Which sophomores will be big in the playoffs?

March is where the rubber hits the road in high school basketball, and sophomore year is when a lot of players hit their stride at just the right time. As teams wrap up their regular seasons this week, we've given some thought to which sophomores can be expected to play a key role for their teams in the post-season. Here are a few 10th graders we think might be big.   [player_tooltip player_id='676690' first='Abby' last='Ruda'] & [player_tooltip player_id='676689' first='Addison' last='Ruda'] – forwards, Monticello   Many high school teams around the state would kill to have a 6'1, super mobile, super lengthy forward who is effective on both ends of the floor. Having two of those players is like winning the lottery! Fortunately for coach Craig Geyen's Monticello squad, they've hit it big with sophomore forwards [player_tooltip player_id='676690' first='Abby' last='Ruda'] and [player_tooltip player_id='676689' first='Addison' last='Ruda']. Both Ruda twins provide key minutes in the paint for the young Magic squad. Their superior length makes for a major defensive threat, and they both excel at scoring down low. Abby is averaging nearly 9 points and 7 rebounds per game this season, and Addi averages 4.4 points and 4.6 rebounds. The Magic have outperformed expectations all winter, with a current record of 22 wins and 3 losses. As they look to earn their first state tournament trip since 2014, the Magic will have to get through Becker in the section 5AAA tournament, which is far from a sure thing.   [player_tooltip player_id='589282' first='Cassie' last='Wegman'] – forward  Delano   The Delano Tigers are having an historic 2023-24 season, having captured the Wright County East Conference championship this week and sporting a record of 24-1. That lone loss came at the end of January against a 25-1 St. Peter squad that just won the Big South conference title on Tuesday. One of the big reasons for Delano's success has been the continued growth of [player_tooltip player_id='589282' first='Cassie' last='Wegman']. Averaging nearly 10 points and 6 rebounds per game, Cassie has been solid across the board. We wrote about Cassie prior to the start of the campaign as a player who could have a breakout season, and she has done exactly that. With the Tigers' entire starting lineup averaging 8+ points a game, Cassie will be a key component for Delano in section play. The Tigers have yet to make a state tournament appearance, and it's no sure thing this year, either, given that they compete in the same section as reigning Class 3A state champions Benilde-St. Margaret's. Regardless of the outcome, it's going to be fun to watch.   [player_tooltip player_id='717663' first='Le'Sedra' last='Williams'] – forward, Hopkins   Led by Florida commit [player_tooltip player_id='178269' first='Liv' last='McGill'] and an incredibly strong cast of supporting characters, the Hopkins Royals are coming into the postseason red hot, and are currently favored to win the Class 4A state title. A key member of the lineup this season has been sophomore forward [player_tooltip player_id='717663' first='Le'Sedra' last='Williams']. Averaging over 8 points per game, Le'Sedra provides a scoring spark off the bench, as well as highly valuable defensive minutes. Her length allows her to guard all sizes of players, as well as grab plenty of rebounds. Williams scored a season-high 22 points last Friday in a decisive win over Edina. Coming off a dramatic 80-78 overtime win against St. Michael-Albertville on Tuesday night – and riding a 17-game winning streak – the Royals are poised for a great run in the post-season. Hopkins plays its final regular season game Friday night against Minnetonka.   [player_tooltip player_id='567387' first='Mirabel' last='Wismer'] – forward, Benilde-St. Margaret's   Another sophomore providing a spark off the bench this season is [player_tooltip player_id='567387' first='Mirabel' last='Wismer'] of Benilde-St. Margaret's. We wrote about Mira last year around this time as a player who could impact the postseason. That turned out to be a solid prediction as BSM went on to win the Class 3A state championship. It holds true once again in 2024. With the Red Knights missing a couple of key components from last year's post-season run in 2023 graduate Sierre Lumpkin (Loyola Marymount) and D1 recruit [player_tooltip player_id='296523' first='Kendall' last='McGee'] (injury), the contribution required from the rest of the Red Knights is going to be that much greater. Luckily, Mira has been having a stellar season. Averaging nearly 7 points and 5 rebounds a game off the bench, Wismer comes in and affects the game in all the right ways. She hustles, defends very well, and, when the opportunity presents itself, has no problem putting the ball in the hole. Mira had a strong AAU season last summer, and this year she will move up to [program_tooltip program_id='712722' first='North' last='Tartan'] EYBL. Having underclassmen of that caliber will be incredibly beneficial for the Red Knights as they ride a 17-game winning streak into the post-season.   [player_tooltip player_id='478390' first='Sinae' last='Hill'] – guard, Minnehaha Academy   Pictured above, sophomore guard [player_tooltip player_id='478390' first='Sinae' last='Hill'] has been an integral piece of the puzzle for Minnehaha all season long, but has really found her stride in the latter half of the campaign. In the Redhawks' last half dozen games her production has spiked to about 15 points, 7 boards, and 5 assists per game. She put up 23 points in a game last month against Providence Academy, including 6 shots from beyond the arc. Hill's most important contribution for the Redhawks, however, is her defense as she is evolving into one of the state's best on that side of the ball. As we head into the postseason, that aspect of her game will be incredibly important as the Redhawks look to earn their 9th state tournament trip in the last decade. While Minnehaha are heavy favorites to win the section 4AA title, they may have to face off against a strong opponent in St. Croix Lutheran which, after a slow start to the season, has now won its last 14 in a row.   PGH scout Ally McGinnis contributed to these player evaluations.

March is where the rubber hits the road in high school basketball, and sophomore year is when a lot of players hit their stride at just the right time. As teams wrap up their regular seasons this week, we've given some thought to which sophomores can be expected to play a key role for their teams in the post-season. Here are a few 10th graders we think might be big.