Freshman Showcase Preview: Top guards to watch

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's that time of year again – the annual Prep Girls Hoops Freshman Showcase is just around the corner! Held at Maple Grove Middle School for the second year in a row, more than 80 players from around the state have already signed up and will partake in both 3-on-3 and 5-on-5 competition.&nbsp;PGH scouts Grant McGinnis, Tony Ragulen, Paxyn Rendahl, and I will be in the gym evaluating the talent all day.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With the big event just four days away, it's time we preview some of the top college prospects who will be in attendance. We've broken our list down into two parts, featuring some of the top guards today and 10 of the best wings and forwards tomorrow. This is not an exhaustive list by any means, but rather a selection of some of the high-level talent that will be in the gym this weekend. Players are organized alphabetically by last name.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Something to note: Registrations for the Minnesota Freshman Showcase are still live! Players who have not signed up yet, but wish to attend have until Sunday morning to sign up. <strong><a href="https://events.prepgirlshoops.com/e/2397/register/minnesota-freshman-showcase">Click here</a></strong> for registration info. We hope to see you there!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TOP GUARDS TO SEE&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1886264,"width":"524px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2026/05/ScarlettBrown2030-crop-2794x1833-1785203182.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-1886264" style="width:524px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Brown</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1273699' first='Scarlett' last='Brown'] – 6'1 Shooting Guard, Alexandria</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>While she's not the flashiest player in the gym, the 6'1 Alexandria guard is not to be underestimated. Brown had an outstanding summer with [program_tooltip program_id='713021' first='West' last='Central United'], so much so that she was named our 2030 AAU Breakout Player of the Year back in July. She'll be a player to watch on Sunday.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1345919' first='Alyse' last='Denne'] – 5'4 Point Guard, Becker</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After averaging 7 points per game in her 8th grade season, Denne quickly became one of the top point guards on the AAU circuit this spring. Fiercely competitive and relentless on both ends of the floor, Alyse is one of the best downhill scorers we've seen in a while.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1256277' first='Tenlee' last='Egan'] – 5'7 Combo Guard, St. Michael-Albertville</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Incredibly hard working, effortlessly quick, and light on her feet, Egan is one of the strongest perimeter defenders in the freshman class. With plenty of varsity-level experience behind her, the 5'7 guard from St. Michael-Albertville is sure to turn heads at the Freshman Showcase.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1120672' first='Jaycie' last='Helmer'] – 5'10 Point Guard, Mounds View</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With multiple Division 1 offers to her name already, Helmer has rapidly asserted herself as one of the top prospects in Minnesota's class of 2030. The 5'10 guard had a stellar summer with [program_tooltip program_id='712722' first='North' last='Tartan']'s 15U EYBL squad and is likely to do the same with Mounds View this winter.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1110548' first='Elin' last='Retzlaff'] – 5'9 Combo Guard, Hillcrest Lutheran</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>You'd have to be living under a rock to not know Retzlaff's name by now. The 5'9 guard was one of the best players in all of Class A last winter and consistently puts on MVP performances when it matters most. Already a 1,000 point scorer for Hillcrest Lutheran, Elin picked up a D1 offer from North Dakota in July.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1325883,"width":"559px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2025/10/Eve-Schupp_101225-crop-3775x2479-1760394986.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-1325883" style="width:559px;height:auto" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Schupp</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1325878' first='Eve' last='Schupp'] – 5'10 Combo Guard, Orono</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Averaging a mind boggling 18.1 points, 7.6 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 2.0 steals, and 1.9 blocks per game at Mound Westonka last winter, Schupp is a natural scorer with plenty of athleticism. The 5'10 guard will be a big addition at Orono this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1268758' first='Gigi' last='Simmons'] – 5'11 Combo Guard, Stewartville</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It won't be long before Simmons becomes one of the most well known players in the freshman class. Standing at 5'11 with a strong, solid build, the Stewartville 9th grader oozes pure athletic potential. Still somewhat green, Gigi's trajectory is only up from here.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1827219' first='Emmy' last='Stone'] – 5'11 Combo Guard, Minnetonka</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Stone asserted herself as one of the top-level guard prospects in the class in a very short amount of time this summer. Long, wiry, and fluid in her movement, the Minnetonka freshman is a skilled facilitator and ball handler, and a smooth finisher on the drive.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1124545' first='Amelia' last='Truty'] – 5'9 Combo Guard, Rochester Lourdes</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A prolific scorer at the varsity level for multiple seasons now, Truty led Rochester Lourdes with 20 points per game in her 8th grade season. The 5'9 guard was a top performer on the EYBL circuit this past summer, bringing her high IQ playmaking and unwavering effort on defense week after week.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1090087' first='Lariah' last='Wright'] – 5'8 Combo Guard, Minnetonka</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With two years of varsity experience at Minnetonka under her belt, Wright is one of the more experienced prospects in the freshman class. The 5'8 combo guard excels on the offensive end as a ball handler, facilitator, and outside shooter, but is just as effective on defense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->