Midwest Kickoff Classic: Top Upperclass Wings

Mason Asher

April 26, 2019 @ 02:34 AM

On April 13/14 I was in Bloomington, Minnesota for the Midwest Kickoff Classic. There were various teams from Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin and I saw a lot of good performances. I will be dividing players up into “upperclass” and “underclass” and breaking them down by guards, wings, forwards. This will help me hit on more players in a different type of categorization rather than “best shooters”, “best defenders”, etc. The reason I am doing this is because there were so many players who showcased a complete game. This also allows me to hit different states effectively. To start, here are the top underclass wings (performance-wise) that played this weekend. <hr /> Mallory Brake - 6' W - North Tartan EYBL 2020 / Hastings HS (MN) - 2020 Brake played well in each game that I saw this weekend. She's a thin but mobile wing who runs the floor well. Brake finishes through contact very well for her size and does have a bit of handle to her game. Love her versatility on both ends of the floor due to that length. Great motor and high floor IQ allows her to compete with others. Really solid player to have on your squad. Committed to Creighton. Abby Kuboushek - 5'10 W - UVA Coley 2021 / Prior Lake HS (MN) - 2021 Kuboushek was someone who stood out to me early on. She has a great feel for the game and has the ability to do a lot on the floor. High motor which allows her to create for herself, but also for others. I really enjoyed seeing her play this weekend with all of the different types of moves that she had. I really thought that she played well and has potential to be a solid, solid player with a little skill refinement. Ella Van Weelden - 5'10 W - Lady Martin Bros 2021 / Marion HS (IA) - 2021 Van Weelden is a thin but a really solid player as she moves really well and just knows the game inside and out. She was the only player all weekend long that I heard being a true vocal leader and directing her team. Her shot wasn't falling this weekend, but everything else was working for her well. I really enjoyed watching her play and lead her team. There's untapped potential here for sure. Taya Hakamaki - 5'8 W - Northern Lights 2020 / Cromwell HS (MN) - 2020 There is just such a fluidness to Hakamaki's game. While many see her as a guard, and I do too, I think that she projects the best on the wing at the next level. She can really do it all with her toughness and ability to shoot the ball. She has a very strong mental IQ and isn't going to back down from anyone. Loved her aggression on the offensive end this past weekend and she led her team to a win on a few separate occasions.