2022 rankings update: Biggest stock risers, part 1

Whenever there is an update to the Prep Girls Hoops prospect rankings, there are many reasons why a player takes a big leap up the ladder. Sometimes they have a mental breakthrough and move to a new level of performance. Sometimes the fruits of their labor come together simultaneously. Often it’s all about the opportunity, and being in the right place at the right time. We’ve got all of those situations and a couple more this time around as the Class of 2022 is reshuffled and the big risers have their day in the sun. Yesterday we kicked off our 2022 rankings update with an overview of the premier performers at the north end of the list where four players worked their way into Top 20 for the first time. Nobody in that group made a more dramatic splash than forward [player_tooltip player_id="147443" first="Lizzie" last="Holder"] of Stillwater. 2020 may go down as one of the worst years in the history of this country, but not for Lizzie. She has knocked it out of the park over the past few months with North Tartan Elite, earning AAU Breakout Player of the Year honors and transforming herself from varsity backup to Division I prospect. Her new ranking reflects that transformation as Holder jumps up 41 places from #57 to #16. This fall Lizzie joined Minnesota Fury 2022 UAA, further confirmation that she is now among the best prospects in the class. <img class="wp-image-208568 size-thumbnail alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2020/10/177_Abigail-Riederer_1-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" />5’8 guard [player_tooltip player_id="147454" first="Abbie" last="Riederer"] has been lighting it up for tiny Minnesota Valley Lutheran for a long time, but not many people have ventured to New Ulm to see Abbie’s potential in person. That’s why AAU is so important, and that’s why Riederer’s new platform with Minnesota Stars Fleming mattered so much this summer. This was Abbie’s opportunity to show that the numbers she put up in small-school ball were more of a reflection of her ability than that of the opposition. Riederer seized that opportunity and ran with it, and the results were dramatic. That’s why her ranking has catapulted 61 spots up the list, rising from #123 to #62. Abbie is way more athletic than we thought, and is a fierce competitor who can hang with the best. Don’t be surprised if there’s another big jump in Abbie’s future. <img class="wp-image-209177 size-thumbnail alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2020/10/110_Kyla-Overskei_1-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" />While the fruits of Holder’s labor came together at the right time, and Riederer made the most of her opportunity, nobody’s game exploded more over the past few months than 5’11 guard [player_tooltip player_id="147458" first="Kyla" last="Overskei"] of Maple Grove. Kyla used to blend in; now she stands out. She used to contribute; now she leads. She has always been able to make shots; now she makes big shots at big moments. The transformation has been remarkable, to be honest, and Overskei’s confidence has been overflowing this fall in every venue where she has appeared. That improvement is clearly represented in her new ranking as the Fury 2022 Premier prospect soars up the charts, rising a whopping 73 places from #142 to #69. We get the feeling that another 20-place jump might be in the offing when she returns to the court for Maple Grove. 5 more prospects who made it happen Up 22 – #77 [player_tooltip player_id="147450" first="Grace" last="Massaquoi"] – The 6’0 forward from Holy Angels (43 Hoops) rises from #99 to #77. The big forward had a terrific start to her AAU career with Rob Ware’s UVA program a few years back and entered the high school scene at Minnetonka before hitting a few bumps in the road. She resurfaced at Holy Angels and more than made her presence felt in varsity ball. This summer the revival continued. Before it’s all over Grace could be special. She’s big, strong and athletic and it’s coming together rather nicely now. Up 21 – #114 [player_tooltip player_id="147455" first="Alyssa" last="Stamer"] – The 5’7 guard from Hutchinson (MN Rise) moves up 21 places from #133 to #114. Alyssa is a gamer. Regardless of the setting, or the level of competition, the feisty guard is going to give you everything she’s got. Stamer did well with the Rise this summer but it was her performance at the PGH Fall Exclusive that painted a much clearer picture of what is possible in her future. Alyssa performed well with and against some of Minnesota’s best, demonstrating clearly that she has a solid future at the next level. Up 20 – #41 [player_tooltip player_id="109145" first="Hannah" last="Herzig"] – The 6’0 wing from Totino-Grace (Stars Nilsen) takes a 20-position jump, moving from #61 to #41. We always knew Hannah had it in her; now Hannah appears to know this, as well. Herzig appeared this summer for both the Stars Fleming squad and the Stars Nilsen team and she got better as the weeks went on. At the Fall Exclusive, playing in a free-wheeling, wide-open basketball environment, we saw Hannah’s true potential in a whole new light. She’s smooth and she can score. This winter Herzig transfers from Centennial to Totino-Grace where she will likely take it to another level. Up 17 – #46 [player_tooltip player_id="57930" first="Amelia" last="Valentino"] – The 5’10 guard from Champlin Park (Metro Stars) rises 17 places in the Class of 2022 rankings, going from #63 to #46. Amelia has put in a ton of work over the summer, spending grueling days in the hot sun training with [player_tooltip player_id="30162" first="Mikayla" last="Aumer"], [player_tooltip player_id="109785" first="Piper" last="Terry"], Addison Mack and others in an attempt to expand her game. By the Fall Exclusive all of that work bore fruit and her play over a four-week period was stellar. Amelia hovered around the 20-point mark in nearly every contest and rained threes like there was no tomorrow. Finding one’s confidence is so important in basketball and Amelia is proof of that. Up 17 – #107 [player_tooltip player_id="109200" first="Lucy" last="Hertel"] – The 5’7 guard from Holy Family also moves up 17 places in this rankings update, rising from #124 to #107. We have watched Lucy compete hard for several seasons now but this summer she raised her game by quite a bit on behalf of Crossfire Blue Star. She was feisty and aggressive and completely unafraid. Hertel plays every game as though it might be her last and the results are fun to watch. Unfortunately, Lucy suffered a serious knee injury this fall and we’re told she won’t be around for whatever kind of winter season there is. Hertel is a gamer, though, and we have no doubt she will come out swinging when her next opportunity arises. Top photo: [player_tooltip player_id="147450" first="Grace" last="Massaquoi"] of Holy Angels made an impact at the 2019 Top 250 Expo and she did more of the same during 2020.