AAU Awards: 16U Most Valuable Duos

Last week we began our rollout of our this year's Most Valuable Duos award. First handed out last summer, the MVD award is designed to recognize a pair of teammates who were instrumental to their team's success throughout the AAU season. Each duo is a little bit different: Some lead their team in scoring, some make up a duo on the defensive end, but each pair of players recognized here helped set the tone for their respective teams this summer. On Thursday we announced that incoming seniors [player_tooltip player_id='659130' first='Jaliyah' last='Diggs'] and [player_tooltip player_id='667778' first='Laila' last='Moses'] from [program_tooltip program_id='712665' first='Metro' last='Stars'] 2027 3SSB brought home the award in the 17U division. Today we'll take a look at the 16U selections.   Something to note here is we've broken down our Most Valuable Duos by the age bracket the listed AAU team plays in. With some individual players playing up a year or two, this means that not every duo features two players from the same graduating class. All that matters in this case is that the pair spent the majority of the summer playing for the same team.   As a reminder: While there are plenty of out-of-state prospects playing for Minnesota clubs who had a phenomenal summer, only Minnesota players are eligible for these PGH Minnesota awards. This means that players from other states who play for Minnesota-based 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.   MOST VALUABLE DUO   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/09/827-Malin-Youngberg-crop-5844x3837-1772127126.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-1784335" style="width:559px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='904190' first='Malin' last='Youngberg']</figcaption></figure>   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/09/811-Elsa-Retzlaff-crop-3682x2418-1771966904.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-1778393" style="width:557px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='565313' first='Elsa' last='Retzlaff']</figcaption></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='904190' first='Malin' last='Youngberg'] & [player_tooltip player_id='565313' first='Elsa' last='Retzlaff'] – [program_tooltip program_id='713021' first='West' last='Central United'] 2028 Blue   First catching our attention back in the summer of 2024, Youngberg and Retzlaff are one of the longest standing AAU duos in the state. Once precocious 8th graders with plenty of potential, the [program_tooltip program_id='713021' first='West' last='Central United'] twosome have honed their craft over the years, and are now both top 20 prospects in Minnesota's Class of 2028. Forming the head of the snake for the Central Minnesota club, both Malin and Elsa put on big-time performances all summer, but it was Live at the Lakes that really topped them all. The backcourt duo had a dominant weekend at the May live period event, combining for a whopping 133 points over the course of the weekend.   After being one of the leading scorers for Hillcrest Lutheran Academy last winter, Retzlaff came into the AAU season with a great deal of momentum. With a tremendous work ethic and a do-whatever-it-takes attitude, the 5'9 guard brought her usual crafty quickness, high-revving motor, and tremendous basketball IQ week after week for [program_tooltip program_id='713021' first='West' last='Central United']. While she is certainly able to put up big numbers on offense, Elsa doesn't just focus on scoring. Always finding little ways to help her team, Retzlaff is highly effective on the glass, a disruptive defender who uses her length to her advantage, and a skilled, unselfish passer.   After making an early college commitment to South Dakota State back in January, Youngberg was able to play freely this spring. Super lengthy and ridiculously athletic, the 6-foot guard readily took over games for [program_tooltip program_id='713021' first='West' last='Central United'] all season. Able to score the ball at all three levels, we saw evidence of her dominance on the stat sheet. At four separate events this summer, Malin scored 50 points or more, with a season high of 89 points in one weekend back in May. With the way her game continues to grow, it's likely to be a big winter at Little Falls for the junior guard.   HONORABLE MENTIONS   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/09/907-Logan-Miller-crop-6659x4373-1749664090.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-1257012" style="width:538px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='644896' first='Logan' last='Miller']</figcaption></figure>   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/09/Ashna-Ramlall-PGH-crop-4669x3066-1726071925.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-993728" style="width:536px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='716527' first='Ashna' last='Ramlall']</figcaption></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='644896' first='Logan' last='Miller'] & [player_tooltip player_id='716527' first='Ashna' last='Ramlall'] – [program_tooltip program_id='712687' first='Minnesota' last='Fury'] 2028 UAA   It was a monstrous summer for the Fury duo, who dominated the court at both local and national events all throughout the AAU season. Both Ramlall and Miller put up big numbers on numerous occasions, with Logan posting up a season-high 71 points at the AAU State Prelims in May. The Andover junior raised her national profile on the Under Armour circuit, adding Utah State, Northwestern, and Oregon to her slew of Division 1 offers. Already a force to be reckoned with in the paint, this summer Logan grew her offensive skillset, extending the range on her shot and shooting the ball with more confidence than ever before.   It was a similar story for Ramlall. Fresh off a high school state championship in March, the Rosemount sharp shooter was highly impactful for the Fury's 2028 UAA squad all summer. Following the NCAA live periods in May and July, the 5'10 guard picked up a number of new D1 offers from schools such as Butler, High Point, Stanford, and Iowa State. On top of that, both Ashna and Logan, as well their Fury teammate [player_tooltip player_id='923286' first='Ashlee' last='Wilson'], received national recognition back in June, each earning an invite to the Under Armour Next Future 60 camp.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2026/05/NorthTartan16UEYBL.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1857054" style="aspect-ratio:1.335077353299355;width:665px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Maggier Dyer (back row, far right) & [player_tooltip player_id='872714' first='Beckett' last='Greenway'] (front row, second from the left)</figcaption></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='908260' first='Maggie' last='Dyer'] & [player_tooltip player_id='872714' first='Beckett' last='Greenway'] – [program_tooltip program_id='712722' first='North' last='Tartan'] 16U EYBL   It was another strong season for [program_tooltip program_id='712722' first='North' last='Tartan']'s 16U EYBL squad, who finished the summer with a 14-1 record in circuit events, as well as a Minnesota AAU State Tournament title back in May. Leading the way for coach Macy Hatelstad's squad were Dyer and Greenway. All summer, Maggie, a dynamic, physical guard from Rochester Mayo, continued to shine on the biggest and brightest stages. The 5'10 guard played each matchup with her characteristic all-business attitude. She brought versatile scoring, toughness on the defensive end, and a tremendous feel for the game each time she stepped onto the court. Following the most recent NCAA viewing period, Maggie picked up Division 1 offers from Butler and West Florida.   So far, Greenway has stepped up to the plate each time a new challenge comes her way, and this summer was no different. Playing up a year for [program_tooltip program_id='712722' first='North' last='Tartan'], the Providence Academy sophomore took on the bulk of the point guard duties, playing the position with poise, maturity, and strong leadership. With a 62-point weekend at Summer Jam coming to mind, Beckett excelled at events here in the Twin Cities, but was just as effective on the EYBL circuit. Following Nike Nationals in July, Greenway was named as one of five members of the 16U All-EYBL First Team.

Last week we began our rollout of our this year's Most Valuable Duos award. First handed out last summer, the MVD award is designed to recognize a pair of teammates who were instrumental to their team's success throughout the AAU season. Each duo is a little bit different: Some lead their team in scoring, some make up a duo on the defensive end, but each pair of players recognized here helped set the tone for their respective teams this summer. On Thursday we announced that incoming seniors Jaliyah Diggs Jaliyah Diggs 5'5" | PG Hopkins | 2027 State MN and Laila Moses Laila Moses 5'11" | SF DeLaSalle | 2027 State MN from Metro Stars 2027 3SSB brought home the award in the 17U division. Today we'll take a look at the 16U selections.