School was in session at the Breakdown Invitational

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The first week of June marks the start of AAU's homestretch and the launch of summer high school ball. With coaches allowed back in the gym and those dreaded morning workouts underway, exhibition games took center stage at the Breakdown USA Summer Invitational, a 28-team showcase played Sunday at Jefferson High School in Bloomington.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Three eight-team brackets and one four-team round-robin made up the field, with top programs like Hopkins, Wayzata, Lakeville North, Providence Academy, and Benilde-St. Margaret's headlining. The field also featured smaller outstate squads rarely seen in these parts – Northome-Kelliher, United South Central, Braham, Hillcrest Lutheran, and Spring Grove/Mabel-Canton among them.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We crisscrossed the courts all day (5,779 steps according to my iPhone!) to catch as many squads as possible. Here's what stood out.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1256291,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2025/06/Addi-Schneider_060825.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1256291" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>STAR POWER APLENTY</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>When ESPN unveiled its Class of 2028 national rankings last week, Duluth Marshall's [player_tooltip player_id='433933' first='Chloe' last='Johnson'] (banner photo above) landed as the top point guard and #3 overall. No surprise, then, that she was the best player we watched all day at the Breakdown. Chloe hasn't been seen much locally this spring – she's been playing the EYBL Circuit with All-Iowa Attack – but every Marshall game on Sunday drew a crowd, and she delivered.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Other standout performances included:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='515651' first='Addi' last='Schneider'] (2026 guard, Chaska)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='471360' first='Mya' last='Moore'] (2026 guard, Orono, Creighton commit)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='659119' first='Maren' last='Day'] (2027 guard, Wayzata)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='1175103' first='Morgan' last='Rysdam'] (2027 guard, Braham)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='529357' first='Emma' last='Millerbernd'] (2027 guard, Providence Academy)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='897060' first='Madeleine' last='Hamiel'] (2029 guard, Cretin-Derham Hall)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='1110548' first='Elin' last='Retzlaff'] (2030 guard, Hillcrest Lutheran)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>IN THE TRENCHES</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Summer Invitational may be a series of 40-minute running clock affairs, but the effort level told a different story. Intensity was high, and with the loosey-goosey AAU brand of officiating in practice, physical play flourished. Two head-to-head matchups stood out:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='908260' first='Maggie' last='Dyer'] (Rochester Mayo) vs. [player_tooltip player_id='644100' first='Annika' last='Kieser'] (Wayzata) was a clash of strength, motor, and D1 drive. The refs let ‘em play as they say, and it made for a rugged, fun-to-watch battle between two elite competitors. Ice bags would have been a post-game necessity.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>In a brief glimpse of Sleepy Eye-St. Mary's vs. Mountain Iron-Buhl, 2027 [player_tooltip player_id='498658' first='Morgan' last='Mathiowetz'] and 2029 [player_tooltip player_id='1055102' first='Farrah' last='Thomas'] went head-to-head in a fast, physical, one-on-one showcase between two more D1-caliber talents. At last glimpse they were both headed face first to the hardwood for a loose ball.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1256290,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2025/06/Paige-Determann_060825.jpg?w=996" alt="" class="wp-image-1256290" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>THE NEXT GENERATION</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Several up-and-comers made a strong impression:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='939000' first='Kiera' last='Willis'] (2029 guard, Benilde-St. Margaret's) – Confident and composed running the Red Knights' offense with a great of blend of natural athleticism and hard-earned fundamentals.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='834489' first='Paige' last='Determan'] (2028 point guard, Sauk Centre) – Scored and distributed all day. With new head coach Maesyn Thiesen at the helm, Determan looks ready for a breakout sophomore year.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='644897' first='Natalie' last='Heyer'] (2028 forward, Chaska) – Natalie didn't see many varsity minutes until the state tourney run in the spring, but she looked like a top-20 prospect Sunday, especially in her matchup with [player_tooltip player_id='433933' first='Chloe' last='Johnson']. She holds D1 offers and it showed.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Also worth paying attention to are 2030 guard [player_tooltip player_id='1256277' first='Tenlee' last='Egan'] of STMA and 2030 guard <strong>Melanie Carlson</strong> of Duluth Marshal, a transfer from Poplar, Wisconsin with real upside.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>RESULTS ARE MEANINGLESS</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Wayzata edged Hopkins in the Brian Cosgriff bracket title game. As with every result Sunday, it was more scrimmage than statement. Teams were short-handed, rotating freely, and prioritizing development over scoreboard outcomes.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Providence Academy and Benilde-St. Margaret's were down on star power without the likes of Kentucky signee [player_tooltip player_id='252381' first='Maddyn' last='Greenway'], [player_tooltip player_id='872714' first='Beckett' last='Greenway'], high-major recruit [player_tooltip player_id='498661' first='Pressley' last='Watkins'] or [player_tooltip player_id='567389' first='Sydney' last='Friedly'] on the floor. St. Michael-Albertville played without top-5 prospect [player_tooltip player_id='344333' first='Cail' last='Jahnke']. Rosemount was missing University of Minnesota commit [player_tooltip player_id='578467' first='Amisha' last='Ramlall']. Proctor's [player_tooltip player_id='478373' first='Chloe' last='Carlson'] and Stewartville's [player_tooltip player_id='458305' first='Audrey' last='Shindelar'] (South Dakota State) were also out. Lakeville North was without [player_tooltip player_id='502552' first='Sophia' last='Perry'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1124603' first='Stella' last='Perry'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Fewer big names meant more chances for up-and-comers – a tradeoff that aligns neatly with the true goals of summer league basketball.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>WHO'S PLAYING WHERE?</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Breakdown Summer Invitational always hints at the latest transfer news. While rumors abound, here's what we saw:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='630245' first='Gianna' last='Carpentier'] (2027 point guard) has transferred from Farmington to Rosemount. The 5'10" playmaker is a top-20 prospect and a standout with Fury UAA.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='1057125' first='Macie' last='Henrikson'] (2029 guard) also left Farmington and played Sunday with Lakeville South. She made an immediate varsity impact as an 8th-grader.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='764943' first='Mariah' last='Sexton'] (2027 power forward) is now at Maple Grove after leaving STMA. The 6'3" forward dealt with significant health issues last year but remains a top-20 talent with D1 upside.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1256285,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2025/06/Ellie-Howard_060825-crop-1639x1077-1749517521.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-1256285" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>WHO'S READY FOR A BREAKOUT YEAR?</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='502610' first='Elli' last='Howard'] (2026 guard, Wayzata) is sitting out AAU to train and nanny, but she made her presence felt in a second-half spurt that sparked a win over Rochester Mayo. One of the purest shooters in her class.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='1256266' first='Katy' last='Devine'] (2026 guard, Two Rivers) showed elevated poise and better decision-making to pair with her trademark bounce. [player_tooltip player_id='1256275' first='Isabelle' last='Van Nett'] (2027 guard, Two Rivers) continues the Van Nett family legacy with size and substance.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='886959' first='Siri' last='Kirkeby'] (2027 guard, Rochester Mayo) is finding her groove. She was flying around the court Sunday, showing more flashes of what could be ahead. The Mayo roster is deep but Siri will be pushing for more minutes.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>UNDER THE RADAR</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kylee Binkley of Northome-Kelliher is one of those underappreciated talents whose work often goes unnoticed but whose impact on the game is undeniable. The gritty guard was at it again on Sunday. She did a terrific job guarding Rysdam in a win over Braham, scoring two dozen of her team's 37 points. She did similar work against the Thomas sisters of Mountain Iron-Buhl. It was a repeat performance of her outing at last year's Breakdown event, one of the few occasions when we've seen the Northome (enrollment 28) and Kelliher (enrollment 72) combo in the Metro region. They travelled 250 miles to get here and made the most of their journey. Binkley is a 5'7 combo guard ranked #161 in the Class of 2026. Her aggressiveness, physicality and vocal contributions will serve her well at the next level.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->