2027 AAU State Championships: Top performers

[program_tooltip program_id='712687' first='Minnesota' last='Fury'] UAA took home the 11th grade AAU State Championship on Sunday. Here is our Prep Girls Hoops Most Valuable Player and 10 top performers. Selections were made solely from teams that made the final four since that's what we were able to see.   MOST VALUABLE PLAYER   [player_tooltip player_id='377583' first='Mya' last='Wilson'] – [program_tooltip program_id='712687' first='Minnesota' last='Fury'] UAA   Welcome home, Mya. After spending some time south of the border, the Hill-Murray guard and No. 1 rated player in the 2027 class decided it was time to finish her AAU career back where it started. The physical guard did a little bit of everything – rebounded, defended, and of course attacked the paint, bullying her way to whatever spot she wanted. What stands out when watching a loaded Fury roster is just how impactful Wilson is without needing to dominate the scoring column. Her ability to clean the glass and instantly push pace changed games, whether it was firing the ball ahead for a hockey assist or stopping on a dime to bury a mid-range jumper or a three. She still piled up 51 points across the state tournament, including 18 in the title game. It's definitely nice to have her back.   THE TOP 5   [player_tooltip player_id='498658' first='Morgan' last='Mathiowetz'] – [program_tooltip program_id='712687' first='Minnesota' last='Fury'] UAA   Mathiowetz set the tone right out of the gate in the championship game, knocking down two bombs from beyond the arc to get the scoring started and putting the whole gym on notice. The Sleepy Eye St. Mary's guard is a one-woman fast break, and that was on full display late in the first half of the semifinal when she sparked the run that became the beginning of the end for [program_tooltip program_id='712699' first='Minnesota' last='Rise']. Just when it felt like Rise might have some upset hopes, Mathiowetz slammed the door on her former team with a smooth spin into a mid-range jumper, followed by a pull-up in transition that left opponents hanging their heads. She went on to lead all scorers with 20 in the title game and helped [program_tooltip program_id='712687' first='Minnesota' last='Fury'] finally get over the hump. I'm sure North Dakota State can't wait to get this dynamo on campus.   [player_tooltip player_id='578467' first='Amisha' last='Ramlall'] – [program_tooltip program_id='712687' first='Minnesota' last='Fury'] UAA   The Rosemount state champion and University of Minnesota commit is known for stretching the floor with the long ball and filling it up in a hurry. She tallied 42 points in the three games posted, and while her shooting gets most of the headlines, her defense deserves just as much love. In the semifinal against the Rise, she set the tone with physical, up-in-your-face pressure from end to end. Ramlall seemed to be everywhere. To score the way she does and still defend with that same energy shows why the Gophers got in early. She carried that effort into the championship game, knocked down four triples, and finished with 18 points. It just isn't fair.   [player_tooltip player_id='630241' first='Kate' last='Arnold'] – [program_tooltip program_id='712722' first='North' last='Tartan'] EYBL   Arnold wasted no time making her presence felt in the semifinal against [program_tooltip program_id='712665' first='Metro' last='Stars'], getting things started with a tough offensive rebound and putback that easily could've turned into a three-point play. No whistle, no reaction, just right back on defense. That tells you everything you need to know about how she plays. If you've watched her at Chanhassen, that effort level comes as no surprise. On a [program_tooltip program_id='712722' first='North' last='Tartan'] roster loaded with talent, finding consistent production isn't always easy, which makes her 16-point performance in the quarterfinals that much more impressive. She embraced her role all weekend, defending with purpose, keeping the ball moving, and doing the little things that help good teams win. By tournament's end, Arnold had totaled 47 points, averaging just under 12 per game while once again proving she can impact winning without needing everything to run through her.   [player_tooltip player_id='595199' first='Maya' last='Kilian'] - [program_tooltip program_id='712699' first='Minnesota' last='Rise'] Purfeerst   Kilian looked like a player with upset on her mind the moment she stepped onto the floor in the semifinal against top-seeded Fury. After knocking down her first two shots from deep to give Rise an early 6-2 lead, the energy shifted, and you could tell she was playing with an extra bounce. As is often the case, the deeper, more talented team eventually wore things down, but Kilian made sure her presence was felt. She was a steady offensive force all weekend, pouring in 52 points across four games while reaching double figures in three of them. In the third-place game, she delivered the shot that looked like the dagger, burying a three with just over three minutes to play to put Rise up 13 and seemingly out of reach. [program_tooltip program_id='712665' first='Metro' last='Stars'] had other plans, storming back in the final minute to make it interesting, but Kilian and her squad held on for the 57-55 win and third-place honors. She finished with 19 points in the victory over the No. 2 seed. Not too shabby. The New Prague guard and North Dakota State commit is set up for a very fun senior season.   [player_tooltip player_id='644878' first='Sahara' last='Wilson'] – [program_tooltip program_id='712722' first='North' last='Tartan'] EYBL   With top-10 rated forward [player_tooltip player_id='558627' first='Erma' last='Walker'] unavailable due to an ankle injury suffered on Saturday, Wilson became the lone consistent interior threat for [program_tooltip program_id='712722' first='North' last='Tartan'], and in the championship game they made that clear from the opening tip. They went to her early and often, trusting her to establish a presence in the paint against a Fury team that thrives in transition. Wilson did her part, battling inside to limit the kind of long jump shots and rebounds that fuel Fury's fast break. Offensively, she gave [program_tooltip program_id='712722' first='North' last='Tartan'] an early spark, scoring the team's first six points in the title game and finishing with 13. That came on the heels of another double-digit outing in the semifinal. With the attention squarely on her, Wilson still produced, showing toughness, composure, and a willingness to do the dirty work when her team needed it most.   THE NEXT 5   [player_tooltip player_id='764173' first='Lexi' last='Nicolai'] – [program_tooltip program_id='712699' first='Minnesota' last='Rise'] Purfeerst   Similar to her role at Providence Academy, Nicolai doesn't seek the limelight. She just does all the little things that help teams win. Crash the boards, set solid screens, make the extra pass, and when the opportunity is there, finish at the rim at a high clip. After reaching double figures in the opening two rounds, she was quieter in the semifinal, but you could tell right away in the third-place game that she came in looking to be more aggressive, all within the flow of the offense. Nothing forced, just taking what was there. She continued to defend with purpose, rebound, and battle possession after possession. Players like this may not always grab the headlines, but they're a huge reason teams find success. Those players deserve some shine too.   [player_tooltip player_id='659118' first='Alivia' last='Bell'] – [program_tooltip program_id='712722' first='North' last='Tartan'] EYBL   Bell's numbers won't jump off the page, but that's often the case when you're the point guard on a team loaded with this much talent and your job is to make everything run smoothly. The way she operated the offense told the story. She consistently put the ball where it needed to be, possession after possession. Wash, rinse, repeat. When the defense gave her an opening, she attacked, getting to the rim and finishing through contact or creating three-point play opportunities. She's also disruptive on the defensive end, making life uncomfortable for opposing guards with her activity and instincts. Bell understands what winning looks like, having been part of Benilde-St. Margaret's most recent state championship team during their current four-year title run, and that experience shows in how she carries herself. She's grown into a steady, confident leader, the kind of player every talented team needs when the games get tight.   [player_tooltip player_id='377584' first='Ava' last='Cupito'] – [program_tooltip program_id='712665' first='Metro' last='Stars'] 3SSB   A healthy [player_tooltip player_id='377584' first='Ava' last='Cupito'] changes the equation, and right now, she looks every bit like the player people expected to see. Dating back to the high school season and carrying into AAU, Cupito has looked confident, explosive, and fully back in rhythm. She scored in double figures in all four games and knocked down eight three-pointers during the event, reminding everyone that her shooting is what makes her especially dangerous. But what makes her tough to defend is that she doesn't settle. Chase her off the line and she's more than capable of getting into the paint and finishing with either hand. Cupito led [program_tooltip program_id='712665' first='Metro' last='Stars'] in scoring during their state championship run with 56 total points, including 17 in the third-place game. With her squad trailing by 13 with just over three minutes to play, Cupito helped ignite a furious comeback, including knocking down three free throws after being fouled beyond the arc. They made it interesting late but came up just short in a 57-55 loss. The Hopkins guard looks healthy, confident, and like she's having a whole lot of fun again.   [player_tooltip player_id='667778' first='Laila' last='Moses'] – [program_tooltip program_id='712665' first='Metro' last='Stars'] 3SSB   With a change of scenery and fresh off Tri-Metro Player of the Year honors, Moses looks like a player carrying something extra into this season. There's a clear edge to the way she's playing, like she has something to prove, and that mindset has translated seamlessly to [program_tooltip program_id='712665' first='Metro' last='Stars']. She brought the same lunch-pail mentality that's made her so effective at DeLaSalle, competing every possession and playing until the tank was empty. Whether the shots were dropping or not never seemed to impact her effort. That consistency matters. What stood out in the 3rd-place game was her willingness to hunt the outside shot more than we've seen for much of the season, which added another layer to her game. She was at her best in transition, where her motor really shines, and she reached double figures in two of the four games.   [player_tooltip player_id='659119' first='Maren' last='Day'] – [program_tooltip program_id='712722' first='North' last='Tartan'] EYBL   Anyone who has watched Maren play knows there isn't much she can't do on a basketball court. She chipped in offensively during the run to the championship game, but her biggest impact came on the defensive end in the semifinal against one of the state's most explosive guards in [player_tooltip player_id='659130' first='Jaliyah' last='Diggs']. She took that assignment head-on and never backed down. Fighting over screens, staying disciplined, avoiding unnecessary help, and never losing focus, Maren made every touch difficult. She used her size and physicality to disrupt Diggs from start to finish, holding her to just three points, all from the free throw line. Taking on that kind of defensive responsibility usually means sacrificing some offense, but she looked more than willing to make that trade if it meant helping her team win. That kind of unselfishness and competitiveness is what makes the Wayzata standout such a complete player.

Minnesota Fury UAA took home the 11th grade AAU State Championship on Sunday. Here is our Prep Girls Hoops Most Valuable Player and 10 top performers. Selections were made solely from teams that made the final four since that's what we were able to see.