Intriguing young prospects who've caught our attention

Minnesota's pipeline of girls basketball talent just keeps on flowing. And flowing. And flowing some more. Every week we see new players break into the spotlight, taking advantage of their opportunities and wedging their way into the conversation. Over the past couple of weeks we've seen new talent at the Granite City Classic, the Southern Minnesota Hoops Fest, at individual live games and online. Here are five young prospects who've caught our attention.   [player_tooltip player_id='1616472' first='Ashlynn' last='Wolff'] – 2029 forward, Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton   Pictured above, Wolff made a strong first impression at the Southern Minnesota Hoops Fest last Saturday with her length, mobility, and steady all-around game. The 6'0 forward has a long, lean build and is still adding strength, but her feel and skill already stand out. Wolff averages nearly 12 points and 9 rebounds per game for the Bulldogs. She handles the ball frequently, often bringing it up the floor to initiate offense. She runs well with long strides, keeps her hands ready in catch-and-shoot situations, and can score smoothly on the move or off a simple turn in the lane. Defensively, her length causes problems, whether wrapping up ball handlers or walling up near the rim. Wolff keeps things simple, plays with toughness, and shows flashes of advanced footwork. Higher-level competition and training would definitely unlock even more upside. This is a player with scholarship potential.   [player_tooltip player_id='1559037' first='Kali' last='Schultz'] – 2030 guard, Delano   Schultz is one of the most exciting 8th graders we've seen this season, and her live performance on Saturday at Kasson-Mantorville against Stewartville backed up everything we'd seen watching online. The shifty Delano guard plays with zero fear, attacking defenders with ferocity and elite quickness. Her feet are super-fast, and she changes speed and direction effortlessly, making her a nightmare to contain. Schultz has been thrust into a much bigger role due to injuries and has responded with confidence and swagger. Mistakes don't linger – she shrugs them off and keeps coming. Defensively, her lateral movement and anticipation stand out just as much as her offense. A member of [program_tooltip program_id='712722' first='North' last='Tartan']'s loaded 2030 Nike group last summer, Schultz is already battle-tested and trending toward being a high-impact point guard at the next level. This is a D1 prospect all day long.   [player_tooltip player_id='939005' first='Haley' last='Schoenrock'] – 2030 forward, St. Francis   Schoenrock is a high-impact 6'2 forward who is turning heads for her current productivity and long-term possibility. Averaging nearly 15 points, over 10 rebounds, and more than four steals per contest, Haley impacts the game on both ends with her explosiveness and motor. In a recent matchup against Becker, she guarded top-five prospect [player_tooltip player_id='884449' first='Andie' last='Changamire'] and still filled the stat sheet with 20 points, 14 rebounds, 7 assists, 3 steals, and 2 blocks. On Monday she put up 21 points against Big Lake, underscoring her consistency. Schoenrock runs the floor well, plays with aggression, and embraces physical play. She'll join [program_tooltip program_id='712722' first='North' last='Tartan'] this spring, where her athleticism and versatility should enable her to compete well.   We're excited also about her twin sister [player_tooltip player_id='939006' first='Sophie' last='Schoenrock'], a 6'4 post still sidelined following meniscus surgery. Sophie is a strong rebounder, moves well for her size, can guard in space, and has game-changing length as a rim protector. It's been a good while since St. Francis had our attention but this Saints group is interesting.   [player_tooltip player_id='1310922' first='Claire' last='Meyer'] – 2028 forward, New Prague   Meyer showed noticeable growth at the Granite City Classic during the Christmas holidays, building on the solid foundation we saw at the PGH Sophomore ID Camp in the fall. The 5'10 forward has a strong frame, good feet, and a quality first step that allows her to get by defenders, particularly attacking from the left side. Meyer plays the post with maturity beyond her years, establishing deep seals, finishing with both hands, and reading the ball well off the glass. She rebounds with strength, moves well in traffic, and finishes through contact. Just as impressive is her vision – she sees the floor, delivers passes on time, and makes smart decisions. Meyer's understanding of block play, combined with her physicality and improving skill set, makes her a prospect on the rise.   [player_tooltip player_id='1623342' first='Hayden' last='Tyler'] – 2030 guard, Orono   While much of the attention Monday was on the record-setting 51-point performance by Creighton commit [player_tooltip player_id='471360' first='Mya' last='Moore'], the emergence of Tyler in Orono's rotation was one of the more intriguing developments of the night. It is injuries that have opened the door for Hayden as sophomore guard [player_tooltip player_id='815078' first='Zoey' last='Johnston'] is now sidelined for the season after hip surgery while senior wing [player_tooltip player_id='782553' first='Amelia' last='Schwendimann'] missed Monday's game with a concussion.   The 5'10 guard stepped in on Saturday against Alexandria and made an immediate impact, knocking down three triples. On Monday Tyler earned significant minutes against top-ranked Benilde-St. Margaret's. She looked comfortable and confident, spacing the floor, defending with energy, and crashing the glass. A lefty with a smooth handle and clean shooting stroke, she's a natural floor-stretcher whose length gives her an advantage defensively as her four or five blocks on Monday will attest. Having practiced with varsity all season, Tyler appears ready for a regular role.

Minnesota's pipeline of girls basketball talent just keeps on flowing. And flowing. And flowing some more. Every week we see new players break into the spotlight, taking advantage of their opportunities and wedging their way into the conversation. Over the past couple of weeks we've seen new talent at the Granite City Classic, the Southern Minnesota Hoops Fest, at individual live games and online. Here are five young prospects who've caught our attention.