Live at the Lakes: Unsigned upperclassmen, part 2

The final summer of AAU basketball is a crucial time for incoming seniors trying to secure college opportunities. For rising juniors, it's an opportunity to position themselves well for what is to come. Tournaments like Live at the Lakes offer a terrific opportunity for players to show what they can do when all of the right people are watching. South Dakota 2028 [player_tooltip player_id='1048595' first='Layla' last='Berte'] had coaches and scouts in the Twin Cities buzzing with her performance. Let's take a look at Layla's game and that of five other upperclassmen we liked this weekend.    Berte was one of the most intriguing players we watched all weekend. The 6-foot forward from Sioux Falls Washington is long, athletic, incredibly bouncy, and moves with the kind of ease that immediately grabs your attention. She elevates up and over defenders in a way only true scholarship-level athletes tend to do. What I really liked, though, was the motor. Berte fought hard for rebounds, communicated constantly, and competed at both ends on every possession. Her jumper is smooth and natural with legitimate range, and there's still so much room for growth, both in physical development and skill-wise. Watching her this weekend we couldn't help but be excited for what lies ahead because Berte is just scratching the surface of what's possible.     Despite her diminutive frame size, Blaisdell is long and strong and she uses that to great advantage at both ends of the playing surface. The Mahtomedi guard marks herself as a catalyst on the defensive end by pushing any advantage pass and fastbreak for her team offensively. When the ball finds Berkley's hands, she is shifty with her movements. The Fury S40 athlete attacks the paint with confidence and a sturdy move with a drive to gain contact, while finishing at the rim with a signature floater. Berkley's fast glance for the pass ahead, or immediate drive to the basket, elevates the game's tempo to a faster and more intense speed, which opponents have trouble keeping up with.     Verdoorn doesn't overwhelm people with height, but she absolutely uses her strength and toughness to wear opponents down. The Dakota Valley forward plays with a physical edge that really stood out over the weekend. She leverages her sturdy frame to create space around the basket, move defenders off their spots, and open opportunities for teammates. I also loved how hard she competed on every possession. Verdoorn runs well, has solid footwork, and finishes confidently at the rim. Beyond just her skills, Alexa's energy was contagious. She was constantly encouraging teammates, talking on the floor and on the bench, and bringing positive vibes to the group. Players like that are valuable everywhere they go.     Brooke is a strong, versatile player with a high-level basketball IQ. The Glencoe-Silver Lake senior-to-be has consistent drive with a unique intensity. She always appears composed but will definitely make her presence known once she attacks. She scored 53 points in four tournament games, among the best in the 2027 Gold Division. This workaholic is always creating off-ball actions, rolling to the hoop, or being shot-ready for the 3-point look or a quick dribble jump shot. The Rise Purfeerst athlete is a constant threat when defending. She manages to cause her player to turn the ball over, and with that brings a quick fastbreak for her or one of her teammates.       Worden had one of those weekends where you kept noticing her impact over and over again. The Dakota Valley product brings good size at 5'11 along with a ton of energy and versatility. She attacks confidently, defends with real commitment, and competes hard every trip down the floor. I especially liked her body control offensively. She can rise up into jumpers smoothly, score through contact, and even showed off a really polished fadeaway at one point. Worden just plays with an edge that's hard not to appreciate. She looked comfortable in multiple roles and consistently made winning plays. Apparently college coaches agreed because D2 Maryville University in St. Louis extended an offer to Aubree after the weekend.     With a lengthy presence, Schneekloth utilizes her long wingspan to great benefit on the defensive end, consisting of deflections, steals, and rebounds. Utilizing her length offensively, she presents a battle down at the rim with a drop-step finish. By driving into defenders, the Marshall forward comes up strong with the ball down low at every opportunity. Playing for Rise Purfeerst, she regularly manages to contain her opponents with the ball in the lane. Schneekloth capitalizes with a sturdy and controlled foundation while working hard for the ball on both offense and defense.    PGH intern Paxyn Rendahl contributed to the Minnesota evaluations.

The final summer of AAU basketball is a crucial time for incoming seniors trying to secure college opportunities. For rising juniors, it's an opportunity to position themselves well for what is to come. Tournaments like Live at the Lakes offer a terrific opportunity for players to show what they can do when all of the right people are watching. South Dakota 2028 Layla Berte Layla Berte 6'0" | SF/PF Sioux Falls Washington | 2028 State SD had coaches and scouts in the Twin Cities buzzing with her performance. Let's take a look at Layla's game and that of five other upperclassmen we liked this weekend.