Live at the Lakes: Unsigned upperclassmen, part 1

The final summer of AAU basketball is a crucial time for incoming seniors trying to secure college opportunities. Tournaments like Live at the Lakes offer a terrific opportunity to show what you can do when all of the right folks are paying attention. Nobody has delivered the desired results from that position more clearly this spring than [player_tooltip player_id='889671' first='Nesa' last='Namjoshi'] of [program_tooltip program_id='712687' first='Minnesota' last='Fury'] 2027 S40. Let's take a look at Nesa's performance and that of four other upperclassmen we liked this weekend.   [player_tooltip player_id='889671' first='Nesa' last='Namjoshi'] – 2027 guard, [program_tooltip program_id='712687' first='Minnesota' last='Fury'] S40   Watching Namjoshi this spring has been one of the more satisfying development stories in the Class of 2027 because this is exactly what steady, incremental improvement is supposed to look like. Nothing about her rise feels accidental. Every part of her game has sharpened through work, patience, and a deep understanding of how to play winning basketball.   At the AAU State Tournament, Namjoshi flat-out produced, leading all scorers in the 2027 D1 division with 58 points while helping Fury S40 finish in the top six. This weekend Nesa put up 38 points in four games, including a 15-point effort against Team Wisconsin. She looks right at home now running the show against high-level competition. That's not surprising given how her role has evolved at Eden Prairie. As the Eagles' starting point guard this season, Nesa averaged 14 ppg. Despite being a guard, she led EP in rebounding at more than six per game, which tells you what you need to know about her instincts and effort level. She just finds the basketball.   What I appreciate most about Namjoshi is how intelligent her game is. She does all the little things that coaches obsess over. She defends with purpose, moves her feet, anticipates plays, and competes on every possession. Offensively, she has grown tremendously. The outside shot is smooth and reliable, she handles pressure well, and she attacks gaps with confidence. More than anything, she understands pacing and timing as a point guard. And she knows where teammates need the ball and when they need it.   It took time for Namjoshi to crack the varsity rotation at Eden Prairie. She waited, developed and got ready for her opportunity. This season she was an All-Conference selection in the Lake. Now college programs at the D2, NAIA, and D3 levels are in pursuit. With a 32 ACT score and pre-med ambitions, we're talking about the type of high-character, high-IQ student-athlete coaches covet.   [player_tooltip player_id='887115' first='Atee' last='Obang'] – 2027 forward, [program_tooltip program_id='712352' first='Air' last='Minnesota']   Watching Obang this weekend, I kept coming back to the same thought: there's just a lot to work with here. The Austin forward is listed at 5'9 but looks taller because of her length and the way she moves around the floor. After missing a good portion of the high school season, Atee looks healthy, confident, and aggressive. I really like her versatility. She can handle the ball, create her own shot, get to the rim, or step outside and knock down jumpers. One spin move through traffic especially caught our eye on Sunday. Defensively Obang brings energy and hustle and isn't afraid to take a charge. We think there's some nice upside here.   [player_tooltip player_id='1859062' first='Tea' last='Alvarenga'] – 2027 guard, [program_tooltip program_id='712362' first='Legacy' last='Hoops'] Elite   Alvarenga was one of those players who just kept grabbing our eye when we watched on Sunday. Wherever the ball was, there was Tea. The Park Cottage Grove guard isn't necessarily hunting points every trip down the floor – she averaged just over 6 per game this winter – but she impacts the game constantly with activity, pace, and toughness. Early in the contest she captured my attention by going coast-to-coast, spinning through traffic, elevating, and knocking down a little baby jump shot. After that I kept watching. She's quick, bouncy, and always moving. Her handles are solid, she sees the floor well, and defensively she's a pest with her quick feet and intelligent anticipation. Tea just has a knack for making things happen, an attribute coaches always appreciate.   [player_tooltip player_id='918677' first='Josie' last='Van Vooren'] – 2028 forward, [program_tooltip program_id='712362' first='Legacy' last='Hoops'] Elite   The growth in Van Vooren's game was really noticeable when we watched her this weekend. She always had the size at 6'1, along with plenty of raw potential. Now things appear to be coming together nicely as she operates in a much smoother, more confident way. The Waconia forward moves better, processes the game quicker, and looks far more comfortable impacting possessions without forcing things. I especially liked her passing feel and overall instincts. Josie rebounds naturally, runs the floor hard, and has soft touch around the basket. She also plays with a big motor, which matters. Sometimes young posts with size try to do too much but not this one. She seems to be letting the game come to her and that's a really encouraging sign.   [player_tooltip player_id='1573186' first='Chloe' last='Henn'] – 2028 guard, [program_tooltip program_id='712352' first='Air' last='Minnesota']   Henn, who averaged a dozen points per game this winter at Zumbrota-Mazeppa, had a nice offensive weekend at Live at the Lakes, pouring in 49 points while making winning plays all over the floor. What I liked most, though, was how active and disruptive she was defensively. The energetic guard plays with quick feet, sharp anticipation, and nonstop aggression. She's constantly jumping passing lanes, forcing turnovers, and flying up the floor in transition. Offensively she's crafty and elusive, capable of weaving through defenders or knocking down shots when defenses collapse. Every time I looked up, Henn seemed to be involved in something positive. She just has a certain energy about her game that's hard to ignore, and it feels like her confidence has grown.

The final summer of AAU basketball is a crucial time for incoming seniors trying to secure college opportunities. Tournaments like Live at the Lakes offer a terrific opportunity to show what you can do when all of the right folks are paying attention. Nobody has delivered the desired results from that position more clearly this spring than Nesa Namjoshi Nesa Namjoshi 5'7" | PG/CG Eden Prairie | 2027 State MN of Minnesota Fury 2027 S40. Let's take a look at Nesa's performance and that of four other upperclassmen we liked this weekend.