The Freshman 50: Top 2030 prospects, 21 through 30

This is what we work towards all summer – the scouting, evaluating, and sorting of the incoming 9th graders. The process of developing this year's Prep Girls Hoops Freshman 50, featuring Minnesota's premier prospects in the class of 2030, has been a labor of love. We've watched as many incoming freshman play as is humanly possible. We've talked to college coaches and AAU directors and many others to reach this point. Given the depth of this class, some quality players definitely got left out. Fortunately we add new names and re-sort the list three times a year.   HOW THE RANKINGS WORK   In case you aren't familiar, allow us to remind you of how the Prep Girls Hoops evaluation process works.    The most important thing to remember is this: The rankings measure college potential, not current high school performance. Our goal isn't to identify the best 9th graders right now; it's to project who will be the best college freshmen four years from now. That's why some players who haven't yet played varsity appear in the upper half of the list and others who will lead their high school teams this winter may not appear at all.   The evaluation process considers traits that translate to the next level:   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>Height, length, and athleticism</li>   <li>Skill development and shooting mechanics</li>   <li>Court vision and basketball IQ</li>   <li>Leadership, body language, and coachability</li> </ul>   Our evaluation team includes current and former AAU, high school, and college coaches. Everyone contributes under anonymity to keep the process objective. We know we won't get every ranking right, but the vast majority of legitimate college prospects eventually find their place on the list.    Here are the prospects ranked from 21st to 30th in the Class of 2030.    #21 – Tyler (pictured above) is an athletic, versatile guard who has been on our radar since last fall. Following a recent growth spurt, the Orono freshman now stands at 6 feet tall, giving her a substantial size advantage as a combo guard. On the offensive end, Hayden plays with skill and poise out on the perimeter. She handles the ball with ease, attacks the rim with confidence, and has a smooth, left-handed release on her three-point shot. As a defender, Tyler's substantial length and bouncy quickness allows her to guard a wide variety of opponents. Her disruptive, high-energy approach brings some serious upside as well.     #22 – Bringing a unique blend of power and athleticism to the court, Simmons plays the game with a fiery, competitive nature that simply can't be taught. Often physical in her approach, the 5'11 guard possesses a level of strength few players in the class can match. She's explosive off the bounce, has a soft touch at the rim, and shoots the ball with confidence and finesse. As a defender, Gigi's tenacity makes her an intimidating challenge for most opponents. While the Stewartville freshman isn't the most polished player on the court yet, the early makings of a high-level college prospect are most certainly there.     #23 – Fenstra isn't necessarily the most well-known player in the freshman class, but it doesn't take more than a few minutes to see that all the tools are there. Standing at 6'2, Paige is a lengthy, but solidly built wing who can stretch to the forward position. Incredibly smooth in her movement, there is a high degree of athletic potential here. The Rogers 9th grader plays with pace, has a wide array of guard skills, and elevates over her defenders with ease. On defense, Fenstra's abilities as a rebounder and rim protector, as well as her versatility, provide some serious upside for the next level.     #24 – Standing at an impressive 6-foot-3, it's easy to see why Swenson ranks high on our list. Her combination of height, length of frame, and mobility are something you just don't find every day. Like many players who hit a major growth spurt early on, it will be some time before we see Svea's full athletic potential, but already, the glimpses of a strong collegiate prospect are there. On top of her size, the Orono freshman has great hands, meaning she can catch post-entry passes and snag rebounds that many other players would miss. With a soft touch at the rim and a developing midrange shot, Swenson's growth will be worth the wait.     #25 – Dahl is yet another example of the substantial height and length that are present in this year's freshman class. The [program_tooltip program_id='713021' first='West' last='Central United'] forward stands at 6'2 and is another player with a long, wiry frame. She's light on her feet, runs the floor with ease, and consistently uses her long arms to her advantage on the defensive end. With the ability to play with her back to the basket or shoot from the perimeter, Londyn shows versatility as a scorer, as well. While we likely won't see her this season with Minnewaska due to an ACL injury, Dahl's long-term potential as a scholarship-level prospect isn't to be forgotten.     #26 – Few players impact the game the way Malmgren does. Playing with a blend of immense power, stellar athleticism, and skill, the 5'11 forward is a matchup nightmare for most opponents. Kendall utilises her tenacity and length on defense, blocking shots, creating disruptions on the perimeter, and dominating the glass. On offense she routinely lights up the scoreboard. The St. James freshman often turns her tenacious defense into transition offense. On the attack, Kendall's fantastic footwork, consistent finishing, and willingness to initiate contact are her biggest upsides. Nobody in the freshman class plays with the same two-way intensity and all-out effort as Malmgren.     #27 – Stone exploded onto the scene this summer, going from unknown to a top-level prospect in a matter of weeks. A fluid athlete with a tremendous feel for the game, Emmy stands out as a smooth, natural scorer who can fill up the stat sheet with ease. Her sense of pace and timing, as well as her explosiveness and crafty handle on the ball allow her to get to the rim on a regular basis. On the other end of the floor, the Minnetonka freshman's ability to get deflections and wreak havoc on the perimeter are significant upsides. As of right now, Stone is just scratching the surface of her full potential.     #28 – Somewhat unconventional in her approach, Waldo is one of the most intriguing guard prospects in the class. The 5'8 guard is fiercely competitive, powerfully built, and not afraid to embrace physicality in her game. She's also incredibly skilled on the offensive end. Madison handles the ball like it's on a string, shoots the ball with confidence from long range, and has no issues beating defenders to the basket. In any given matchup the Rogers freshman, who is a true three-level scorer, is liable to drop 20 or more. With an impressive basketball lineage to her name, Waldo has some serious upsides as a college prospect.     #29 – While she isn't a particularly well known name among this crop of talented freshmen, Hawsen certainly deserves a place on this list. The Proctor guard brings tremendous energy and an endless work ethic each time she steps on the court. As a floor general, Ruby leads the offense with confidence and poise. She maintains control of the ball under pressure, is an unselfish passer, but knows how and when to create her own scoring opportunities. Standing at 5'7 with a strong, muscular frame, Ruby is tenacious on the defensive end. Using her impressive quickness to her advantage, Hawsen is constantly hunting for a chance to get her hands on the basketball.     #30 – First catching our attention back in the 7th grade, Wesen has been on our radar for more than two years. In that time we've seen some serious growth in her game. These days, the 5'8 combo guard is a highly skilled speed demon who shines as a feisty perimeter defender, aggressive downhill attacker, and confident outside shooter. Continuously becoming stronger and more athletic, Lily's game is a textbook example of what it means to play with hustle. Scrappy and smart with the ball in her hands, the Albany freshman plays without fear, giving 110 percent each and every time she steps on the court.

This is what we work towards all summer – the scouting, evaluating, and sorting of the incoming 9th graders. The process of developing this year's Prep Girls Hoops Freshman 50, featuring Minnesota's premier prospects in the class of 2030, has been a labor of love. We've watched as many incoming freshman play as is humanly possible. We've talked to college coaches and AAU directors and many others to reach this point. Given the depth of this class, some quality players definitely got left out. Fortunately we add new names and re-sort the list three times a year.

HOW THE RANKINGS WORK

In case you aren't familiar, allow us to remind you of how the Prep Girls Hoops evaluation process works.

The most important thing to remember is this: The rankings measure college potential, not current high school performance. Our goal isn't to identify the best 9th graders right now; it's to project who will be the best college freshmen four years from now. That's why some players who haven't yet played varsity appear in the upper half of the list and others who will lead their high school teams this winter may not appear at all.

The evaluation process considers traits that translate to the next level:

Height, length, and athleticism

Skill development and shooting mechanics

Court vision and basketball IQ

Leadership, body language, and coachability

Our evaluation team includes current and former AAU, high school, and college coaches. Everyone contributes under anonymity to keep the process objective. We know we won't get every ranking right, but the vast majority of legitimate college prospects eventually find their place on the list.

Here are the prospects ranked from 21st to 30th in the Class of 2030.