Fresh Faces at the AAU State Prelims, part 1

The biggest tournament of the AAU season, the State Championships, is just over the horizon. We've been looking forward to it all spring. But before the winner-take-all event, each team must battle for the next weekend's top seeds. The AAU State Prelims gave PGH scouts Grant McGinnis, Tony Ragulen, and I the opportunity to look for another batch of new players before this weekend's festivities. Here are six talented 2030s who stood out on Saturday.    We weren't very far into the day on Saturday when Goranson (pictured above) first jumped out at us. Standing at 5'11 with long strides and a major bounce in her step, the athletic potential of the Proctor 8th grader was immediately evident. Smooth, yet quick in the open court, Reese was able to blow by defenders in transition, and could just as easily jump passing lanes and close gaps on the defensive end. While the [program_tooltip program_id='713214' first='Minnesota' last='Starks'] guard found most of her scoring from inside the arc over the weekend, Goranson's size and speed allow her to be an offensive threat from multiple spots on the floor. It's still early, of course, but this is a prospect who's got scholarship-level potential written all over.     Along with [player_tooltip player_id='1228751' first='Reese' last='Goranson'], Walker led the way for [program_tooltip program_id='713214' first='Minnesota' last='Starks']' 14U squad at the State Prelims. Lengthy and remarkably smooth with the ball in her hands, the Proctor 8th grader excels as a playmaker. Hadley sees the floor well, makes great reads, and finds openings in the defense to dish the ball to her teammates. When looking for her own shot, the 5'10 guard gets downhill with a quick first step, utilizing well-honed footwork and a tight handle on the ball to get an open look in the paint. Hadley also has a real knack for catching wild and errant passes that most other players would miss. Walker finished the weekend with 40 points in four games, making her a top 10 scorer in the 2030 division.     With a serious burst of speed and tremendous athleticism on display, Obi-Walker made a lasting impression on our scouts at the State Prelims. The 5'8 combo guard is solidly built with a strong, muscular frame, and her ability to go from 0 to 60 in an instant may make her one of the most explosive players in the class. In addition to her physical gifts, Amaya excels as a downhill scorer who can lull defenders to sleep with her shiftyness and tight handle on the ball. The St. Paul Academy 8th grader has a pure release on her outside shot, and made good decisions with the basketball all weekend long. She'll certainly be a factor for [program_tooltip program_id='712665' first='Metro' last='Stars']' North 3SSB group at the State Championships.     Zarate was crucial for [program_tooltip program_id='712722' first='North' last='Tartan']'s 14U Elite squad over the weekend, leading the team in scoring with 48 points in four games. The 5'8 wing from Forest Lake looked for her shot early and often, finding openings on drives to the rim. With a quick first step and a willingness to lean into contact at the rim, Eileenah drew numerous fouls on her opponents, earning herself several trips to the charity stripe. On the defensive end, Zarate's lengthy frame and bouncy lateral movement proved to be a major asset for her team. She applied pressure on the ball out on the perimeter, leading to multiple forced turnovers and defensive stops. Going the other way Eileenah spaced the floor and made fast, smart decisions with the ball.     Though she often gives up plenty of size to her opponents, Wilson's impact for Crossfire has been immeasurable so far this season. The 5'4 point guard plays with a significant bounce in her step and is shifty with the ball in her hands. Mattea controls the pace of the game and is a solid passer and playmaker, but can easily produce a bucket when it's needed. The United Christian Academy standout can get downhill with a burst of speed or hit shots from beyond the arc with a quick, high-arcing release. On defense, Mattea is highly aggressive on the perimeter, always hunting for a chance to get her hands on the basketball or force a turnover.     With a long frame and significant quickness in the open court, Palmer is the glue for [program_tooltip program_id='712697' first='MN' last='Crossfire']'s 2030 Wilson squad. The 5'7 wing spaces the floor in transition, sprints back on defense, crashes the boards, and gives each possession her full effort. Despite not being the most athletic or flashiest player on the court, Grace consistently makes impact plays and does whatever is needed to help her team win. The United Christian Academy 8th grader also brings a spark on offense. By staying ready and being in the right place at the right time, Palmer often finds timely buckets on offensive putbacks or by getting ahead of the defense to catch a pass on the fast break.

The biggest tournament of the AAU season, the State Championships, is just over the horizon. We've been looking forward to it all spring. But before the winner-take-all event, each team must battle for the next weekend's top seeds. The AAU State Prelims gave PGH scouts Grant McGinnis, Tony Ragulen, and I the opportunity to look for another batch of new players before this weekend's festivities. Here are six talented 2030s who stood out on Saturday.