AAU Awards: 2029 Breakout Player of the Year

Yesterday we began to roll out the first of our Prep Girls Hoops postseason awards for the 2026 AAU campaign with the 2030 Breakout Player of the Year. Today we're keeping things going with the Class of 2029. Along with our breakout performers, the full list of accolades includes the AAU Newcomer of the Year, Coach of the Year, Most Valuable Duos, and one Defensive Player of the Year and Breakout Performer for each class. We'll cover each of those in the coming weeks.   As a reminder: Only Minnesota players are eligible for these awards. This means that players from other states who play for Minnesota AAU clubs were not considered. On the other hand, players from Minnesota who play for out-of-state clubs were considered eligible, provided that we had the opportunity to see them play in person.    The first time we watched Hilgert (pictured above) play in a tiny back gym somewhere during her 7th grade AAU season, it was clear that the young guard was full of potential. Her skillset was raw, but she was lightning quick, played with plenty of intensity on both ends of the floor, and we could see that an innate feel for the game that was already there. We predicted that as her skill development came along she would become an impactful contributor for Chanhassen and likely would go on to play in college. With an off-the-charts work ethic and highly competitive style of play, that much was clear. Two years later, Lucy has exceeded every expectation that we originally laid out.   Following a freshman season where she averaged just over 15 points and a hair under 5 rebounds per game, Hilgert earned a spot on one of our All-Freshman teams and an honorable mention for high school Breakout Player of the Year. The Chanhassen guard has continued to knock the ball out of the park in her first season with the [program_tooltip program_id='712687' first='Minnesota' last='Fury']. Lucy has averaged about 14 points per game all summer, putting on many impressive performances with the 2029 UAA squad. The Mill City Invitational was a particularly strong weekend for the 5'10 guard, who led the tournament's top division in scoring with 72 points in just four games.   While she can create scoring opportunities at every level, Hilgert's game isn't just about her ability to put the ball in the basket. The Chanhassen freshman is an assertive ball handler, a skilled passer and playmaker, and is highly effective on the glass, particularly for a player at her position. On the defensive end, Lucy plays with heart and purpose. Using her speed to her advantage, the Fury guard is able to beat opponents on the drive, get over ball screens, and jump passing lanes on the perimeter to create transition scoring opportunities for her team. She plays with poise and composure, allowing her to maintain a level head in close and highly competitive matchups. With her stock consistently rising and her game ever evolving, Lucy made a significant jump in the PGH Class of 2029 rankings earlier this month, entering the top 20 for the first time since we first ranked the class last fall.   We haven't been the only ones to take notice of the growth in Hilgert's game, though. Following the second NCAA Division 1 viewing period of the summer, which took place earlier this month, the Fury standout picked up D1 offers from Omaha and North Dakota State. With multiple offers from members of the Summit League Conference now under her belt, Hilgert has cemented herself as an elite level college prospect, making the selection for this year's 2029 Breakout Player of the Year a no-brainer.     RUNNER-UP    Much like Hilgert, Tanner made a big leap this summer, eventually leading to a major uptick in recruiting. She led New London-Spicer in scoring as a 9th grader, playing a significant role in the Wildcats' deep postseason run. This spring, Korbin brought that same paint production and high-level rim protection to the AAU circuit. Standing at 6'2, the [program_tooltip program_id='713021' first='West' last='Central United'] standout has solidified herself as one of the premier post players in Minnesota's incoming sophomore class. This summer we saw Tanner improve her footwork around the rim, grow her confidence, and begin to extend her shot out to the three-point line. Following the May live period, she picked up a number of Division 1 offers from schools such as South Dakota, North Dakota State, and Summit League champions South Dakota State. A top 10 prospect in the class, Korbin is undoubtedly a player to watch in the coming years.    HONORABLE MENTION    We would be remiss if we didn't include Jefferson in the breakout performer category. Following the astronomical leap we saw in her game this summer, the Minnetonka sophomore jumped into the rankings for the first time at #64. That's solid Division 2 territory. Standing at 5'10 Jilaeya's game shines in her two-way versatility, ability to create her own shot off the dribble, and robust scoring ability. Both silky smooth and explosive off the bounce, the [program_tooltip program_id='712700' first='Minnesota' last='Suns'] guard plays hard on both ends of the floor, possesses a strong basketball IQ, and has shown a high degree of athletic potential. Having led the Suns 2029 S40 squad all summer, it's only a matter of time before Jefferson starts making an impact for the Skippers at the varsity level.

Yesterday we began to roll out the first of our Prep Girls Hoops postseason awards for the 2026 AAU campaign with the 2030 Breakout Player of the Year. Today we're keeping things going with the Class of 2029. Along with our breakout performers, the full list of accolades includes the AAU Newcomer of the Year, Coach of the Year, Most Valuable Duos, and one Defensive Player of the Year and Breakout Performer for each class. We'll cover each of those in the coming weeks.