Mill City Invitational: Top performers, middle school edition

At the start of the AAU season we began the arduous process of drafting the Freshman 50 for the class of 2030, who will join the rankings process this fall. By the looks of it, this is one of the deepest classes Minnesota has had in recent memory. While the list is nowhere near complete, we thought we finally had a good handle on the group of incoming freshmen. That was until we got to the Mill City Invitational in Chanhassen on Saturday. The event provided us with plenty of top performers, newcomers we hadn't seen before, and one prospect who burst into our field of view, causing us to reevaluate the 2030s yet again.   [player_tooltip player_id='1702528' first='Mikaya' last='Schroeder'] – 5'8 guard, [program_tooltip program_id='712699' first='Minnesota' last='Rise'] 2030 Peterson   It wasn't long after we arrived at the Mill City Invitational on Saturday that Schroeder (pictured above) made a distinct impression on us. The 5'8 guard from Mountain Lake has every physical tool at her disposal. She's quick both laterally and in the open court, she elevates over her opponents with ease, and she has an explosive first step towards the rim.    Mikaya showed strong decision making with the ball in her hands, reading the defense and accurately determining whether to pass, attack, or shoot. The dynamic Rise standout displayed a great deal of shiftiness on the drive, weaving through defenders with a tight handle on the ball and finishing through contact at the rim.    On defense, Schroeder was scrappy and very competitive, playing with a high degree of intensity when guarding the ball and snagging rebounds over opponents with much more size. Mikaya finished the weekend with 43 points across four games, putting her at second place in the 8th Platinum division. After what we saw this weekend, she'll certainly be in the conversation for a spot in the Freshman 50.   Here are some other top middle school performers we liked at Mill City.    A player who can help shift the momentum when her team needs it most, Barsky brings a spark each time she steps on the court. On offense, the 5'4 guard finds ways to keep the ball moving, creating openings for her team to score. Adriana excels at driving to the basket with strength and confidence, using her power to finish through contact and make plays close to the hoop. Her physical style of play and ability to maintain her balance on the drive helps the Providence Academy 7th grader to be not only highly effective near the rim, but consistent, too. Barsky found plenty of openings on the perimeter over the weekend as well, knocking down seven shots from three-point range. She finished as one of the weekend's top scorers, with 42 points across four games.     A confident scorer who is always ready to let the ball fly, Austin showed out for the [program_tooltip program_id='767539' first='Minnesota' last='Comets'] at Mill City. The Albany 8th grader showed off her excellent shooting mechanics, highlighted by a quick release and consistent follow through that allow her to get shots off before the defense can react. Whether she is positioned on the perimeter or finding space within the offense, Brooklyn is a threat to score from virtually anywhere on the court. What separates her from many shooters is her relentless effort after the shot leaves her hands to get her own board, creating second-chance scoring opportunities for her team. Austin's confidence on the court and scoring mindset were evident all weekend as she finished as a top 10 scorer in the 8th grade platinum division.     Swanson's impact on the game was palpable all weekend long. On the defensive end, the 5'4 point guard was a pest on the perimeter. With quick feet, active hands, plenty of energy, and loads of persistence, Ella was able to pressure her opponents into turnover after turnover, often leading to points in transition for her team. On the other end of the floor, the Blue Earth 8th grader excelled in every way. Swanson struck just the right balance of playmaking and finding her own offense, and had no issue putting the ball in the basket from any spot on the floor. Though she likes to attack the paint, Ella's outside shot is just as dangerous. She finished the event with 37 points in four games.     Bryant plays the game with a highly-energetic style, allowing her to stay involved at all times. On offense, the 5'9 wing is always ready to make a difference, whether that means confidently putting up catch-and-shoot attempts from distance, creating movement away from the ball, or aggressively attacking the basket. She plays with a strong, determined attitude and looks to create scoring opportunities, either for herself or her teammates, whenever she has the ball. Maddie's ability to stay active even when she doesn't have the ball helps her find open spots and remain a scoring threat. Her aggressive style, constant work ethic, and competitive spirit let her affect the game in a variety of ways, making her an important piece for [program_tooltip program_id='712697' first='MN' last='Crossfire'] on both offense and defense. She finished the weekend with 31 points.    PGH Intern Paxyn Rendahl contributed to these evaluations.

At the start of the AAU season we began the arduous process of drafting the Freshman 50 for the class of 2030, who will join the rankings process this fall. By the looks of it, this is one of the deepest classes Minnesota has had in recent memory. While the list is nowhere near complete, we thought we finally had a good handle on the group of incoming freshmen. That was until we got to the Mill City Invitational in Chanhassen on Saturday. The event provided us with plenty of top performers, newcomers we hadn't seen before, and one prospect who burst into our field of view, causing us to reevaluate the 2030s yet again.