Tony's Takes: State Prelims, Part 1

The AAU State Championship Prelims always bring a different level of urgency, and this group of seniors made that clear right away. With the clock winding down on their high school careers, every possession matters a little more. These are players still chasing opportunities at the next level, looking to prove they belong. Some are well-known, others are still waiting to be found, but the approach was the same across the board – compete, produce, and leave no doubt.   Over the weekend, you could feel that edge. Effort didn't waver, and the intensity stayed high from start to finish. Whether it was scoring, defending, or doing the little things that don't show up in the box score, this group understood what was at stake. College coaches are watching. For these seniors, this was another chance to make a strong impression.   Alaia Douah - 2027 wing, [program_tooltip program_id='712665' first='Metro' last='Stars'] Black   Douah might be one of the better under-the-radar finds I've come across in a while. The Northfield product is a true dual athlete, and you can see how her soccer background translates with how she moves. She's quick, physical, and plays with a motor that doesn't shut off. Over the weekend, she impacted the game in a lot of ways, but what stayed with me was her voice and presence. She led, plain and simple. Loud, direct, and locked in defensively while helping guide her group to a 3-1 record. She's not chasing stats, but she makes winning plays. Tight space passing, finishing through contact, and crashing the glass all stood out. If she keeps building, she's setting herself up for a strong senior year.   [player_tooltip player_id='835987' first='Harper' last='Hokenson'] - 2027 guard, [program_tooltip program_id='767539' first='Minnesota' last='Comets'] Hoelscher   Hokenson played with purpose all weekend and looked like someone ready for the next step. The Watertown-Mayer guard consistently got downhill and stayed under control once she got there. Whether it was finishing at the rim, drawing contact, or pulling up for a floater, she showed a complete approach. You can tell the work is paying off. In a statement win over [program_tooltip program_id='713021' first='West' last='Central United'], she caught fire from deep, knocking down five threes on her way to 19 points. She finished the weekend averaging just under 13 a game. Defensively, she held her own, staying in front and creating deflections. If she keeps stacking performances like this, college coaches are going to take notice in a hurry.   [player_tooltip player_id='899007' first='Richelle' last='Cooper'] - 2027 guard, Hoop Habits Elite 17U   Cooper, representing Coon Rapids High School, continues to show why she's one of the top athletes in the 2027 class. Strong frame, explosive first step, and she plays with real pop every time down the floor. She averaged 10 points per game, finishing as the second-leading scorer for her Hoop Habits group that went 3-0 and punched a ticket to the D1 championship bracket. What stood out most was how she attacked. She got downhill with force and lived at the line, knocking down 11 free throws on her way to 16 points in a tough win over Crossfire. With a short bench, she logged heavy minutes, but you wouldn't know it. There was no drop in effort. Defensively, she was everywhere – loose balls, rebounds, making things difficult. Her game keeps trending up, and it's worth paying attention to.   [player_tooltip player_id='657022' first='Ava' last='Brynteson'] - 2027 guard, [program_tooltip program_id='712665' first='Metro' last='Stars'] 3SSB   Brynteson is the kind of player who holds everything together. The Prior Lake prospect sacrifices parts of her game for the good of the group, whether it's high school or AAU. She's quiet and doesn't demand the spotlight, but if you watch closely, her impact is hard to miss. She defends with purpose, moves the ball, and consistently makes the extra pass that leads to winning basketball. The work behind the scenes is starting to show. Confidence is building, and it feels like she's right on the edge of taking it to another level. She'll once again be a key piece for Prior Lake this season, and there's a real chance she makes a jump, too. With all the talent on [program_tooltip program_id='712665' first='Metro' last='Stars'] 3SSB, touches can be limited, but heading into the D1 championship series, expect her to be ready when her number is called.   [player_tooltip player_id='1211276' first='Autumn' last='Hayes'] - 2027 guard, [program_tooltip program_id='756457' first='Opportunity' last='Basketball'] 11th North   Hayes (pictured above) continues to show why she's gaining traction. The Osseo guard put together a strong performance in a win over [program_tooltip program_id='712722' first='North' last='Tartan'] EYCL, finishing with 14 points and 10 rebounds. That's not a common stat line from a 5'8 guard, but it speaks to how hard she plays and how active she is around the ball. She brings a spark every time out. With a quick release from deep, she made teams pay, knocking down 10 threes during the Prelims while averaging just over 10 points per game. That's with plenty of scoring talent around her on Opportunity North. She's steady, doesn't force things, and competes on both ends. College coaches are starting to take notice, and it's deserved. She's producing and doing it the right way.

The AAU State Championship Prelims always bring a different level of urgency, and this group of seniors made that clear right away. With the clock winding down on their high school careers, every possession matters a little more. These are players still chasing opportunities at the next level, looking to prove they belong. Some are well-known, others are still waiting to be found, but the approach was the same across the board – compete, produce, and leave no doubt.