PGH Freshman Showcase: The best of Team 2

More than 100 prospects put their skills on display Sunday at the third annual Prep Girls Hoops Minnesota Freshman Showcase. The talented field at Hopkins High School was divided into 12 teams chosen at random by the super-secret (but less than perfect) PGH algorithm. The squads weren't exactly even, but our focus was on the individual performances rather than game outcomes or team play. We're analyzing players on a team-by-team basis. Here are the top performers from Team 2.    Watching Ellie on Sunday was just business as usual. We've learned to have high expectations for the kid in the distinctive headband, and the Minnetonka freshman always seems to deliver. Panner's game is built around superior athleticism and quickness. Her first step is deadly, and she can often be found in full-speed transition mode in control of the basketball. She tends to create those opportunities by employing her length and anticipation on defense to force turnovers on the regular. And she never stops hustling. With quality court vision and a strong basketball IQ, Panner is equally adept at finding open teammates. Add it all up and you have a player with great college potential.     When prospects attend a college elite camp, their goal is usually to catch the attention of the coaching staff. Amyra certainly did that at the D2 Augustana camp in Sioux Falls. When Mahik returned for an unofficial visit not long after, she received her first college offer. That's remarkable for a small 9th grader, but it speaks to Mahik's immense potential. She is a very skillful point guard who turns defense into offense in a flash with consistent hustle and remarkable intensity. On offense, she executes with calm and precision, using her high basketball IQ to operate with poise beyond her years. Amyra averaged 11 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists as a varsity 8th grader, numbers that are likely to outpace inflation in the years ahead.     The first time we saw Hansen compete we could see her potential but we weren't blow away. Every time we've watched since then Kaelee has been better than the time before. That's exactly the development path you'd want from a sizeable forward who is growing into her body and cultivating her game on the fly. The evolution has been impressive, which is why Kaelee was among our top 2028 defenders this summer. Her length is just so disruptive. Combined with ample hustle and desire, that's a killer combination. Her offensive game continues to grow, too. She can post up, score off the bounce or step outside for threes. Hansen is just getting started on what could be a very fruitful journey.     Tessa is a tremendous natural athlete who has the gifts of speed, quickness and agility. She might not be very tall (yet) but Goodman's impact on a game is huge. We certainly saw that on Sunday as the skillful floor general demonstrated her ability to locate and hit a moving target with just the right velocity and ideal timing. It's impressive. She also showed off a skill every small guard needs to master – creating just enough time and space to launch bombs up and over defenders. Given her accuracy, Goodman should probably shoot more. Perhaps Tessa's best attribute is her shear will. Goodman won't back down from anyone, and that's going to propel her to the next level.     There are a lot of adjectives that can be used to effectively describe Addy's game. How about ‘shifty.' Perhaps ‘crafty.' Maybe ‘clever.' Or is it ‘elusive?' Whatever modifier you'd prefer, Sears is all of that and more. We've certainly seen it over the past couple of summers and we saw it again on Sunday at the Showcase. Addy is just really adept at finding an opening and then using her speed, quickness and sense of timing to pounce. And when she gets to the intended destination, Sears knows how to finish on a regular basis. We love her hustle and her energy. She's also a great facilitator. This is a prospect with a very bright future.     Lewis is the quintessential old-school point guard, the kind of high-IQ floor general who sees the court, almost always makes the right play and sets the table for her teammates to score. She's not very big nor is she super quick. But Lewis' understanding of the game, and willingness to sacrifice her own opportunities for the good of the group, is what makes her special. The lefty can also shoot threes at a high level. Kennedy is a textbook teammate, the type of vocal leader who is always encouraging others. Once Lewis develops a stronger right hand, she's going to be even more effective.     The first thing that jumps out about Anna is her ability to shoot the three. She really impressed in catch-and-shoot situations, showing off her quick release, nice high arc, and quality finish. I mean this girl can shoot moon balls and make shots under pressure. When that's not available, Buri is more than willing to put the ball on the floor and take it to the hole. With a long, lean build, Anna is an athletic combo guard who also knows how to employ her length on the defensive end of the equation. Buri will probably see varsity minutes at CDH this winter.     Clarissa has a big frame and is pretty strong in the post. She knows how to take advantage of that edge to make life difficult for opponents at both ends of the court. Not surprisingly, Ross is a solid rebounder. She handles the ball pretty well for her position, too. Clarissa also illustrated some explosiveness,, and in one memorable sequence elevated over her defender to finish with a creative flourish at the rim. She's also got some range and wasn't shy about letting it fly when the opportunity was there. As her skill set and experience continues to grow, Ross has a chance to be pretty good.

More than 100 prospects put their skills on display Sunday at the third annual Prep Girls Hoops Minnesota Freshman Showcase. The talented field at Hopkins High School was divided into 12 teams chosen at random by the super-secret (but less than perfect) PGH algorithm. The squads weren't exactly even, but our focus was on the individual performances rather than game outcomes or team play. We're analyzing players on a team-by-team basis. Here are the top performers from Team 2.