Fresh faces and stock risers from Battle on the Hardwood

After spending Friday evening at the [program_tooltip program_id='714566' first='Minnesota' last='Stars'] Summer Kickoff Classic, we ventured out to Hope Fieldhouse in Rosemount the next morning to check out the [program_tooltip program_id='712697' first='MN' last='Crossfire'] Battle on the Hardwood. There we saw teams from around the state and even found a few fresh faces and stock risers to highlight. Here's the rundown.    [player_tooltip player_id='1218616' first='Tenley' last='Matzek'] – 2028 Guard, Stewartville   The [program_tooltip program_id='712352' first='Air' last='Minnesota'] 9th grader (pictured above) made a quick impression on us Saturday morning. With length, fluid movement, and long strides, Matzek's athleticism is striking. Everything she does on the court has a gracefulness to it that is a joy to watch. The Stewartville freshman plays with great natural instincts, makes high IQ plays, and is an efficient multi-level scorer. Tenley led the way for her team when we watched, scoring at the rim and hitting several shots from beyond-the-arc. On the defensive end, the 5 '10 guard is bouncy and light on her feet, and uses her length and excellent lateral movement to be highly disruptive on the perimeter. This young prospect has some serious potential.    [player_tooltip player_id='881302' first='Cara' last='Unke'] – 2028 Forward, Luther (Wisconsin)   Another member of [program_tooltip program_id='712352' first='Air' last='Minnesota'] who stood out on Saturday was Unke, a 5'10 forward out of Luther High School in Onalaska, Wisconsin. With wide shoulders and a muscular, athletic build, Unke has the makings of a future college athlete. Along with her size, the 9th grader possesses a high degree of mobility and a scrappy style of play. This was evidenced on Saturday in Cara's ability to play at the top of a full court press for a significant portion of the game, where she forced the opponent into numerous turnovers. A few other aspects of Cara's game that we liked were her strength on the glass, ability to space the floor in transition, and unselfish passing.   [player_tooltip player_id='886907' first='Emily' last='Helgemoe'] – 2028 Guard, Rushford-Peterson   With a business-like demeanor and the ability to play with pace, the 5'7 [program_tooltip program_id='712352' first='Air' last='Minnesota'] guard also made a good impression over the weekend. Rushford-Peterson's Helgemoe showed off her crafty ball handling, explosive first step, and shifty footwork on her drives to the basket early in Saturday's game. Later, Emily lit it up from the three-point line. With a snappy, quick release, the 9th grader has one of the purest three-point shots we've seen in some time. Add in her high basketball IQ, endless work ethic, and ability to handle the ball under pressure, and Helgemoe makes for an intriguing young prospect.    [player_tooltip player_id='1183731' first='Kylie' last='Storkamp'] – 2027 Guard, Foley   The [program_tooltip program_id='756457' first='Opportunity' last='Basketball'] point guard was instrumental over the weekend at the Battle on the Hardwood tournament. With speed, athleticism, and tremendous court vision, Storkamp was a driving force in the team's success. On the offensive end, she showed off her quality ball handling, particularly when under pressure, unselfish passing, and smooth shot. On the defensive end, Kylie was a pest on the perimeter, using her quick hands and ability to jump passing lanes to force turnovers on the ball. What was consistent all game long was the 5'5 guard's tireless work ethic and willingness to make the hustle play at every opportunity.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2025/04/Morgan-Rysdam_Braham-crop-3708x2435-1744049952.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-1229278" /></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='1175103' first='Morgan' last='Rysdam'] – 2027 Guard, Braham   An emerging talent in the class of 2027, Opportunity North's star player gave an electric performance on Saturday afternoon. The 5'8 sophomore from Braham (pictured above) possesses elite athleticism, quickness, and an incredibly aggressive style of play. Within minutes Rysdam picked off numerous steals and scored several buckets in transition in Saturday's matchup. The fun didn't stop there, though. Morgan continued to bring the energy all game long, using her high pressure defense and quick hands to create extra possessions for her team. With stellar court vision, unselfish passing, and the ability to space the floor in transition, and efficient scoring at every level, Rysdam quickly led Opportunity to a large lead. After this weekend, there's no doubt that 10th grader is going to be a highly sought prospect in no time.

After spending Friday evening at the Minnesota Stars Summer Kickoff Classic, we ventured out to Hope Fieldhouse in Rosemount the next morning to check out the MN Crossfire Battle on the Hardwood. There we saw teams from around the state and even found a few fresh faces and stock risers to highlight. Here's the rundown.