2027 rankings update: Top newcomers

Something we are constantly striving to do at Prep Girls Hoops is to cover as many kids as humanly possible. We think that every type of prospect is worth spotlighting, regardless of what level they might make it to in college. And with so much talent in the state of Minnesota, there is no shortage of players who have the potential to play at the next level.   So far, 2026 has provided a treasure trove of new names and fresh faces in every class from the 2031s and up, and the incoming seniors are no exception. This time around, 21 players are making their debut in the PGH Class of 2027 rankings, bringing the total to 186 prospects from across the state. With so many new kids to cover, we'll be breaking the newcomers into two parts. Here are the first eight players added to the 2027 rankings.   THE TOP THREE ADDITIONS   #62 [player_tooltip player_id='1859996' first='Avery' last='Schneekloth'], 6'0 wing, Marshall   From her breakout performance at the high school State Tournament, to her efforts with [program_tooltip program_id='712699' first='Minnesota' last='Rise'] Purfeerst, it's evident that Schneekloth knows how to make an impact. Clearly the 6-foot lengthy wing is a serious collegiate prospect that we somehow managed to miss until now. That's our mistake. With a wide array of skills on offense, Avery's bag includes well-coached post moves around the rim, a burst of speed getting to the rim, and the ability to knock down clutch catch-and-shoot threes. On defense she's just as versatile. The Tigers senior's size and mobility allow her to guard multiple positions, meaning she can switch on most ball screens with no worries. Schneekloth enters the rankings at #62.   #105 [player_tooltip player_id='1235498' first='Ella' last='Ling'], 5'7 guard, PACT Charter   We'd been hearing Ling's name for sometime when we entered the AAU season back in April. After finally seeing her live, it was easy to see why. The 5'7 senior, who plays for [program_tooltip program_id='756457' first='Opportunity' last='Basketball']'s 11 Black team, is a high IQ point guard with an excellent grasp on the fundamentals. Ella sees the floor well, is a skilled passer, knows how to control the pace of the game, and creates her own offense both on the drive and in the midrange. Since we first watched her play back in April, Ella's recruiting has exploded. The PACT Charter standout has received numerous Division 3 offers in the past few months from schools such as St. Olaf, Augsburg, and Crown College.   #131 [player_tooltip player_id='1830389' first='Alayna' last='Hardy'], 6'3 post, Cotter   We first watched Hardy back in January at the annual MLK Day Classic at St. Kate's. We immediately noticed her substantial height (somewhere in the 6'2 to 6'3 range), and were impressed by the Winona Cotter center's presence in the paint. Alayna holds her space in the lane, is skilled at catching post-entry passes around the basket, and has a growing repertoire of moves around the rim. With her confidence increasing and her game becoming more polished, Hardy has been a significant presence for the Southern [program_tooltip program_id='712687' first='Minnesota' last='Fury'] 2027 squad this spring. With a multitude of seniors graduating for the Ramblers, it's only a matter of time before Alayna becomes the team's linchpin. She enters the rankings at #131.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/user-uploads/Karley-LaZella_Bemidji-crop-4164x2734-1775522733.jpeg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-1822439" style="width:657px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='1820119' first='Karley' last='LaZella']</figcaption></figure>   THE NEXT 5   #169 [player_tooltip player_id='1820119' first='Karley' last='LaZella'], 6'3 post, Bemidji   The 6'3 post first jumped onto our radar back in April after averaging 11.5 points per game in the high school season. LaZella immediately impressed with her strong, physical presence in the paint, as well as her soft touch around the rim. The Bemidji senior can knock down shots from three-point range. She enters the rankings at #169.   #170 [player_tooltip player_id='1817768' first='Grace' last='Eernisse'], 5'11 wing, Wayzata   Eernisse is yet another example of the incredible depth at Wayzata. While she has yet to see much varsity floor time with the Trojans, the 5'11 wing is a legitimate college prospect. Grace plays hard, using her length and athleticism to stretch the floor and create advantages for herself on both ends. She comes in at #170.   #171 [player_tooltip player_id='1866084' first='Brynne' last='Ibberson'], 5'8 guard, Sleepy Eye St. Mary's   It's no secret that [player_tooltip player_id='498658' first='Morgan' last='Mathiowetz'] draws most of the attention at Sleepy Eye St. Mary's, but don't count Ibberson out. The 5'8 guard has been a consistent varsity contributor for several seasons now and played a pivotal role in this year's State Championship run. Fundamentally sound and a highly effective effective scorer inside the arc, Brynne joins the rankings at #171.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/09/747-Maddison-Molacek.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-764594" style="aspect-ratio:1.0375043813529619;width:654px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='764214' first='Maddison' last='Molacek']</figcaption></figure>   #172 [player_tooltip player_id='764214' first='Maddison' last='Molacek'], 5'11 post, Willmar   Physical and strong on the block, Molacek is a highly effective force in the paint. Despite being somewhat undersized at 5'11, the Willmar center consistently put up double-double performances in her junior season. Maddison's competitive nature and unwavering determination on the court is not to be underestimated. She slots in at #172.   #173 [player_tooltip player_id='1860445' first='Monet' last='James'], 5'9 guard, Maple Grove   The [program_tooltip program_id='712700' first='Minnesota' last='Suns'] standout is one of the most recent additions to our ever-growing roster of college prospects. James made her presence known last month, displaying a clutch three-point shot, tight handle on the ball, and the ability to draw contact at the rim. The 5'9 guard out of Maple Grove enters at #173.   ABOUT THE RANKINGS   The Prep Girls Hoops prospect rankings are based on an individual player's potential at the collegiate level. The rankings are NOT based solely on current performance, as there are a multitude of factors that determine how a player's game will translate to the next level. If you'd like to learn more about the Prep Girls Hoops rankings process, please visit the <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/how-we-rank/">How We Rank</a> section under the Rankings tab.

Something we are constantly striving to do at Prep Girls Hoops is to cover as many kids as humanly possible. We think that every type of prospect is worth spotlighting, regardless of what level they might make it to in college. And with so much talent in the state of Minnesota, there is no shortage of players who have the potential to play at the next level.