PGH Freshman Showcase: Team 3 newcomers to see

Sunday's Prep Girls Hoops Freshman Showcase at Maple Grove Middle School offered up plenty of star power as usual, but it was the depth of talent that was particularly impressive. With more than 90 players on hand, we have plenty to talk about as we break down what we saw into player evaluations suitable for college coaches and interested observers. PGH Scouts Ally McGinnis, Tony Ragulan, Paxyn Rendahl and I will be writing about most of the players on a team-by-team basis over the next few days. We began with the future stars of Team 3. Now we bring you some newcomers to watch from the same squad.    Smaller guards always need to do something quickly in a showcase setting  to make scouts and college coaches notice them. Lundin certainly did on Sunday. The 5'6 guard from [program_tooltip program_id='1229871' first='Southwest' last='Fury'] (pictured above) immediately went after opposing ball handlers, applying relentless pressure, to force turnovers and transform her defensive energy into offensive opportunities for Team 3. Brynn is pesky to say the least, an energetic competitor who is always hungry for the basketball. Lundin also has many of the tools smaller guards need to succeed. She gets low with the ball in hand making it difficult to snatch it from her grasp, handling it well and securely. She showed some nice creativity around the basket, too, including a sweet floater to open the second half in the first game that we watched. A varsity contributor as an 8th grader and a track athlete at Lakeview, Lundin has plenty of speed and the kind of confidence that comes from being one of the most talented athletes in the school. We loved what we saw from her on Sunday.     Jackson wasted little time showing us what she was about. The 5'9 forward attacked the basket and her opponents immediately, using her powerful frame and strong lower body to muscle past defenders. That physical presence was a defining feature of her day. Julissa was fearless around the basket, willingly initiated contact and at one point simply ripped the basketball away from an opponent. Jackson already appeared in 26 varsity games as an 8th grader at Spring Lake Park, and that experience showed in her comfort competing physically against players her own age. She runs the floor well, rebounds hard and can be an opportunistic scorer around the basket. At 5'9 she's going to be a little undersized to play forward at the next level so developing more of a face-up and perimeter game will be important, but Jackson already has strength and toughness that can't be taught.     Magee grew on us as the day progressed. The 5'10 Rochester Mayo guard/forward is long, lean and an excellent athlete with good leaping ability and a quality shooting stroke. She certainly wasn't shy about showing it, confidently letting the ball fly at her first opportunity. Magee may not be the most polished player yet, but she knows where to go and what to do when she gets there. Her versatility is intriguing, with the potential to play multiple positions, shoot over smaller defenders or attack from the wing. Doing a little research after the showcase, we were informed that Magee did nice work in summer ball for Mayo, scoring 30 points with seven 3-pointers in a single contest. That's heady stuff. She also competes in volleyball and softball. Mayo has plenty of established talent, but Magee has the potential to enter that conversation sooner rather than later.     Larson isn't necessarily the player who immediately grabs your attention but as the day went on her impact became increasingly more apparent. The 5'6 guard form [program_tooltip program_id='712697' first='MN' last='Crossfire'] has a nice feel for the game and consistently seems to know where she should be next. Her greatest asset, however, is her motor. This kid is a hard worker who competes relentlessly, pursues loose balls, battles defensively and fights for rebounds despite not being among the biggest players on the floor. Brooklyn positions herself well on the glass and can quickly turn a defensive rebound into transition offense. She can also shoot the basketball. Larson will need to continue getting stronger and quicker as well as improve her finishing around the rim, but the instincts and work ethic provide an excellent foundation.     Being placed on a loaded roster with future Division I college players like [player_tooltip player_id='1124545' first='Amelia' last='Truty'] and [player_tooltip player_id='939006' first='Sophie' last='Schoenrock'] can be challenging for younger players trying to navigate their way into the high school spotlight via a high-profile showcase. Hach did what she could to make her presence known. The 5'4 guard, who played AAU for [program_tooltip program_id='756457' first='Opportunity' last='Basketball'] in the Twin Cities, showed some good raw material. She brings intriguing quickness to the floor, which isn't surprising considering she also competes as a sprinter in track and field. Hach also plays volleyball, and that athletic background shows in her movement, reactions and overall agility. Her effort level was impressive from beginning to end. Over time Payson will grow her skill set and become more polished which is why she'll be on our radar going forward.

Sunday's Prep Girls Hoops Freshman Showcase at Maple Grove Middle School offered up plenty of star power as usual, but it was the depth of talent that was particularly impressive. With more than 90 players on hand, we have plenty to talk about as we break down what we saw into player evaluations suitable for college coaches and interested observers. PGH Scouts Ally McGinnis, Tony Ragulan, Paxyn Rendahl and I will be writing about most of the players on a team-by-team basis over the next few days. We began with the future stars of Team 3. Now we bring you some newcomers to watch from the same squad.