More Intriguing Youngsters at the PGH Minnesota Shootout

With plenty of talented players in the gym, the PGH Minnesota Shootout at Shakopee High School was a great way to kick off this year's AAU season. Grant McGinnis, Tony Ragulen, and I have already highlighted many of the fresh faces and top performers from the event, with more coverage still to come this week. Before that though, I wanted to highlight a handful of players who've sparked my interest for the first time.    With many of these players coming from smaller AAU programs or high school teams we don't get to see in person all that often, Saturday's event allowed us to shine the spotlight on lots of new names. But with four courts playing simultaneously and nearly 35 teams to watch I, admittedly, didn't get to see this group as much as I would have liked. Thankfully, the season is still young and there are plenty of tournaments on the calendar. That being said, here are seven youngsters who started the AAU season on a high note.    Hall was one of the first players to catch our eye on Saturday morning. Despite playing her first game of the AAU season at 8 a.m. the Minneapolis Southwest 8th grader was on her A game. Evelyn defended with energy and toughness, made good reads on the defense to find open looks, and stepped up for her team to finish out a close game. A scrappy, blue-collar type of player, the 5'6 guard could be a big piece for the Lakers in the coming years.     Standing at 5'9 with a solid, muscular frame, People is remarkably strong for her age. Playing up a year for [program_tooltip program_id='713420' first='Minnesota' last='Diamond Elite'], the Burnsville 8th grader impressed us on Saturday with her natural athleticism, ability to handle the ball, and body control on drives to the rim. Lela was aggressive on the boards, using her strength to position herself around the rim and steady hands to snag the ball away from her opponents. Already a key component at the varsity level, we'll be watching to see how her game grows this summer.     While she's not the biggest or flashiest player on the court, Beer's light feet, quick lateral movement, and end-to-end speed are impossible not to notice. At the PGH Minnesota Shootout, the [program_tooltip program_id='713291' first='Minnesota' last='Nice'] guard was highly effective on the defensive end. Using active hands and her ability to anticipate passes, Olivia got her hands in the passing lanes, generating several transition buckets for her team. On the offensive end, the Tri-City United 8th grader made well-timed cuts towards the basket and kept the ball moving on the perimeter.     The Owatonna freshman showed flashes of high-level play over the weekend, creating plenty of impact for [program_tooltip program_id='712722' first='North' last='Tartan'] SE. Standing at 5'7, Coleman is a quick and lengthy guard whose active defense was a difference maker at the PGH Minnesota Shootout. By keeping her head on a swivel and staying aware, Harper was able to grab loose balls, force turnovers, and find buckets in transition. On offense, she made smart cuts to the basket, often capitalizing on broken plays and gaps in the defense.     At 6 feet tall with plenty of strength and size, Haley immediately stood out to us on Saturday. The [program_tooltip program_id='713420' first='Minnesota' last='Diamond Elite'] power forward is mobile, runs the floor with ease, aggressive on the glass, and even brought the ball up the floor a handful of times. Journee impressed us with her utilization of the pick-and-roll, something we don't often see on the AAU circuit. The Shakopee freshman set plenty of solid, sturdy ball-screens, finishing the play with a soft touch at the rim.     Johnson brought the energy for Diamond Elite on Saturday, playing a gritty, high-intensity style on both ends of the floor. The 5'8 guard has a keen understanding of how to space the floor, both in the half-court and in transition, and how to control the pace of the game. At the PGH Minnesota Shootout, Jacqueline showed off her awareness on the defensive end, tight handle on the ball, and ability to use her physicality to her advantage. The Eagan freshman is a player we'll be keeping an eye on this summer.     Quick with the ball in her hands, explosive off the bounce, and a highly skilled ball handler, Hudson-Hicks gave us plenty to take notice of at the PGH Minnesota Shootout. The 5'3 guard was highly impactful for [program_tooltip program_id='713420' first='Minnesota' last='Diamond Elite'], picking up steals on the perimeter, pushing the ball in transition, and knocking down threes with a smooth release. Ameyah also showed off her craftiness on the drive, exploding past defenders and displaying a variety of different finishes at the rim.

With plenty of talented players in the gym, the PGH Minnesota Shootout at Shakopee High School was a great way to kick off this year's AAU season. Grant McGinnis, Tony Ragulen, and I have already highlighted many of the fresh faces and top performers from the event, with more coverage still to come this week. Before that though, I wanted to highlight a handful of players who've sparked my interest for the first time.