Live at the Lakes: Wings, forwards who are moving the needle

The NCAA May Live Period has officially come and gone, marking one of the biggest weekends for Division 1 recruiting. We spent the weekend at Kennedy High School in Bloomington, where the [program_tooltip program_id='712687' first='Minnesota' last='Fury'] hosted their annual Live at the Lakes tournament. We saw plenty of coaches in the gym from all levels of college basketball, hoping to find potential additions to their future rosters. Prep Girls Hoops intern Paxyn Rendahl and I spent much of the weekend evaluating 2029s and 2030s, hoping to find prospects who've taken their game up a notch this spring. Here are a handful of wings and forwards who fit the bill.    In the absence of her frontcourt partner, [player_tooltip player_id='1849558' first='Annika' last='Smith'], this past Sunday, Sodeman was forced to step into a bigger role for the [program_tooltip program_id='712699' first='Minnesota' last='Rise']. The 5'11 power forward (pictured above) took the challenge in stride. By keeping the game simple and sticking to her fundamentals, Jacey created impact both on and off the stat sheet. The St. James 8th grader was aggressive on the boards, made hustle plays that created extra possessions for her team, and was highly effective on screens both on and off the ball. With a solid base and the ability to maintain her space on the block, Sodeman scored timely buckets around the rim at Live at the Lakes.     Demonstrating sharp intensity and strong communication on the court, Miller thrives as a vocal leader for [program_tooltip program_id='712722' first='North' last='Tartan']'s 14U Elite squad. The 5'11 power forward from Mounds View consistently creates opportunities for her teammates by screening opponents, rolling to the basket, calling for the ball, and finishing at the rim. Bentley is assertive in physical play and positions herself effectively. On defense, she excels with full power by pushing opponents out of the lane and applying high-pressure on-ball stops. Her height and reach contribute to deflections, steals, blocked shots, and rebounds. Miller's grit and confidence on both ends of the floor are contagious, setting the tone for the rest of her team.     While somewhat undersized at her position, Dryburgh is built for the college game. The Moorhead freshman stands somewhere around 5'11 with wide shoulders and plenty of length to her frame. Sophia is highly mobile, moves well laterally, and runs the floor with ease. At Live at the Lakes, the [program_tooltip program_id='713021' first='West' last='Central United'] forward spaced the floor, was highly aggressive on the offensive glass. With long arms and plenty of athleticism, Dryburgh consistently outworked her opponents, creating second-chance scoring opportunities for her team. We're told that she'll be moving out of state in the near future, but in the meantime Sophia is showing plenty of upside for WCU.     After a standout freshman season at Willmar, Reiman looks ready to take her game to the next level. Over the weekend the improvements were immediately evident. The [program_tooltip program_id='713021' first='West' last='Central United'] forward has gotten stronger, more skilled, and is playing with an increased level of confidence this spring. At Live at the Lakes, Aliya looked more comfortable with the ball in her hands, attacking from the perimeter to finish with a smooth Eurostep at the rim. On defense, the 6-footer used her length to her advantage. Reiman blocked several shots and altered countless others, making things difficult for her opponents looking to score in the paint.     Averaging just over 5 points a game for Goodhue this winter, Baartman's game has been on the rise for some time now. The 5'11 freshman plays with a high-revving motor, consistently bringing energy and intensity on the defensive end. Over the weekend Aza also showed off her versatility as a scorer. The [program_tooltip program_id='712699' first='Minnesota' last='Rise'] forward has made major improvements both as a ball handler and shooter, adding some range to her shot in recent months. Baartman is also able to create open looks for herself off the bounce, either barreling her way to the rim or stopping for a pull-up jumper in the midrange.     Richardson is calm, cool, and collected each time she steps on the floor, yet a relentless force in the paint on both offense and defense. The [program_tooltip program_id='712687' first='Minnesota' last='Fury'] wing's movements on the court remain smooth, even without the ball in her hands. Siri routinely boxes out opponents, establishes solid positions off the ball, and finds openings to advance the ball to her teammates in transition. She keeps herself involved by stepping in on defense to block shots or crash the boards. On offense, her hustle continues; the Northfield 9th grader is not only a consistent three-point shooter, but also shows a quick first step on the drive. Richardson caps off her game with consistent hard work and resilience.     A recent addition to our ever-growing roster of 2030s, Steinhoff has shown plenty of potential this spring. The [program_tooltip program_id='712687' first='Minnesota' last='Fury'] Yellow wing stands somewhere around the 5'10 mark and possesses a high degree of athleticism. She's bouncy, light on her feet, and plays hard each time she steps on the floor. Though her game is still pretty raw, we saw plenty of flashes from Josephine over the weekend. She made quick backdoor cuts to the rim, found open teammates in transition, and brought plenty of energy on the defensive end. If she puts in the work to develop her skillset and grow her understanding of the game, the Centennial 8th grader can certainly make a name for herself in the coming years.    PGH intern Paxyn Rendahl contributed to these evaluations.

The NCAA May Live Period has officially come and gone, marking one of the biggest weekends for Division 1 recruiting. We spent the weekend at Kennedy High School in Bloomington, where the Minnesota Fury hosted their annual Live at the Lakes tournament. We saw plenty of coaches in the gym from all levels of college basketball, hoping to find potential additions to their future rosters. Prep Girls Hoops intern Paxyn Rendahl and I spent much of the weekend evaluating 2029s and 2030s, hoping to find prospects who've taken their game up a notch this spring. Here are a handful of wings and forwards who fit the bill.