AAU State Tournament All Hustle and Heart Team

When you ask someone if they had a good game, most usually equate success with how few or how many points they scored. Anyone with any real basketball knowledge knows that you need to have several different elements for a team to be successful. A few includes a good point guard, a few good shooters and a mobile big never hurts. The one thing that’s usually taken for granted is the player who may be capable of lighting it up, but takes a backseat for the good of the team. The player who makes the extra pass, dives for loose balls, takes the charge sacrificing their body for the extra possession. Players like South Dakotan <strong>Reese Ross</strong> of North Tartan EYBL who’s able to guard all five positions and and is willing to do whatever it takes to help will her team to success. Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you the Minnesota AAU All-Tournament Hustle and Heart team. [player_tooltip player_id="215958" first="Tori" last="McKinney"] <strong>-  North Tartan Nike 2024</strong> The Minnetonka sophomore is a nightmare for opposing wings and guards to deal with. She has a motor that doesn’t quit and gets her hands on everything in her path. Steals, deflections, blocked shots, and pure havoc is what she brought all four games leading her team to the promised land. Tori gave scorers [player_tooltip player_id="252387" first="Aaliyah" last="Crump"] and [player_tooltip player_id="178263" first="Laura" last="Hauge"] extra possessions tracking down offensive rebounds and pretty much every 50/50 ball she got her hands on. I would take a player like McKinney 10 of 10 times as I know she’s selfless and would run through a brick wall if she thought it would help her team win. [player_tooltip player_id="108320" first="Kelly" last="Boyle"] <strong>- Metro Stars Pryor 2023</strong> Boyle is known to be a knock-down 3-point shooter, and no matter how much you game plan to take that away, she still finds a way to make a lasting impact on the game. Her performance in the semifinal game against Minnesota Fury 2023 UAA is a prime example. There was a possession midway through the first half with the Metro Stars on defense and the Stars switching defensive scheme ended up having Boyle matched up with [player_tooltip player_id="108307" first="Savannah" last="McGowan"] in the post. No one would have faulted Boyle for fouling or just giving up an easy 2 points. Instead, Kelly held her ground and ended up frustrating McGowan into picking up an offensive foul. It’s these type of plays that have earned her the respect of her teammates and opponents alike. The Hopkins guard is slight in build but is as tough a player as you’ll find. Oh, and she ended up leading the team in scoring that game with 12 points and didn’t knock down a single 3-point shot. [player_tooltip player_id="178264" first="Kiya" last="Hegdahl"] <strong>- Minnesota Stars Bjorgaard 2024</strong> You better be ready when you step on the court with Hegdahl because she plays both sides of the ball the same way; fast and physical. In the big upset over Fury 2024 UAA, she played a key role as she set up [player_tooltip player_id="215979" first="Cece" last="McNair"] and [player_tooltip player_id="178266" first="Angel" last="Hill"] all game long and chipped in 11 points of her own. The Stars were missing another primary ball handler so Hegdahl played the entire game without a noticeable drop-off. She’s by far their most vocal player and is always encouraging her teammates even when things aren’t going their way. Her defense against a loaded Fury squad helped pull one of the biggest upsets in the tournament in a well played game by both squads. <strong>Jaiden Haile</strong> <strong>- MN Suns/Starks Academy 2025</strong> I absolutely love bigs that run the floor and Haile does it on both ends. Things that go unnoticed are getting back on defense with your hands up and , with her wingspan, she deters a lot of would-be fast breaks simply by hustling back. On the offensive end the North Dakota prospect is a willing passer and sets solid screens making the defense keep their head on a swivel. With sharp shooting [player_tooltip player_id="296516" first="Regan" last="Juenemann"] and super-duper underclassmen <strong>Chloe Johnson</strong> running the show Haile makes her money cashing in on the offensive glass. She poured in 12 points in the tournament opener and was a presence for the opposing teams to account for. She’s one of the unsung heroes on a squad that snuck up and stung a few teams in the prelims and made teams take notice in the state tournament. [player_tooltip player_id="350440" first="Sarah" last="Best"] <strong>- Crossfire Schuck 2024</strong> Best is the type of player you can plug in on any team and be an impact player. She defends, rebounds, communicates well and flat out competes. She has a solid frame and plays with a physicality you just don’t see a lot of in today’s game. On the offensive end she moves well without the ball catching her defender flat-footed with a timely back door cut or slipping by hitting the offensive glass for a put back. Best had a solid state tournament run doing what she does game in and game out, playing hard. Looking at the box score does not nearly tell the story of the impact she has on games. You have to watch her to get the full effect. She certainly fits the bill of hustle and heart and the Crossfire are certainly happy to have Sarah as they get her "Best" every time she steps on the floor. <span style="font-size: 10pt;"><em>Top photo: [player_tooltip player_id="215958" first="Tori" last="McKinney"] of North Tartan 2024 EYBL.</em></span>