Players who raised their stock at the State Prelims

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Minnesota AAU State Championships is one of the most exciting times of the entire AAU season. Watching the best of the best battle it out for the title is one of our favorite days to watch all year. This past weekend we were at Kennedy High School in Bloomington, getting a preview of what's to come in a few days. Here are seven stock risers who could make a big impact for their respective teams at the tournament.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='773429' first='Maddie' last='Sundberg'] <strong>– 2026 Guard, Roseville</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Leading the way for Matt Nilsen's [program_tooltip program_id='714566' first='Minnesota' last='Stars'] team is Sundberg, a junior from Roseville. There was a lot to like about her game at the State Prelims. First, her passing. Maddie has a real knack for seeing the floor well and getting the perfect pass to her teammates, often with a bit of style. The next thing we liked this weekend was her handles. The 5'8 guard has put in countless hours in the gym over the past year, and her handle has come a long way. What Sundberg is most known for, though, is her three-point shooting. We didn't see much of it this weekend, but on most days Maddie will shoot the lights out. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='717668' first='Evelyn' last='Miller'] <strong>– 2026 Forward, Orono</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After an outstanding junior season at Orono, we've been eager to see what the [program_tooltip program_id='714566' first='Minnesota' last='Stars'] forward will bring to the court this summer. Miller, who stands at 6-foot-1, has grown in her confidence and aggressiveness on the floor. Over the weekend Evelyn fought for every possession and was instrumental for her team. She showed off her footwork in the paint, but also knocked down a handful of shots from three. On one possession against the Fury, Evelyn caught the ball on the wing, drove into the paint, and did a spin move for a pretty finish and the and-one. We'll be watching to see what else she brings at the State Tournament. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='992399' first='Cianna' last='Thomas'] <strong>– 2028 Guard, Elk River</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Prelims may have gotten off to a rocky start for the [program_tooltip program_id='767539' first='Minnesota' last='Comets'] 2028 Elite team, but this roster is loaded with potential. Thomas brought a spark off the bench, particularly on the defensive end. The 5'6 guard plays with a tremendous level of effort, not taking a single possession off. Cianna's high-pressure defense, with quick feet and active hands, was a headache for opponents. She forced numerous turnovers, allowing coach Jazmen Boone's squad to find some rhythm on the offensive end. While there is still plenty of room for her game to grow, Cianna's energy is unmatched. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='881084' first='Macy' last='Castle'] <strong>– 2028 Guard, Brainerd</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Another member of the 2028 Comets squad, Castle (pictured above) gave us much to take notice of at the State Prelims. The Brainerd freshman has a great handle on the ball, is explosive off the dribble, and is a sneaky good passer. While she can knock down the three-ball, Macy did a lot of driving to the hoop this past weekend, finishing tough buckets through contact. What we most liked though, was the way she plays with a sense of urgency. The 5'6 guard wastes no time and always moves with purpose, making her a highly productive addition to this team this year. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='992401' first='Drea' last='Fernholz'] <strong>– 2028 Guard, Brandon-Evansville</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This [program_tooltip program_id='713021' first='West' last='Central United'] guard brought the energy for her team all weekend long. Fernholz, a 5'9 guard from Brandon-Evansville, was particularly impactful on the defensive end. Her long frame, bounce and athleticism, combined with an endless motor makes Drea a particular problem for opponents. At the Prelims she was all over the passing lanes, using her length to pick off steals. The 9th grader brought plenty of hustle as well. At any opportunity to wrestle for a loose ball or save one going out of bounds, Fernholz was right there in the mix. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='939004' first='Alysen' last='Purcell'] <strong>– 2029 Guard, Annandale</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This [program_tooltip program_id='712687' first='Minnesota' last='Fury'] guard was among the most tenacious and aggressive competitors we watched all weekend. Purcell, an 8th grader from Annandale, has an innate ability for using physicality to her advantage. Regardless of whether she's hunting for rebounds, attacking the basket, or playing defense, she never shies away from a bit of contact. Alysen was also a major threat on offense, scoring 48 points across four games, including 17 points against [program_tooltip program_id='712665' first='Metro' last='Stars'] 2029 Gold and 19 points against Fury 2029 Yellow. Look for her to have a major impact at the upcoming State Tournament. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1244229' first='Lucy' last='Hilgert'] <strong>– 2029 Guard, Chanhassen</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It was a highly successful weekend for [program_tooltip program_id='712722' first='North' last='Tartan']'s 2029 team, who came out of the State Prelims with a 4-0 record and a top seed for the upcoming State Tournament. Hilgert was one key piece of the team's success at the Prelims. A natural athlete and dynamic point producer, Lucy was scoring at multiple levels all weekend. We enjoyed seeing how well she moves without the ball; the Chanhassen 8th grader makes sharp, quick cuts, opening up the floor for her team. Against [program_tooltip program_id='712697' first='MN' last='Crossfire'] 2029 Elite, she scored a team-high 13 points. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->