Midwest Kickoff Classic: Fresh Faces in the Class of 2030

This weekend at the Midwest Kickoff Classic, we continued on our quest to evaluate the top talent in the class of 2030 as we prepare to release the Freshman 50 this fall. Ranking a new class of players is always a big undertaking, and this one is no exception. I spent much of my weekend at Bloomington Jefferson, hoping to add some new 8th graders to add to our ever-growing list of collegiate prospects. It's safe to say that I did not go home empty handed. Here are five players who separated themselves from the crowd.   [player_tooltip player_id='1827207' first='Kaitlyn' last='Dabout'] – 2030 Forward, [program_tooltip program_id='712697' first='MN' last='Crossfire'] 2030 Wilson   The Kickoff gave us our first chance to see many of the prospects in the class of 2030 play, including the Crossfire post. Dabout (pictured above) stands at 5'11, and with a strong, muscular build, makes for an imposing presence on the court. The Spring Lake Park 8th grader has a strong set of fundamentals, and showed the ability to consistently make the right decisions with the ball in her hands. Kaitlyn handles the ball like a guard, and can score with her back to the basket or on drives to the rim, absorbing contact from the defense along the way. She sees the floor well, feeding the ball on backdoor passes and drive-and-kicks. Dabout certainly has a shot at a spot in the Freshman 50.   [player_tooltip player_id='1827209' first='Makayla' last='Hurley'] – 2030 Guard, [program_tooltip program_id='712722' first='North' last='Tartan'] 14U EYBL   Standing somewhere around 5'11 with a long, lanky frame, Hurley fits right in on the [program_tooltip program_id='712722' first='North' last='Tartan'] 14U EYBL squad, which has the most size and length of any team in the grade by a wide margin. At the Midwest Kickoff Classic, Makayla impressed us with her long strides and fluid athleticism, as well as her ability to float to the rim, weaving through defenders along the way. The Wayzata 8th grader can score the ball at multiple levels, but excels at finishing in a variety of ways in the paint. On the defensive end, the [program_tooltip program_id='712722' first='North' last='Tartan'] guard used her length to alter shots, get in passing lanes, and grab rebounds over her opponents. Hurley is a player with some serious upside.   [player_tooltip player_id='1827219' first='Emmy' last='Stone'] – 2030 Guard, Enterprise Elite 2030   The Enterprise Elite point guard made herself known to our scouts over the weekend, impressing with her fundamentally sound and versatile game. Stone, who stands at 5'11, runs the floor with ease, is quick when moving side to side, and whose long strides and shifty ball handling allow her to glide to the rim. The Minnetonka 8th grader finishes well at the rim, can drain shots from the outside, and is a strong passer as well. On the defensive end, Emmy uses her long arms to get her hands in the passing lanes, leading to transition scoring opportunities for her team. We'll definitely be watching to see how her game evolves this summer.   [player_tooltip player_id='1827220' first='Brooklyn' last='Bryant'] – 2030 Guard, Enterprise Elite 2030   Bryant left a lasting impression on us at the Midwest Kickoff Classic, particularly due to her maturity and poise on the basketball court. The Enterprise Elite guard showed great patience with the ball in her hands, not getting sped up or rattled by the pace of play. Brooklyn consistently made smart plays on both ends of the floor. Instead of gambling on flashy defensive maneuvers, the Minnetonka 8th grader relied on her quickness, and defensive IQ to generate stops for her team. She was a vocal presence on the help-side, calling out screens and backdoor cuts for her teammates. On offense, Bryant excelled at using off-ball movement to create openings for herself, scoring most of her points off of quick release catch-and-shoot threes.   [player_tooltip player_id='1827221' first='Londyn' last='Dahl'] – 2030 Forward, [program_tooltip program_id='713021' first='West' last='Central United'] 2030 Blue   Dahl is impossible to miss. At 6'2, the [program_tooltip program_id='713021' first='West' last='Central United'] forward is certainly one of the tallest and lengthiest players in the class, which in the case of the class of 2030, is saying something. Though her game is still raw, Londyn has lots of untapped potential. She's light on her feet, runs the floor well, and has a knack for using her length to her advantage on the defensive end. The Minnewaska 8th grader can play with her back to the basket or on the perimeter and won't hesitate to shoot the three-ball. Undoubtedly, Dahl has scholarship level potential written all over her. With more confidence in the paint and a greater degree of physicality, her ceiling has the potential to get even higher.

This weekend at the Midwest Kickoff Classic, we continued on our quest to evaluate the top talent in the class of 2030 as we prepare to release the Freshman 50 this fall. Ranking a new class of players is always a big undertaking, and this one is no exception. I spent much of my weekend at Bloomington Jefferson, hoping to add some new 8th graders to add to our ever-growing list of collegiate prospects. It's safe to say that I did not go home empty handed. Here are five players who separated themselves from the crowd.