Friedt was a new face to me on Sunday, but it didn’t take long to understand how earlier this year she cracked the PGH 2028 rankings in North Dakota where she is now firmly entrenched in the top 50. The 5’10 power forward from Oakes, which is about 100 miles southwest of Fargo, brought an infectious competitive spirit to the Expo, battling for absolutely everything within and beyond her reach. Aliyah’s work on the offensive glass was particularly impressive. Friedt simply refused to concede a rebound, repeatedly fighting through contact and going back up for putbacks even after being denied once or twice. She’s mobile, possesses good footwork in the paint and uses her physicality to establish position. What made her performance especially enjoyable was how much fun she appeared to be having – an undevalued attribute if ever there was one. Friedt competed with genuine enthusiasm, toughness and a determination that never wavered.

Aliyah is an impressive athlete and towers over many Class B opponents. She looks taller than her listed 5’10 height and looks like she has some room to grow. Her length was an asset last season on the floor as she was able to disrupt a lot of passing lanes. She snagged a ton of rebounds over opposing players and kept possessions alive. Friedt has an older sister who was a standout for Oakes, so you know she has a great mentor to model her game after.