2022 rankings update: Meet the eight newcomers

[caption id="attachment_208538" align="alignright" width="150"]<img class="wp-image-208538 size-thumbnail" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2020/10/76_Jasmyn-Hale_1-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" /> [player_tooltip player_id="223918" first="Jasmyn" last="Hale"][/caption]North Tartan Elite 2022 was one of the surprise outfits of the summer, an eclectic collection of players who wobbled out of the starting gate and then delivered beyond all expectations. Much of the credit for the success of coach Matt Pryor’s group has gone to [player_tooltip player_id="147443" first="Lizzie" last="Holder"] of Stillwater, who earned AAU Breakout Player of the Year honors for her trouble. She was stellar. What needs to draw more notice, however, is the role that Shakopee guard [player_tooltip player_id="223918" first="Jasmyn" last="Hale"] played in the team’s rise to prominence. It was huge. That’s why Jasmyn gets the nod as the highest-ranked newcomer in the Prep Girls Hoops Class of 2022 rankings, entering the list at #80. “I knew nothing of Jazz prior to our workouts last fall,” admitted Pryor, who is the head coach at Minnehaha Academy. “With her length I was pretty excited when I found out she was a guard! She was a perfect point guard for a team that ran in transition like we did. As her confidence grew over the summer she began looking to score more. By the end of the summer Jazz was finishing in the lane with ease.” Standing about 5’10, Hale is a long, athletic playmaker. She can handle the ball well, throws the skip pass with ease and is always looking to put a teammate in a good position to finish. She tends to defer to others when it comes to scoring, but that is changing now that Hale’s confidence has grown substantially. Where Hale really stands out, though, is on the defensive side of the ball. “Jazz is a great defender who can guard four positions,” Pryor said. Between both her and Lizzie’s athleticism and length, and their ability to switch on anyone defensively, we were a very tough team to score on. Jazz gets her hands in the passing lanes and has really good off-ball instincts. I believe she can defend at a Division I level.” After a great summer with North Tartan, Hale put in an excellent day’s work at the Top 250 Expo and was very good, as well, at the Fall Exclusive. It has been a long road back from a torn meniscus last year that stymied her early attempts to make a big impact on the varsity level, but it’s now clear that Hale is a quality prospect for college basketball. “Jazz was so much fun to coach,” Pryor said. “She plays with energy at all times, but she has a certain calmness to her that you love in a primary ball handler. She’s always going 100 miles per hour but it never looks like she’s hurrying. She’s just smooth, and I believe Jazz is a player whose stock will rise as her skills continue to develop.” <strong>MEET THE REST OF THE 2022 NEWCOMERS</strong> Hale was the highest-ranked newcomer at #80 and the only new arrival who made it into the top 125. Seven other players also worked their way onto the list, six for the first time and one who returns after a brief absence. Here’s a rundown on the seven. <strong>#128 – [player_tooltip player_id="223917" first="Kennedy" last="Speer"] – 5’10 wing, Rochester Century (North Tartan SE)</strong> North Tartan SE, the 2022 NT satellite squad from the Rochester area, was one of the most pleasant surprises of the summer season, and Speer was a big reason why. We hadn’t seen much of her in high school ball so it was a revelation to discover just how much she could bring to the table against high-quality opponents on a consistent basis. Kennedy has plenty of length, quality skills and big motor. She is a natural athlete, an all-conference performer in track who can run the floor with pace. Kennedy is also quite versatile and could be found in spots 1 through 4 this summer. Speer enters the rankings for the first time at #128 with a ton of room for growth. <strong>#140 – [player_tooltip player_id="223912" first="Jenny" last="Ntambwe"] – 6’1 forward, Coon Rapids (Start Strong Black) </strong> Start Strong Black was one of the first AAU teams we saw this summer. Upon plunking down in a courtside seat the very first thing we noticed was Ntambwe, and how could you not. At 6’1, with a big frame, Jenny is physically imposing. She’s also athletic. Really athletic. And the motor? It’s big and runs hard. That combination of assets is a gold mine for any college coach, and Ntambwe’s presence inside, rebounding ability, and sheer size and strength make her a college prospect. Jenny will no doubt be a late bloomer, but with some focused skill development and more experience she has fabulous potential. Ntambwe enters the rankings at #140 but with top 50 potential. <strong>#141 – [player_tooltip player_id="223913" first="Taryn" last="Frazer"] – 5’4 guard, Cass Lake-Bena (Minnesota Stars)</strong> Frazer is the polar opposite of Ntambwe, but talent comes in all shapes and sizes. Isn’t that one of the things that makes basketball great? Yes, Taryn is quite small but she is also very skilled. A polished point guard with a high-level understanding of how to navigate the position, Frazer plays the game with a quiet confidence that manifests itself with quality decision-making and consistent productivity. Taryn put up a ton of points for Minnesota Stars Diemer this summer, including seven 3-pointers against Wisconsin Playmakers in an overtime win near the beginning of the summer season. Taryn enters the rankings at #141. <strong>#145 – [player_tooltip player_id="223914" first="Aliyah" last="Robran"] – 5’11 forward, Rockford (Minnesota Suns) </strong> Like Ntambwe, one gets the feeling that Robran’s best basketball is still two or three years down the road. Last high school season Aliyah became a factor at Rockford, earning a spot in the starting lineup and proving she could compete effectively at the varsity level. This summer Robran took things up a notch and the effort she has put in on skill development with trainer Jamal Guy bore fruit. Aliyah has a plenty of size on a big frame and she’s a multi-sport athlete with state track and field accolades on her resume, which also happens to include a 4.0 GPA. Aliyah has earned the #145 ranking. <strong>#148 – [player_tooltip player_id="223915" first="Katelyn" last="Diegnau"] – 6’1 forward, GHEC-Truman (Minnesota Rise)</strong> Standing at least 6’1, listed in some places at 6’2, Katelyn is among the top 10 tallest players in the class of 2022. That alone should get your attention, but there’s a lot more to draw interest for the power forward from Huntley, who plays for Granada-Huntley-East Chain in South-Central Minnesota. As our colleague Mason Asher pointed out in his evaluation of Katelyn this summer, she has extremely long arms which create a mismatch for almost every other ball-handler she encounters. Diegnau is a proficient rebounder, again due to her length. Katelyn’s skill development is coming along nicely which is why she has earned her way into the top 150. <strong>#149 – [player_tooltip player_id="147466" first="Madisyn" last="Grudem"] – 5’7 guard, Foley (Minnesota Comets)</strong> While Madisyn is new to the updated version of the Prep Girls Hoops Class of 2022 rankings this isn’t the first time Grudem’s name has been on the list. The feisty guard from Foley was a previous occupant of top 150, briefly dropped out, and now returns thanks to a great summer and fall. Grudem is a bundle of energy with quick feet, quick hands and a nose for the basketball. She is often asked to guard the opponent’s best athlete, and is almost always up to the task. Madisyn can also handle the ball, move it efficiently, and finish when she has the opportunity. We love her drive and commitment, too. <strong>#150 – [player_tooltip player_id="223916" first="Katelyn" last="Lindberg"] – 5’9 guard, Monticello (Minnesota Comets)</strong> When we put together the Fall Exclusive in conjunction with our friends at Jr All Star, the purpose was to give kids another opportunity to play the game in a wide-open, free-flowing environment that would be conducive to evaluating players from a different perspective. Several prospects stepped up and made the most of that opportunity, including Lindberg. The junior turned in a series of solid performances, worked well in conjunction with some of the best players in the state, and proved she could hang with the big dogs in high-level competition. Honestly, it was a bit of an eye-opener, and it earned Katelyn a spot in the Top 150 for the first time.