Handicapping the 2020s

<p><strong>1. North Tartan 9th. </strong>Defending state champs and #1 seed. This is Paige Bueckers’ (Hopkins) team. ‘Nuff sed. But, she’s also got a terrific supporting cast. Vanessa Alexander (St. MA) in the post. T.T. Danso (Simley) at the 4. Mallory Brake (Hastings) at the 3. Lauren Jensen (Lakeville North) at the 2. Kenzie Kramer (St. MA) backing up Bueckers at the 1.</p> <p>Grace Kirk of Duluth Marshall is the only newcomer. Kayla Cox (Park Center) and Jana Swanson (Cambridge-Isanti) did not return from last year.</p> <p><strong>2. Fury 2020 Blue.</strong> Finished 2nd last year (losing the state final to Tartan 51-25), and gets the 2nd seed this year, which seems about right. Fury has some top 10 talent. In fact, Tartan has 6 top 10 players, the Fury have 5. Still, there’s that 2-to-1 shellacking in last year’s final. They’re more evenly matched than that, but Tartan is not going to lose.</p> <p>Anyway, Fury’s top talent includes Kaylie Van Der Werf (Holy Angels) and Ysareia Chevre (Tartan) in the paint, Alyssa Ustby (Rochester Lourdes) at the wing, Molly Mogenson (Farmington) at the 1, and Lauren Frost (Park Center) at the 2l</p> <p><strong>3. North Tartan 9th West. </strong>#3 all the way. Top talent includes Kendal Cox and Lily Tennyson (St. MA), Lydia Haack (Elk River) and Clara Avery (Minnehaha). They might get beat up inside, at least by Tartan 9 and Fury 2020.</p> <p><strong>4. Crossfire 9th Jorgenson. </strong>Crossfire Peterson took 5th place a year ago and so, if this is determined to be substantially the same team despite the coaching change, then they’re the #5 seed going into 2017. In fact, 6 of 10 players on this year’s roster are returnees, but the losses are significant—Lauren Frost (Park Center), Nneka Obiazor (Eden Prairie) and Mikayla Kanenwisher (Elk River). But Jana Swason joins from Tartan, and Kaylin Plautz (Elk River) and Jordyn Allen (Heritage) return inside with Alaina Brenning (Rogers) at the 1-spot. With the concentration of talent at the top of this pyramid, that might be good enough for 4th.</p> <p><strong>5. Fury 2020 Gold. </strong>Finished 7th a year ago, so they could move up to a #6 seed if any of the teams above it drop out or are found to be a different team this year. But, if anybody is a different team, it might be this one. Lily Befort (Red Wing), Ella Janicki (White Bear), Mackenzie Maki (Hibbing) and Gus Boyer (Waseca) and 3 more players are gone. Replacing them are Carla Meyer (Totino-Grace), Nevaeh Moeschter (Tartan), Lexi Fasbender (Clear Lake, AI), Carley West (Woodbury) and Sartah Kuma (Lakeville North).</p> <p>But, more to the point, Morgan Ebel (Farmington), Julia Salmen (Mahtomedi) and Kate Burns (East Ridge) are back.</p> <p><strong>6. Heat 9th Elite Hinck. </strong>Coach Bill Hinck has probably assembled the Heat’s best team since his daughter Alison Hinck led their 2016s. There’s a 6-foot post, Lindsey Becher (Mounds View). There’s a big, do-it-all wing in Cianna Selbitschka (North Branch). And there’s guards Grace Johnson (Centennial), Ella Janicki (White Bear), Anica Thomas (St. Anthony) and more. I don’t think a top 4 finish is out of the question here.</p> <p><strong>7. So Minn Fury 2020 Blue. </strong>Finished 6th last year, and they’re the #6 seed this year. But like their cousins, Fury 2020 Gold, they’ve also turned over a lot of talent. Center-forward Ali Hunstad of Zumbrota-M and point guard Colie Justice (Austin) join veteran guards Brooke Sinning (Pine Island), Tori Gateno (Rochester JM) and Olivia Christianson (Lyle/Pacelli).</p> <p><strong>8. E1T1 Premiere.</strong> Finished 4th and got the #4 seed. We have not seen this roster. A #7 rating is based on the assumption that there will be little bit of a downgrade to the roster. This assumption is based on the new talent moving into the top teams, and also to the fact that historically, clubs not named Tartan, Fury and Stars, at least, do tend to lose talent over the years. Time will tell where this team is headed. A year ago, their top talent included Zhane Thompson (Burnsville) at the 1 and Jasmine Smiley (Wayzata) at the 2.</p> <p><strong>9 tie. Stars 9th Antl. </strong>The Stars top 9th grade team, under coach Scott Antl, took 8th a year ago and so they’re not technically a seed, but the 2nd alternate in the seeding. New Prague post Emily Russo is the secret weapon, while guards Lily Wilson (Pine City), Kanenwisher (Elk River) and Aalyiah Ragulen (Park Center) will hold their own against all but the very top opponents.</p> <p><strong>9 tie. Stars 9th McAlpine. </strong>This is a team with some good top-line talent but with a big fall-off after the top 3-4 players. But, like I said, they’ve got Miriam Diaby (Edina) in the paint, Emily Josephson (Anoka) on the wing, and Emily Diemer (Andover) and Jersi McAlpine (Anoke) at the 1.</p> <p><strong>9 tie. Stars 9th Zabel.</strong> Coach Zabel has a start in center Alainah Erickson (Maranatha), who coach Buerman (of Maranatha) says is ready to make some noise.</p> <p><strong>12. Rise 9th Purple. </strong>The south central Minny clubis on the “rise” generally, but this team finished 12th a year ago and does not look substantially improved this time out. This is perhaps a placeholder until we see some more rosters.</p> <p><strong>13. Suns 9th Long/Michaud.</strong> Point guard Tianna Iserman from Roseville will make them go.</p> <p><strong>14. So Minn Fury 2020 Gold.</strong></p> <p><strong>15. Heat 9th Premiere Dinneen.</strong></p>