Up Next Showcase: The best of Team 2

Saturday's Prep Girls Hoops Up Next Showcase in Maple Grove offered a great opportunity for younger players to get themselves on the radar, perhaps for the first time. About 40 potential prospects from the classes 0f 2031, 2032, and 2033 seized the moment with an hour of 3x3 play and three hours of 5x5. Yesterday we brought you the best of Team 1 from the showcase. Here are the standout performers from Team 2 listed in order of their jersey numbers at the event.    7 – For a player just entering 6th grade, Kaci already possesses an impressively advanced skill set. Much like her older sister, Kendra, she combines outstanding basketball instincts with confidence and polish well beyond her years. Lynch handles the ball effortlessly, sees the floor exceptionally well and consistently delivers quality passes to open teammates. She is also a high-level shooter with excellent mechanics and the confidence to take big shots when they present themselves. Whether creating for others or scoring herself, Lynch displayed an advanced feel for the game throughout the showcase, making her one of the most exciting prospects in attendance.     10 – Nalani's day was a perfect example of a young player growing more comfortable as the showcase unfolded. A bit tentative early, she steadily gained confidence before putting together an outstanding final game. Hight is an explosive athlete who plays with speed, attacking the rim fearlessly and putting constant pressure on defenders. She runs the floor exceptionally well and embraces contact when finishing at the basket. One sequence late in the day showcased her versatility, following a strong drive for a bucket with a deep step-back three on the next possession. As the lone South Dakota player at the event, Hight represented her state exceptionally well while showing considerable long-term potential.     19 – Brinley entered the showcase with an already impressive reputation as the leader of a strong [program_tooltip program_id='712352' first='Air' last='Minnesota'] squad this summer. She only strengthened that viewpoint with another outstanding performance. A true floor general, she consistently controlled the pace while making smart decisions with the basketball. Skala (pictured above) combines excellent court vision and creative passing with the ability to score when that's the best option available. Her ball handling, shooting range and crafty style allow her to create opportunities in a variety of ways, while her long arms and relentless rebounding add value beyond the offensive end. Perhaps most impressive was her leadership, constantly communicating on defense and directing teammates throughout the day. Her combination of skill, confidence and competitiveness gives her tremendous upside.     37 – Leighton impressed with a well-rounded game built on athleticism, skill and energy. She attacks defenders confidently off the dribble, highlighted by a smooth hesitation move that creates driving lanes to the basket. Weatherby also stretched defenses with her three-point shooting while showing the versatility to score at multiple levels. Her long arms and fluid movement make her an intriguing two-way prospect, and her motor never slowed despite four demanding games. While many players began to tire late in the showcase – that's totally understandable –  Weatherby continued making plays in transition and attacking with confidence, finishing the day strong.     39 – Claire first caught our attention before the opening tip thanks to a pair of bright neon shoes, but her play quickly became the real story. Rank combines good length with long, fluid strides that make her especially effective attacking the basket in transition. She also displayed a quick shooting release and growing confidence from the perimeter as the day progressed. Perhaps her greatest strength was her consistency. Even after nearly four hours of basketball, Rank continued competing with the same energy and determination she showed early in the event. Her effort level, athleticism and willingness to keep attacking stood out throughout the showcase.     50 – Lorraine emerged as one of the day's more intriguing young prospects because of her uncommon versatility. She already possesses the tools of a traditional post player, displaying soft hands, quality footwork and an effective back-to-the-basket game, yet she is equally comfortable handling the ball in space. A smooth spin move in the lane highlighted her offensive skill, while her touch around the basket and ability to finish with either hand hinted at her long-term potential. Brzozowski moves well for her size and maintained an excellent motor throughout the day. With continued skill development, she has the foundation to become a very complete frontcourt player.    Several other members of Team 2 demonstrated they have plenty to offer, as well. 2033 guard [player_tooltip player_id='1891670' first='Ruby' last='Powell'] (#2) has a well-developed set of skills including excellent ball-handling ability. She plays a fearless, aggressive brand of basketball and was constantly on the attack. [player_tooltip player_id='1881570' first='Ada' last='Edmundson'] (#24) of Fairmont just looks like an athlete with advanced physical development. She used her strength and power to get to the basket through contact to score. <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/lennon-miller/">Lennon Miller</a> (#13) of Chippewa Falls played with a ton of confidence and zero fear. She is a crafty guard who created opportunities with her ball-handling ability and pace. [player_tooltip player_id='1819888' first='Amaya' last='Sampson'] (#3) of St. Paul was one of the smallest and youngest players in attendance. After a slow start she got stronger throughout the day. In the last half hour we saw how much she can do with quick feet, nice handles and the ability to score the basketball.

Saturday's Prep Girls Hoops Up Next Showcase in Maple Grove offered a great opportunity for younger players to get themselves on the radar, perhaps for the first time. About 40 potential prospects from the classes 0f 2031, 2032, and 2033 seized the moment with an hour of 3x3 play and three hours of 5x5. Yesterday we brought you the best of Team 1 from the showcase. Here are the standout performers from Team 2 listed in order of their jersey numbers at the event.