Six emerging prospects who've impressed in December

By the time Christmas comes along, many young players have had sufficient opportunities to distinguish themselves on the basketball court. Others are still waiting for the chance to strut their stuff. Throughout December we've seen plenty of both. Over the past week or so, we scouted several young athletes who are making the most of their opportunities. Here are six emerging prospects who've impressed in December.   [player_tooltip player_id='1568411' first='Jordince' last='Wind'] – 2031 guard, Cass Lake-Bena   The Wind family is well-known in Cass Lake basketball circles. That would include Panthers head coach Martin Wind, who scored over 2,600 points in his decorated high school career. His girls roster includes a sister, a cousin and now his daughter Jordince. We saw the 7th grader for the first time on Saturday at Visitation and were suitably impressed. Jordince is very bouncy with super quick feet and plenty of elevation. She's crafty with the basketball, sees the floor really well, and makes heady decisions on the floor for someone so young. Consider that she's currently averaging 15 points per game and is pivotal to everything the Panthers do. Already 5'7ish and growing fast, chances are she's going to be long and lean. Stay tuned because Jordince has a chance to be very good.   [player_tooltip player_id='1559037' first='Kali' last='Schultz'] – 2030 Guard, Delano   A shifty 5'5 guard with a high basketball IQ, Schultz is rapidly becoming an important piece for Delano. After limited varsity cameos a year ago, she's now averaging about 15 minutes per game and is expected to step into a starting role due to injuries. We think she's ready. Schultz currently plays off the ball but projects long-term as a point guard thanks to her vision, feel, and decision-making. She's a skilled handler, a smooth outside shooter, and a capable scorer inside the arc. Her work ethic stands out and she's constantly in the gym refining her game. A summer spent with the top [program_tooltip program_id='712722' first='North' last='Tartan'] team in her age group clearly accelerated her development. Schultz impacts the game in multiple ways and continues to get better by the week.   [player_tooltip player_id='992409' first='Josie' last='Danks'] – 2028 Guard, Pipestone   Danks appears to have made a substantial leap forward since the fall, and her growth was evident when we watched live on Monday in St. James. Now standing 5'10 with excellent length, Josie brings real two-way potential to the floor. A Sanford Sports AAU player and accomplished cross-country competitor, Danks runs well, competes hard, and uses her length effectively. She appears to be growing more confident in a starting role and shows improving skill with the ball. While her scoring numbers are modest right now, her upside is significant as she continues to get stronger. Defensively, Josie's length is disruptive – she seems to get a hand on everything. This is a high-upside prospect whose production will rise with time.   [player_tooltip player_id='1314500' first='Wynne' last='Birk'] – 2029 Guard, Eagan   Despite playing on a veteran-laden Eagan squad, Birk has earned a starting role and leads the Wildcats in scoring at over 11 points per game. The 5'9 guard is long, wiry, and fluid, with a sneaky first step that gets her to the rim with relative ease and a smooth, textbook stroke from deep. She plays with calm poise, helping settle the game when things speed up. Birk is active on the offensive glass, creates extra possessions, and uses her length well defensively to block shots and disrupt passing lanes. Light on her feet with strong lateral movement, she's an effective perimeter defender. Her high IQ and understanding of spacing continue to stand out as her role expands.   [player_tooltip player_id='991162' first='Laila' last='Romsdahl'] – 2028 Guard, St. James   Romsdahl continues to build on a strong summer with the Rise, carrying that momentum into her high school season. The 5'9 multi-sport athlete is averaging 11 points and nearly 7 rebounds per game, bringing energy and versatility every night. She moves well, plays with pace, and has the length to get downhill and finish. Her high-arcing shot and quick release make her a consistent perimeter threat, and her confidence as a scorer is growing. Romsdahl reads the game well, knowing when to attack and when to move the ball, and she makes teammates better. Defensively, her active hands and instincts allow her to disrupt plays on a regular basis. Laila is a true sparkplug with scorer's tools.   [player_tooltip player_id='1572164' first='Jacey' last='Sodeman'] – 2030 Forward, St. James   For an 8th grader, Sodeman already looks the part. At 5'11 with wide shoulders and a strong frame, she immediately stands out physically and is already producing every time she comes on the floor to compete. Sodeman averages 4–5 rebounds per game and shows the strength to defend varsity players right now. She's a smart, powerful player who can score in multiple ways, put the ball on the floor, and finish at the rim. While not a speedster, she runs the floor well enough and consistently gets to the right spots. The resemblance to her older sister Taylor – now a starter at Briar Cliff University in Iowa – is unmistakable in both movement and presence. Jacey's combination of size, strength, and feel points to a strong future at the next level.

By the time Christmas comes along, many young players have had sufficient opportunities to distinguish themselves on the basketball court. Others are still waiting for the chance to strut their stuff. Throughout December we've seen plenty of both. Over the past week or so, we scouted several young athletes who are making the most of their opportunities. Here are six emerging prospects who've impressed in December.