AAU State Tournament: 9th grade All-Tournament Team

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[program_tooltip program_id='712722' first='North' last='Tartan'] 2027 EYBL captured the 9th grade State Championship on Sunday, defeating [program_tooltip program_id='712687' first='Minnesota' last='Fury'] 2027 UAA in a dramatic finish. These are the outstanding freshmen who earned All-Tournament recognition.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>FIRST TEAM</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>MVP Jordan Christofferson</strong> <strong>– [program_tooltip program_id='712722' first='North' last='Tartan'] EYBL</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The North Dakota power forward came up clutch in the final minutes of the championship game against Fury 2027 UAA on Sunday. Not only did she make the pass to put [program_tooltip program_id='712722' first='North' last='Tartan'] up by 3, but it was Jordan who executed the crucial play with just seconds remaining to score the game-winning bucket. Christofferson had outstanding performances all weekend long, averaging over 10 points per game and finishing among the division's top 10 scoring leaders.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='529357' first='Emma' last='Millerbernd'] <strong>– [program_tooltip program_id='712722' first='North' last='Tartan'] EYBL</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This weekend was all about consistency for the Providence Academy guard who is no stranger to success at every level. In every game we watched, Millerbernd continued to excel at all of the things we know she's good at. Whether playing defense, scoring on the drive, knocking down threes, or being a leader for her team, Emma will bring her A game. After playing a key role in [program_tooltip program_id='712722' first='North' last='Tartan']'s championship win, Millerbernd has shown once again why she is a top 5 prospect in the Class of 2027.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='578467' first='Amisha' last='Ramlall'] <strong>– [program_tooltip program_id='712687' first='Minnesota' last='Fury'] 2027 UAA</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Another weekend has come and gone and once again Amisha is among the top scorers in the 9th grade division. She scored 57 points in four games, including a 23-point performance against Crossfire Stern. In Sunday's nail-biter semifinal against Stars Antl, Amisha came up big for the Fury, knocking down four shots from beyond the arc in the 52-51 win. Ramlall is the #3 ranked prospect in the 2027 class and she just keeps getting better.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='498661' first='Pressley' last='Watkins'] <strong>– [program_tooltip program_id='712687' first='Minnesota' last='Fury'] 2027 UAA</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Benilde-St. Margaret's guard was huge for the Fury on Sunday with an outstanding performance in the championship game. She led all scorers with 20 points, most of which came from long distance. Pressley hit a whopping 6 shots from beyond the arc, including the dramatic bucket to tie the game in the final seconds. While the Fury were not able to secure the win over [program_tooltip program_id='712722' first='North' last='Tartan'], Watkins' performance was something to marvel at.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='659130' first='Jaliyah' last='Diggs'] <strong>– [program_tooltip program_id='713348' first='E1T1' last=''] Queens</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>At the top of the scoring leaderboard for the weekend was the crafty guard from Park Center and [program_tooltip program_id='713348' first='E1T1' last=''] Queens. Over four games, Diggs scored 60 points, with her biggest performance coming against Rise Busse in the second round. The game came down to the wire and it was Jaliyah who drove to the basket to score the winning bucket on Saturday. The Queens finished 4th in the state tournament to continue their recent run of success.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>SECOND TEAM</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='644100' first='Annika' last='Kieser'] <strong>– [program_tooltip program_id='712687' first='Minnesota' last='Fury'] 2027 UAA</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Wayzata freshman has made some big jumps in her game in the last six months, and it showed again this weekend at the AAU State Tournament. Annika was always in the game at key moments, and was often involved in big defensive plays for the Fury. She may not always score the most points, but that's irrelevant. Kieser is one of those reliable players who never quits working and nearly always seems to deliver. Annika is a top 20 prospect in the 2027 class.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='637605' first='Kaelyn' last='Bjorklund'] <strong>– [program_tooltip program_id='714566' first='Minnesota' last='Stars'] 3SSB Antl</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Lakeville South forward was crucial for Stars Antl in the semifinals on Sunday. The game against Fury UAA was coming down to the wire, but it was big free throws from Kaelyn that kept the Stars in the contest. In the end, the Fury squeaked by to advance to the finals but Bjorklund led the Stars with 11 points, 6 of them coming from the free throw line. She just always seems to be in the middle of the action.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='659118' first='Alivia' last='Bell'] <strong>– [program_tooltip program_id='712687' first='Minnesota' last='Fury'] 2027 UAA</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The guard from Winona had another outstanding weekend with the Fury. Alivia defended with hustle and heart, distributed the ball to all the right places, and scored some key buckets. In the semifinals against [program_tooltip program_id='714566' first='Minnesota' last='Stars'] Antl, it was Bell who hit a 15-foot mid-range jumper to tie the affair with less than 30 seconds remaining. Thanks to a made free throw by [player_tooltip player_id='764229' first='Toni' last='Fisher'], the Fury were able to advance to the finals.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='667778' first='Laila' last='Moses'] <strong>– [program_tooltip program_id='712722' first='North' last='Tartan'] EYBL</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The DeLaSalle freshman was a consistent contributor for [program_tooltip program_id='712722' first='North' last='Tartan'] all weekend. She averaged 8 points per contest, most of which came from drives to the basket or put-backs on the offensive glass. Laila excels at weaving her way through traffic and absorbing contact to score around the rim. She is a top 25 prospect in the 9th grade class and her consistency seems to have taken a big step forward.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='377584' first='Ava' last='Cupito'] <strong>– [program_tooltip program_id='712722' first='North' last='Tartan'] EYBL</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After moving from [program_tooltip program_id='712665' first='Metro' last='Stars'] 17U 3SSB, we were curious to see how the Hopkins guard would perform in her first weekend on a new team. Needless to say, we were impressed. Ava was able to step in right away and be effective, and by Sunday's final she had found her stride. Cupito was crucial in the championship game, draining numerous shots from three down the stretch. She led the team with 16 points in the 63-61 win over the Fury.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>THIRD TEAM</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='659117' first='Delaney' last='Dumermuth'] – [program_tooltip program_id='712722' first='North' last='Tartan'] EYBL</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='600748' first='Kaja' last='Nash'] – [program_tooltip program_id='714566' first='Minnesota' last='Stars'] 3SSB Antl</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='644107' first='Inarah' last='Nesbitt'] – [program_tooltip program_id='713348' first='E1T1' last=''] Queens</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='498658' first='Morgan' last='Mathiowetz'] – [program_tooltip program_id='712699' first='Minnesota' last='Rise'] Busse</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='675954' first='Brooke' last='Mickolichek'] – [program_tooltip program_id='712699' first='Minnesota' last='Rise'] Busse</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>HONORABLE MENTIONS</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='498657' first='Aubrey' last='Steffl'] – [program_tooltip program_id='712699' first='Minnesota' last='Rise'] Busse</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Nesha Namjoshi</strong> – [program_tooltip program_id='712687' first='Minnesota' last='Fury'] 2027 S40</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='639702' first='Ellie' last='Drange'] – [program_tooltip program_id='712687' first='Minnesota' last='Fury'] 2027 S40</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='630243' first='Arshia' last='Ramlall'] – [program_tooltip program_id='712687' first='Minnesota' last='Fury'] 2027 S40</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='659121' first='Anna' last='Neyens'] – [program_tooltip program_id='712722' first='North' last='Tartan'] Elite</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='667779' first='Grace' last='Prose'] – [program_tooltip program_id='712722' first='North' last='Tartan'] Elite</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='927514' first='Peyton' last='Lindahl'] </strong>– [program_tooltip program_id='714566' first='Minnesota' last='Stars'] Lindahl</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='835987' first='Harper' last='Hokenson'] – [program_tooltip program_id='714566' first='Minnesota' last='Stars'] Lindahl</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='764292' first='Aaliyah' last='Williams'] – [program_tooltip program_id='712665' first='Metro' last='Stars'] Szabla</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='734360' first='Gigi' last='Coleman'] – [program_tooltip program_id='712665' first='Metro' last='Stars'] Szabla</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>PGH scout Ally McGinnis wrote these player evaluations.</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->