2022 Stock Risers – Greater Minnesota

I wonder if Rockford sophomore [player_tooltip player_id="57938" first="Ava" last="Cusciotta"] has watched a little 1980s National Basketball Association action – you know the era when bully ball ruled, when there were no holds barred and no prisoners taken. She certainly plays like she has and that hard-nosed, physical approach to the game is exactly why I love Ava’s chances of achieving success at the next level. Today Cusciotta leads the way in our latest edition of 2022 stock risers, this time a group of five players representing Prep Girls Hoops’ Greater Minnesota region. [player_tooltip player_id="57938" first="Ava" last="Cusciotta"] – Rockford, Crossfire 2022 Bluestar (#56) The 5’9 forward has a solid frame, plenty of strength and absolutely zero fear. That’s a nice combination, particularly when you add those assets to a motor that never quits. Ava is also skilled, with nice touch around the rim, a sweet mid-range game and the ability to power past defenders to get to the basket off the bounce. Ava was Rockford’s second-leading scorer this season at 12.7 points per game. As you’ll see on the video, she is a prodigious shot-blocker for her size and an excellent rebounder. She makes hustle plays all day long. Ava can play multiple positions, she’s athletic and her footwork and quickness have improved significantly. Cusciotta is a solid scholarship-level prospect with excellent intangibles, including a 4.15 GPA. Ava had an excellent summer in 2019. This year, she and the core of her former team, including forward [player_tooltip player_id="57936" first="Kaila" last="Youngs"] of Orono, will comprise the new Crossfire 2022 Bluestar squad. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/video/3/12186373/5ecc0ab55b3cd910781d85dc">Watch the video</a> [player_tooltip player_id="109149" first="Kaylie" last="Crabtree"] & [player_tooltip player_id="109150" first="Kylie" last="Crabtree"] – Hawley, ND Pro 2022 (#69 & #70) There may be differences between the Crabtree twins – at least their mom says so – but in the basketball realm they are two peas in a pod, and what a bright and shiny pod it is. We have separate videos for your perusal but only one evaluation is really necessary. Kaylie and Kylie are superb ball-handlers with a well-honed bag of tricks at their disposal. They both shoot the ball extremely well. They’re both quick as blazes, with first steps that are very difficult to counter and the ability to undress defenders on the fly. ‘Dynamic’ is the word I find myself using far too often with these two. They have high basketball IQs, a serious love for the game and an exceptional work ethic. Honestly it is difficult to find fault in the twins’ skillsets. These are two very talented, very committed, highly-tuned basketball players. There are two issues have cropped up from time to time in the past worth nothing. First, there has been a tendency to try and do a little too much with the basketball. Second, they have been guilty of passing up a simple play to execute a more risky maneuver. That’s pretty much in the past, however, as the twins used their 2019 summer season with the Minnesota Stars to become more mature decision makers as they adapted to a higher level of competition. Hawley also employs a pretty conservative approach to the game which has compelled the twins to tone it down a little. From an entertainment point of view that’s unfortunate. In the quest for a college scholarship, however, that is definitely a positive development. Kaylie averaged 11.9 points per game this winter while shooting 54.3% from beyond the arc and 91.7% at the free throw line. No, those are not typos. She also averaged 2.4 assists. Kylie averaged 10.4 points, 2.3 assists and 1.7 steals. Her shooting percentages were a little lower but still at an elite level. The Twins will play AAU ball closer to home this year with ND Pro 2022 out of Fargo. <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/13879848/5e70230f5b3c870ab84f2d19">Watch Kaylie’s video</a> <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/13879925/5e7120684205f80c84baf28c">Watch Kylie’s video</a> [player_tooltip player_id="109162" first="Lauren" last="Feddema"] – Buffalo, Minnesota Stars 2022 Fleming (#92) Perhaps we should call her video ‘Grand Theft Lauren’ because there is plenty of larceny to see here. Lauren’s defensive quickness on the perimeter something else. She’s got great vision, quick hands, quick feet and a terrific sense of anticipation. Over the past couple of years, Feddema has also gotten quite long. Now 5’8, Lauren is a highly skilled point guard. She’s super intelligent, understands how to vary her speed to great advantage and can thread the needle through traffic to score. Lauren is also a terrific shooter, both from long range and mid-range, and distributes with poise and precision. Buffalo went into rebuilding mode this winter while entering the state’s most competitive conference (the Lake) at the same time. Feddema, the only player on the squad in the Prep Girls Hoops prospect rankings, was relied on heavily to lead the way and she did more than her fair share. Lauren moves this summer from DTA Academy to Minnesota Stars 2022 Fleming, a new unit that includes the likes of [player_tooltip player_id="109138" first="Leah" last="Dengerud"], [player_tooltip player_id="147445" first="Rose" last="Wille"], [player_tooltip player_id="109145" first="Hannah" last="Herzig"] and [player_tooltip player_id="109169" first="Sophie" last="Stork"]. Feddema’s stock is definitely rising and she is a solid scholarship-level prospect. <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/12107280/5e8d18f53448d70d28ddc7ce">Watch the video</a> Rian Aune – Virginia, High Impact I haven’t watched Rian play in person in over two years, but we have been getting good reports on the Virginia Blue Devils guard and there’s a pretty good chance she will soon crack the top 150 prospects barrier. The highlight video offers up a nice sampler of Aune’s skills. The 5’7 guard has long strides, can run the court at pace, and is pretty crafty one-on-one. Rian can also shoot the basketball, with range that extends well beyond the three-point line off the catch-and-shoot. Aune cashed in 70 times this winter from long-distance territory while averaging nearly 13 points per game. She also has the ability to create space to execute her own shot from mid-range. In a game against Bigfork she scored 32 points in 18 minutes of action. That’s impressive. Aune also averaged 3.1 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 2.4 steals. She shot 43% from two-point territory, 36% from three and 82% at the line, earning all-conference and all-Iron Range honors in the process. She is a three-sport athlete who plays volleyball and runs track while carrying a 3.9 GPA. I look forward to watching Rian again in the near future with High Impact AAU. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MxSdFlFKRkY&feature=youtu.be">Watch the video</a>