Legacy Region Kick Off: Minnesota's U16 stock risers

Apologies in advance to the many top performers from Wisconsin and Illinois who we watched over the weekend at the Prep Girls Hoops Legacy Region Kick Off in Milwaukee. None of them are included here. That's because we were watching most of those prospects for the first time so judging whether they raised their stock, played average or were not quite up to par simply isn't possible. Maybe next time. That's why we've picked four Minnesotans whose work at their first PGH Circuit stop of 2023 merits a mention.   [player_tooltip player_id='550023' first='Maya' last='Sampy'] – 2025 forward, Minnesota Diamond Elite   You can't miss Maya when she steps on the court. The 6'2 power forward (top photo) is an imposing figure with the kind of size every college coach covets. In most situations, Sampy is simply bigger and stronger than her opponent, and she's athletic enough to take full advantage of her dimensions. She grabs rebounds, blocks shots, and makes herself into an immovable object that opponents simply cannot counter. It's impressive. Maya's skillset has improved and she is more mobile now. The key going forward is consistency. When she's on, the #136-ranked sophomore looks like a scholarship-level player. Her body language is good, her pace up and down the court is good, and the results are good. Maya got a ton of playing time over the weekend with Diamond Elite and will get every opportunity to show that she can do the work necessary to get to the next level. The rest is up to her.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/04/Carmen-Kadlec.jpg?w=567" alt="" class="wp-image-635635" width="130" height="235" /></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='550002' first='Carmen' last='Kadlec'] – 2025 forward, Air Minnesota   We didn't see Carmen during the high school season. She started the year playing primarily on the JV squad at Rochester Century but left before the campaign was over and is in the process of transferring. A fresh start will be good for the lanky forward who has a ton of natural ability and plenty of length. At 6'1 she has the height and wingspan to be a difference maker at both ends of the floor. Kadlec knows how to get position inside to pull down rebounds and she can finish in the paint, too. Carmen has been a walking double-double for a very long time. We loved her defensive focus over the weekend and her ability to wall up against smaller opponents while resisting the temptation to swat. Carmen has already earned the #105 ranking in the Class of 2025, but her ceiling is much higher than that. She's shown with Air Minnesota just how much she is capable of and a good summer will prepare her to do the same at the varsity level.   [player_tooltip player_id='339167' first='Erianna' last='Moeschter'] – 2025 forward, FBC North   Standing 5'10 with a big frame and nice athleticism, the sophomore from DeLaSalle entered the Prep Girls Hoops Class of 2025 rankings in November and is currently #135. She has demonstrated her excellent court vision, passing ability and quality mid-range game. Moeschter was a top 5 scorer for DLS this winter, 2nd in rebounds, steals and blocks, and third in assists. This weekend we saw Erianna shooting the ball a lot more often from a lot farther away than we were accustomed to, including three or four made triples in one game. That is part of a concerted effort to evolve from a player who scored almost all of her baskets from close range to one who is a multi-pronged offensive threat. She is also a savvy defender who reads situations well and forces turnovers by knowing where to be to put opposing ball handlers into a vulnerable position. Like Sampy, the most important thing Moeschter can work on now is consistency because when she puts in the work and plays with maximum energy she can be very, very good.   [player_tooltip player_id='634002' first='Elayna' last='Marinaro'] – 2025 guard, Minnesota Diamond Elite   Elayna was one of the players we highlighted in our recap of Friday night's games at the Legacy Region Kick Off, and for good reason. She was an alpha dog for Diamond Elite on opening night, displaying a much higher level of confidence, composure and leadership ability than we have seen from her in the past. Over the weekend, we witnessed more of the same from the lengthy guard who plies her trade at Roseville. This winter Elayna was a standout on the Raiders JV, a player who keeps opposing defenders on edge and can score from pretty much anywhere. Next winter she'll have every opportunity to prove she can do the same on varsity. Marinaro is a great athlete. She runs the floor well, has plenty of pace and quickness, and her skills have steadily improved over time. There are two areas of potential growth in her game. First, her defensive awareness, understanding and execution can all get better. And second, Elayna's self-belief will be crucial. We're convinced Marinaro can be something special. As soon as she believes it the results will be special, too.

Apologies in advance to the many top performers from Wisconsin and Illinois who we watched over the weekend at the Prep Girls Hoops Legacy Region Kick Off in Milwaukee. None of them are included here. That's because we were watching most of those prospects for the first time so judging whether they raised their stock, played average or were not quite up to par simply isn't possible. Maybe next time. That's why we've picked four Minnesotans whose work at their first PGH Circuit stop of 2023 merits a mention.