Summer Jam: 2030s Making an impact down the stretch, part 1

As the month of June comes to a close, the end of the AAU season is drawing near. With that comes the annual [program_tooltip program_id='712722' first='North' last='Tartan'] Summer Jam tournament, the biggest in Minnesota. This year, the event was host to more than 400 teams from across the Midwest and took place at five sites across the Twin Cities. PGH scout Grant McGinnis spent the weekend in Shakopee, Tony Ragulen caught the action in Maple Grove, while I alternated between Eden Prairie and Bloomington Jefferson, hoping to see the incoming freshman class once more before AAU concludes in a couple weeks. The following five prospects have been picking up steam of late, carving out bigger roles for themselves on their respective teams. Here is part one of the 2030s who are making a lasting impression as we enter the final stretch of the summer.    Goranson's game has made plenty of noise among the AAU cohort since we first wrote about her back in May at the AAU State Prelims. Watch her play for a few minutes and you'll understand why. Long and wiry, but deceptively strong, the Proctor 8th grader is a step ahead of her peers in terms of athleticism. Reese (pictured above) approaches the game with a smooth, fluid style that looks almost effortless at times, while still playing hard and giving each possession her full effort. The Starks guard was offensively dominant at Summer Jam, scoring 63 points across four games. Whether through catch-and-shoot threes, pull-up jumpers in the midrange, or explosive drives to the basket, Goranson found openings and was able to connect at every level.     After being sidelined for a significant portion of the high school campaign, we weren't quite sure what to expect in the AAU season for Schoenrock. Returning from injury is challenging enough, not to mention playing on the EYBL circuit for the first time. But from the first workouts back in March to now, Sophie's game has grown leaps and bounds. This weekend at Summer Jam, the 6'4 forward played with a newfound level of assertiveness. The St. Francis 8th grader brought physicality on the defensive end, made hustle plays on loose balls, and was more willing to handle the ball out on the perimeter than we've seen in previous weeks. With tremendous size and length at her disposal, there is no doubt that both Sophie and her twin sister, [player_tooltip player_id='939005' first='Haley' last='Schoenrock'], will be high-level prospects in the years to come.     Johnson is a prime example of a player who does all the little things well. She spaces the floor. She rebounds with energy and effort. She plays the angles and generates deflections on the defensive end. She finishes consistently on both sides of the hoop. I could go on and on about the [program_tooltip program_id='714566' first='Minnesota' last='Stars'] wing's impact this past weekend, but what I think illustrates it best is the fact that Halle almost never left the floor in the games I watched. That speaks volumes. Combine all of that with a long, lanky frame, plenty of quickness, a solid set of fundamental skills, and a high-revving motor, and the Rosemount 8th grader is beginning to look like quite the college prospect. We'll certainly be paying attention.     While she's often one of the smallest players on the court, standing at just 5'4, Cooper's impact on the game is palpable. Lightning quick, a pest on defense, and remarkably efficient, the Regis, Wisconsin 8th grader has been a key contributor for the [program_tooltip program_id='712687' first='Minnesota' last='Fury'] all spring. At Summer Jam, Elaine turned defense into offense on multiple occasions. With active hands and a burst of speed, she forced turnovers on the perimeter, leading to points in transition. On offense, Cooper has shown all spring that she can score from anywhere on the floor, but what really shines is her shot selection. Elaine has a natural ability for reading defenses and finding the best openings, allowing her to score at a ridiculously high clip.     Yet another product of Proctor on the [program_tooltip program_id='713214' first='Minnesota' last='Starks'] 14U squad, Hawsen is the team's high effort, high intensity floor general. Standing somewhere around 5'7 with a solid, muscular frame, Ruby's athletic ability is immediately evident. She's strong, has plenty of lateral speed, and has a 0-to-60 burst that leaves most defenders in the dust. On the defensive end, Hawsen is a scrappy and physical perimeter defender. She crashes the glass, fights for loose balls, and is constantly hunting for opportunities to force a turnover. On offense, the Rails 8th grader uses her quickness to her advantage, getting downhill with a tight handle and crafty footwork for a midrange jumper or an open look at the rim.

As the month of June comes to a close, the end of the AAU season is drawing near. With that comes the annual North Tartan Summer Jam tournament, the biggest in Minnesota. This year, the event was host to more than 400 teams from across the Midwest and took place at five sites across the Twin Cities. PGH scout Grant McGinnis spent the weekend in Shakopee, Tony Ragulen caught the action in Maple Grove, while I alternated between Eden Prairie and Bloomington Jefferson, hoping to see the incoming freshman class once more before AAU concludes in a couple weeks. The following five prospects have been picking up steam of late, carving out bigger roles for themselves on their respective teams. Here is part one of the 2030s who are making a lasting impression as we enter the final stretch of the summer.