Breakdown Fall League: Youngsters on the rise

After a month of covering the various Prep Girls Hoops showcase events, it's officially time to start gearing up for the 2026-27 Minnesota girls high school season. That means it's time for Breakdown's annual Fall League, which takes place from now until the beginning of November at sites across the state Yesterday I headed out to Hopkins for the action.   Watching a variety of both varsity and JV squads, what struck me most was the high level of competition and the amount of young talent in the gym. Some were players we've become very familiar with over the past 6 months – names like [player_tooltip player_id='1325878' first='Eve' last='Schupp'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1786296' first='Svea' last='Swenson'] of Orono, or [player_tooltip player_id='1559037' first='Kali' last='Schultz'] Delano. But there were also plenty of players who I was seeing for the first time. In this installment of our Breakdown Fall League coverage, we're taking a look at five of those youngsters who stood out most.   NAMES TO KNOW    We've highlighted Abosi's game a couple of times now, most recently for her performance at the PGH Minnesota Freshman Showcase last month. This weekend, we caught a glimpse of the 5'9 wing in action with Benilde-St. Margaret's for the first time. On a Red Knights roster that's loaded with experienced Division 1 and 2 prospects such as [player_tooltip player_id='498661' first='Pressley' last='Watkins'], Liv Bell, [player_tooltip player_id='786398' first='Zaida' last='Jenkins'], and [player_tooltip player_id='939000' first='Kiera' last='Willis'], it wasn't immediately clear where Abosi (pictured above) would fit. Now being given the opportunity to contribute, Leyah stepped up to the plate beautifully on Sunday.   The BSM freshman supplied an immediate dose of hustle, diving for loose balls and fighting hard on the glass as soon as she came into the game. Using her strength and physicality to her advantage, Leyah also showed no fear on the defensive end. And when mistakes occurred, Abosi displayed a strong "next-play" mentality, allowing her to recover with ease.     While we haven't watched Minnesota's latest crop of 8th graders all that closely yet, Swedberg's name immediately rang a bell. Standing somewhere around 5 feet tall, the tiny, dynamic point guard plays with a level of energy and skill that's impossible to forget. All throughout Sunday's matchups, Brynn made high IQ plays when the ball was in her hands, broke down her defenders off the dribble, and scored off of explosive drives to the basket. On the defensive end, the Delano guard plays with a scrappy, aggressive mindset. While she doesn't match up well with most opponents in terms of height, Brynn easily makes up for that fact with her tremendous quickness and intensity on the ball. Having already made six varsity appearances last winter, Swedberg is a player who could make an immediate impact on the young Tigers' roster this season.    INTRIGUING NEWCOMERS    Fall League was our first look at Castle, a long, wiry 9th grader from Orono. Standing at 6'0, Lily's length and mobility were immediately impressive. She was highly active on both ends of the floor, excelled as a rebounder for the Spartans, and used her length really well on the defensive end. On offense, Lily showcased a smooth release on her three-point shot, made well-timed cuts towards the basket, and consistently pushed the ball up to her teammates in transition. Her game is raw right now, but Castle's long-term development will be worth the wait.     Also from Orono, Sternhagen left a strong impression on Sunday. Standing somewhere around 5'2, she's certainly not the biggest player on the court, but the Spartans sophomore made a sizable impact for the JV squad. Bouncy and quick with the ball in her hands, Everleigh is a skilled point guard with a strong understanding of how to play the game. She handles the ball well under pressure, reads the floor with ease, and is an unselfish passer who consistently finds her teammates in half-court sets. On the defensive end, Sternhagen's speed and discipline on the perimeter are both tremendous upside to her game.     While not necessarily the most polished player on the court, Olberding's sheer athleticism was immediately apparent on Sunday. The Delano freshman is strong, light on her feet, and has a 0-60 burst of speed that rivals many of the quickest players in the class. All throughout the Fall League festivities, Ruthie displayed solid ball handling skills, a significant level of work ethic, and plenty of promise as a future playmaker for the Tigers. On defense, her intense, physical style, and business-like demeanor are the hallmarks of her game. Already a member of Delano's varsity track & field team, Olberding's athletic potential is clearly something to keep an eye on.

After a month of covering the various Prep Girls Hoops showcase events, it's officially time to start gearing up for the 2026-27 Minnesota girls high school season. That means it's time for Breakdown's annual Fall League, which takes place from now until the beginning of November at sites across the state Yesterday I headed out to Hopkins for the action.

Watching a variety of both varsity and JV squads, what struck me most was the high level of competition and the amount of young talent in the gym. Some were players we've become very familiar with over the past 6 months – names like Eve Schupp Eve Schupp 5'10" | CG Orono | 2030 State MN and Svea Swenson Svea Swenson 6'3" | SF/C Orono | 2030 State MN of Orono, or Kali Schultz Kali Schultz 5'6" | CG Delano | 2030 State MN Delano. But there were also plenty of players who I was seeing for the first time. In this installment of our Breakdown Fall League coverage, we're taking a look at five of those youngsters who stood out most.

NAMES TO KNOW

Leyah Abosi

HEIGHT 5'9"

POS SF

CLASS 2030

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Leyah Abosi

State: Minnesota

School: Benilde-St. Margaret's

Club: Minnesota Fury

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Highlights

Brynn Swedberg

HEIGHT 5'0"

POS PG

CLASS 2031

Brynn Swedberg

School: Delano

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INTRIGUING NEWCOMERS

Lily Castle

HEIGHT 6'0"

POS PF/SF

CLASS 2030

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Lily Castle

State: Minnesota

School: Orono

Club: Minnesota Stars

Fall League was our first look at Castle, a long, wiry 9th grader from Orono. Standing at 6'0, Lily's length and mobility were immediately impressive. She was highly active on both ends of the floor, excelled as a rebounder for the Spartans, and used her length really well on the defensive end. On offense, Lily showcased a smooth release on her three-point shot, made well-timed cuts towards the basket, and consistently pushed the ball up to her teammates in transition. Her game is raw right now, but Castle's long-term development will be worth the wait.