Introducing the Class of 2028 Watch List, part 1
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The 2024 AAU season is more than half over now. After a much-needed break for the Memorial Day weekend, we’ve had the opportunity to finalize one of our most important tasks before the end of May – deciding which incoming…
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Continue ReadingThe 2024 AAU season is more than half over now. After a much-needed break for the Memorial Day weekend, we’ve had the opportunity to finalize one of our most important tasks before the end of May – deciding which incoming freshmen should be on the Prep Girls Hoops 2028 Watch List. Although we’re still about three months away from naming this year’s official Freshmen 50, the Watch List is an important milestone in the process.
The 2028 Watch List recognizes 20 incoming freshmen who have already distinguished themselves among their peers by the conclusion of 8th grade. To be clear, this compilation is not necessarily the top 20 players in the class. We’ve got a ways to go before our crew of evaluators comes to a consensus on the group as a whole. Based on recent history, however, it’s pretty much a certainty that all 20 will be somewhere on the list when we introduce this year’s Freshmen 50.
Here are a few facts about the Class of 2028 Watch List:
- The list is chosen without regard to geography. In 2021, there were just two players from outside of the Twin Cities metro; last year there were nine. This time around, seven of the 20 selections hail from beyond the Metro area.
- The majority of the players selected (13 to be precise) attend large Class 4A high schools. There are three each from Class 3A and 2A with just one player this year from a Class A school. Only two of the athletes are from private schools.
- There are eight different AAU programs represented with five players each from North Tartan and the Minnesota Fury . There are four representatives from two different Minnesota Stars teams while two of the athletes compete for All Iowa Attack. The other clubs represented are the Metro Stars , Minnesota Comets , Minnesota Rise and Inspired Athletics out of Fargo-Moorhead.
One final note: As with all of our class rankings, these players have been selected for their potential as college basketball players, not their current level of performance. Many of them are already varsity stars and nationally recruited prospects; others have yet to see action in a high school game at any level. All of them are bound for college basketball.
Without further delay, here are the first five of 20 players chosen for the Prep Girls Hoops Class of 2028 Watch List sorted in alphabetical order by last name. We’ll have the remaining 15 in subsequent posts.
Tate Addler Tate Addler 5'11" | CG Minnetonka | 2028 MN – guard, Minnetonka ( Metro Stars Makepeace)
The Minnetonka guard is poised to be a factor in the incoming freshman class. Her combination of physical gifts, including length and athleticism, as well as her well-developed skillset, make Tate an outstanding prospect. Addler can score at every level on the floor. Her long strides give defenders an incredibly tough time trying to stop Tate on her way to the rim. She can also knock down threes and mid-range shots with proficiency. Tate does a remarkable job keeping an even keel on the floor, even in high-pressure game scenarios, and her confidence is not often rattled.
Bethany Black Lance Bethany Black Lance 5'7" | CG Brainerd | 2028 MN – guard, Brainerd ( Minnesota Stars 3SSB DeSart)
The Stars DeSart point guard is a rising star from Central Minnesota. Black Lance does all of the things required of a primary ball handler: she makes plays for her teammates, hunts for her own shot opportunities, and plays with a high degree of basketball IQ. Beth has an innate feel for distributing the ball and does so with a low turnover rate. When it comes to scoring, Black Lance is smart in her shot selection and can consistently connect from beyond the arc. Her combination of athleticism, playmaking ability, and IQ are among the best in the class of 2028.
Adele Changamire Adele Changamire 5'8" | CG Becker | 2028 MN – guard, Becker ( Minnesota Stars OU)
Adele was given an opportunity this winter that is not customarily afforded to 8th graders: consistent, valuable minutes in the varsity rotation. Adele proved over the course of the high school season that not only can she be a reliable scorer for her team, but a leader, as well. Adele quickly earned her way into the Bulldogs starting lineup. Changamire is a highly skilled ball handler, an aggressive defender, and the elite track star’s speed is unmatched. She’s mature, plays smart basketball, and is going to be a player we hear a lot about in the next four years.
Maggie Dyer Maggie Dyer 5'10" | SF Rochester Mayo | 2028 MN – guard, Rochester Mayo ( North Tartan Nike)
The 8th grader from Southeastern Minnesota has emerged this summer as an elite player in the Class of 2028. Maggie has long demonstrated her skills in the guard position – she can handle the ball, shoot, and score at multiple levels – but now nearing her freshman year, she has grown quite a bit, too. Standing at about 5’11, her height and additional strength have added a new degree of versatility to her game. While length and athleticism help Dyer excel on the perimeter, her ability to maintain position in the paint makes her incredibly effective on the offensive glass as well as on the drive.
Bri Foster Bri Foster 5'9" | CG MN – guard, Park Center ( Minnesota Stars OU)
The Park Center guard was a key piece of the puzzle for the Pirates this past winter. Despite only being in the 8th grade, Foster earned consistent minutes on a young team and averaged 9.9 points per contest. There is a lot to like about Foster’s game; she’s athletic, has tons of length, and can shoot the three ball at a high clip. She plays with maturity and has an outstanding demeanor both on and off the court. This spring Bri, has been big for Minnesota Stars OU, scoring on a regular basis and leading by example.
PGH scout Ally McGinnis wrote these player evaluations.
The 2024 AAU season is more than half over now. After a much-needed break for the Memorial Day weekend, we've had the opportunity to finalize one of our most important tasks before the end of May – deciding which incoming freshmen should be on the Prep Girls Hoops 2028 Watch List. Although we're still about three months away from naming this year's official Freshmen 50, the Watch List is an important milestone in the process.
Access all of Prep Girls Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue Reading