moment. Offensively, she stayed patient and let the game come to her, cashing in a three as a well-earned bonus for all the effort she was putting in on the other end. She's carving out a role early, and it's clear why the staff trusts her.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1256277' first='Tenlee' last='Egan'] <strong>– 2030</strong> guard, St. Michael-Albertville</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Egan has that sneaky athletic pop to her game, and it showed when she put the ball on the deck. She got into the lane with purpose and created clean looks, either for herself or her teammates. Coming off the bench for the Knights, she gave them exactly the boost they needed when the momentum started to slip. Her numbers won't jump off the page, but her presence was felt right away. Once she settles in and finds her comfort level, she's going to be another scoring option for St. Michael, even as a freshman. There's real upside here, and you can already see the pieces coming together.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1243841' first='Sawyer' last='Backer'] <strong>– 202</strong>9 guard, Wayzata</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Wayzata understands the path to state runs through Hopkins, and Backer will need to grow up fast for that to happen. She showed she's ready at the Breakdown Tip Off Classic, coming off the bench firing with confidence. She knocked down an early three, scored six points, and battled on the offensive glass to create extra possessions. Even more encouraging were the clean looks she generated within the offense. As she gets more comfortable, those shots will start to fall at a higher clip. If that continues, Wayzata gains another steady scorer – something they'll need as the season gets tougher.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='932145' first='Brielle' last='Denkmann'] <strong>– 2029</strong></strong> <strong>guard, Wayzata</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Denkmann joined Backer as one of the first players off the Wayzata bench on Saturday, and even though she didn't score, she still made her presence felt. The 6'0 forward got clean looks from the perimeter and used her size well around the rim to create chances. Shots didn't fall, but the number-two player in the 2029 class never let it shake her confidence. She stayed active, defended, and found other ways to help her team. Getting those early-season bumps out now is a good thing, because Wayzata will need her steady growth as the year moves forward.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1280312' first='Jayda' last='Nobles'] <strong>– </strong>2031 guard, Benilde-St. Margaret's</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As a 7th grader, Nobles was one of the youngest players to touch the varsity court on Saturday and looked right at home. She used her long frame to help made an immediate impact as she was caught in a 2-on-1 situation and recovered to block a shot at the rim without fouling, igniting a transition opportunity for the Red Knights. She continued to make her presence felt diving for loose balls, cutting off passing lanes and moving the ball on offense. Her basketball IQ for someone that young is off the charts. Stay tuned, there's so much more to come.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->