Five emerging prospects we finally saw at the Meltdown

So much to see and never enough time to see it. Despite the dozens of hours invested and the number of tournaments scouted, it's impossible to evaluate everyone on our ”players to see” list. That's one of the frustrations of the grassroots season, especially when schedules don't align. Such has been the case over the past couple of months in our pursuit of [player_tooltip player_id='1222578' first='Avery' last='Gibson'], an intriguing 2029 prospect from [program_tooltip program_id='715704' first='Team' last='FSA']. People have been telling us about the Apple Valley guard all season but there hadn't been an opportunity to evaluate her game in person. It finally happened Friday at the [program_tooltip program_id='712722' first='North' last='Tartan'] Meltdown. Gibson wasn't the only fresh face who caught our attention at the event. Here are five newcomers who were worth the wait.    Gibson is certainly on the right trajectory having risen over the past year from B/C travel ball to varsity action to a strong AAU campaign for Tommy Chatman's [program_tooltip program_id='715704' first='Team' last='FSA'] squad. Finally watching her play in person this weekend it's easy to see why Gibson is on the way up. The 5-foot-10 Apple Valley guard possesses an impressive combination of size, athleticism and physical strength. A state qualifier in the high jump, Gibson's explosiveness translates naturally to the basketball court, where she elevates well, covers ground quickly and attacks with gusto. She has the burst to get past defenders and the strength to finish through contact while consistently taking care of the little things that help teams win. A fundamentally sound player with quality shooting mechanics, Gibson plays with confidence, competes hard and continues to trend sharply upward. What she lacks is experience. What she has is raw talent and a big motor.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2026/07/Northern-Lights-9-photo-Meltdown.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1881818" style="aspect-ratio:1.3333078335373316;width:382px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='1881805' first='Kinley' last='Nelson'] (left) and [player_tooltip player_id='1881807' first='Ellie' last='Fish'] (right)</figcaption></figure>    Nelson had been recommended to us repeatedly throughout the summer, and after finally watching her play, the praise made perfect sense. The Silver Bay guard may measure only around 5'5, but she plays much bigger thanks to an athletic build, quick feet and a high-horsepower motor. Nelson immediately set the tone when we watched by knocking down the game's first basket, a smooth three-pointer that showcased her shooting touch and range. From there she impacted nearly every possession with her hustle, defensive instincts and basketball IQ. Kinley consistently anticipates plays before they develop, makes smart passes and competes with infectious energy. A three-sport athlete, Nelson brings toughness, skill and leadership to the floor. Kinley scored 51 points this weekend, the fifth tournament this season she has put up those kind of numbers.     Fish immediately grabbed our focus with her length, but it quickly became apparent there was much more to her game than size alone. Hailing from South Ridge High School in Culver (northwest of Duluth) the 5'10 forward/wing runs the floor exceptionally well, rebounds above the crowd and plays with a calm confidence that stands out. Early in the game she stretched the defense with a three-pointer before showing touch around the basket with a smooth spin move in traffic. Fish also made her presence felt defensively by blocking shots and using her length to frustrate opponents. Alongside Nelson, she forms an outstanding one-two combination for Adam Johnson's [program_tooltip program_id='779294' first='Northern' last='Lights'] squad.     We admittedly did a double take when Prideaux walked onto the floor at the Meltdown. Listed in our database at 5 feet tall, she appeared at least six inches taller that that with a long, wiry frame and impressive wingspan that hints there may be more growth ahead. More importantly, she was the most polished player on the court. Prideaux controlled the tempo with poise, consistently making the right reads while playing with passion. She keeps her head up at all times, scanning the floor for opportunities before they develop, a trait we always value in young guards. Crafty, shifty and remarkably slippery with the ball, Prideaux squeezed through impossible openings and served as the engine behind everything [program_tooltip program_id='715704' first='Team' last='FSA'] Ritter accomplished. Eden Prairie can be a tough lineup to crack but it seems likely Mia will get there in due course.     We were familiar with Steinhoff from Ally McGinnis' spring evaluation, but seeing her in person reinforced just how intriguing her long-term potential is. Standing around 5-foot-10, Steinhoff combines length, athleticism and one of the highest motors we saw all weekend. She relentlessly chased loose balls, sprinted the floor and competed on every possession without taking plays off. While her game is still developing – she'll definitely benefit from learning to change speeds and play with a little more patience – Josie's upside is obvious. The raw tools are impressive, and the effort level is even better. Steinhoff scored 49 points in five Meltdown games, including 19 against a talented Sanford Sports 14U White squad, offering another glimpse of what's likely to be a very bright future.

So much to see and never enough time to see it. Despite the dozens of hours invested and the number of tournaments scouted, it's impossible to evaluate everyone on our ”players to see” list. That's one of the frustrations of the grassroots season, especially when schedules don't align. Such has been the case over the past couple of months in our pursuit of Avery Gibson Avery Gibson 5'10" | 200 lbs | SF/SG Apple Valley | 2029 MN , an intriguing 2029 prospect from Team FSA . People have been telling us about the Apple Valley guard all season but there hadn't been an opportunity to evaluate her game in person. It finally happened Friday at the North Tartan Meltdown. Gibson wasn't the only fresh face who caught our attention at the event. Here are five newcomers who were worth the wait.