PGH Freshman Showcase: The best of Team 4

Every year the Prep Girls Hoops Freshman Showcase offers up a nice array of talent to consider, from the big names we've already come to know through high school and AAU basketball to the surprising newcomers who step up, stand out and show what they are capable of. The 2026 edition of the event is no exception. More than 90 players participated on Sunday at Maple Grove Middle School with PGH scouts Ally McGinnis, Tony Ragulen, Paxyn Rendahl and I doing the primary evaluations. We're publishing those on a team-by-team basis. Here's what I saw from Team 4.   TOP PERFORMERS    In her previews of the Freshman Showcase, PGH scout Ally McGinnis identified Nnaji as one of the premier forward prospects to watch. The 6'1 post from Shakopee delivered on that promise. One of the best rim-runners in the freshman class, Nnaji combines excellent length with effortless athleticism and an explosive stride. On Sunday Zion demonstrated her ability to run the floor exceptionally well, rebound aggressively and use her elevation to block and alter shots around the basket. It's impressive. Offensively, she has a soft touch around the rim and can fill up the basket game after game. She's also developing a nice midrange game. Nnaji showed she is a skilled passer with a well-rounded, versatile skill set. With her physical tools and continued development, this is a legitimate Division I prospect.     I always enjoy watching Simmons play even if she is far from a finished product. Gigi is a bit of a gunslinger, a gifted performer who is willing to take chances because she has the talent to make plays other players her age simply can't. At 5-foot-11, the Stewartville guard has the size, strength and athleticism college coaches covet. Big guards are always in short supply, aren't they? There were times on Sunday when Simmons simply overpowered opponents, getting downhill with a quick first step or rising over defenders on the perimeter. She can knock down threes with confidence, although her shooting tends to be streaky. Gigi plays with personality, too. She's vocal and competitive and wears her heart on her sleeve. With terrific basketball bloodlines, Gigi's raw material is exceptional and we're excited to see how it all unfolds.     Rutgers does so many things that contribute to winning. The 5'8 combo guard played a key role for [program_tooltip program_id='713021' first='West' last='Central United']'s 14U AAU state championship team and has worked her way into an important varsity spot at New London-Spicer. At the Freshman Showcase she made it obvious why those milestones have already been earned in her young career. Paycen plays with a big motor, rebounds relentlessly from the guard position and consistently creates deflections and turnovers with her effort defensively. She also brings plenty to the offensive end of the equation. She handles the ball well enough to be a point guard or shooting guard depending on the requirements of the situation. She sees the floor and distributes effectively, and owns deep three-point range. Rutgers may ultimately be difficult to project to a specific college level, but her work ethic, versatility, toughness and team-first approach give her plenty of ingredients to succeed now and later.     We've known Kailoni for a long time and there's a tendency to take for granted all of the things she can do simply because she does them all the time. Nobody plays harder. The 5'7 guard from St. Louis Park offers a unique combination of joy and ferocity in her game, seemingly attacking every possession with the same relentless energy. She was a consistent varsity leader as an 8th grader earning honorable mention all-conference recognition for her efforts. Kailoni showed again on Sunday that she is a strong, skilled ball handler who is deceptively quick and attacks the rim with confidence, absorbing contact and finishing efficiently. She rebounds aggressively, excels in transition and fights for seemingly every loose ball. Defensively, her strength, instincts and intensity make her a gritty, disruptive presence. Johnson continues to expand the range and consistency of her perimeter shot, adding another dimension to an already versatile game. Her motor, toughness and competitive approach speak for themselves.    IMPACT NEWCOMERS    Hawsen was impossible to miss from the opening minutes Sunday. Pictured above, the Proctor guard played with an alpha-dog mentality, combining strength, skill and relentless energy in a tasty recipe to make her presence felt at both ends of the floor. Listed at 5'7, Hawsen looks and plays much bigger, using a solid frame and physical presence to get the better of bigger, stronger, faster opponents. She hunted down players defensively, attacked loose balls and simply refused to take no for an answer. Hawsen wants the ball in her hands and showed the confidence to keep shooting even after a few early misses. Her mechanics are sound, she can score in bunches and she plays with impressive maturity and poise. With increased exposure coming at Proctor due to the arrive of [player_tooltip player_id='433933' first='Chloe' last='Johnson'], Hawsen looks ready to make the most of it.     Kawecki may be just 5'3 but nothing about her game looked small. Olive was clearly ready to prove what she could do under the bright lights of an event that brings together the best 9th graders in the state. She was never overwhelmed by the setting, parlaying her aggressive mentality into on-court success throughout the day. After earning a significant varsity role at Fairmont as an 8th grader, Kawecki arrived with a polished skill set, excellent basketball IQ and an ability to affect the game as either a scorer or facilitator. She sees the floor well, consistently makes the right read and has developed the ability to create space and get to her shot. Defensively, Kawecki is a pest in the best possible way, making ball handlers uncomfortable and turning pressure into turnovers and transition opportunities. As she learns to be more assertive offensively. Kawecki will no doubt grow into a strong next-level prospect.    OTHERS TO WATCH    Mix is an intriguing 5'11 forward with length, athleticism and plenty of upside. She has broad shoulders and the frame to become a strong, physical player as she matures, while already showing impressive athleticism around the basket. Mix isn't a finished product and will benefit from more experience playing high-level basketball at a faster tempo. There are also signs of a developing perimeter shot. Expected to take on a bigger varsity role at White Bear Lake this winter, Mix has some interesting raw material to work with.     Helgeson showed quickly that she wasn't afraid to let the ball fly, displaying confidence as a perimeter shooter. The 5'8 guard from Rogers also caught our attention defensively, applying pesky on-ball pressure and forcing turnovers during the stretches we watched. She has a relatively thin frame and will continue to benefit from added strength and experience. Finding varsity minutes may not come immediately in an increasingly deep Rogers program, but Helgeson showed enough on Sunday to make her a player we'll follow.     Schmidt impressed with her approach to the proceedings as much as anything she did statistically. The 5'7 guard from Becker is a hard worker who takes instruction well and never tried to force the action or do more than the situation required. She showed the ability to knock down shots. She seems to have a nice defensive understanding on how to position herself well and take advantage of angles rather than athleticism. Becoming more assertive will be important as Schmidt develops. Breaking into the lineup at talent-rich Becker is never going to be easy, but Jordyn could get there in due course.

Every year the Prep Girls Hoops Freshman Showcase offers up a nice array of talent to consider, from the big names we've already come to know through high school and AAU basketball to the surprising newcomers who step up, stand out and show what they are capable of. The 2026 edition of the event is no exception. More than 90 players participated on Sunday at Maple Grove Middle School with PGH scouts Ally McGinnis, Tony Ragulen, Paxyn Rendahl and I doing the primary evaluations. We're publishing those on a team-by-team basis. Here's what I saw from Team 4.