#33 – There aren’t many players in Minnesota that think the game at the level that Schultz does. With a level of poise and maturity that are well beyond what we typically expect from a 9th grader, Kali has shown impressive playmaking and high-IQ decision making since our first viewing. Standing at just 5’6, the Delano guard often gives up size at her position, but with tremendous quickness, highly skilled ball handling, and outstanding court vision, her stature is rarely a disadvantage. Coaches looking for a wise, coach-on-the-floor style player who can take over a game in crunch time or put on a defensive clinic need look no further.

After watching her give big performances for North Tartan all summer, it wasn’t much of a surprise to see Schultz put on a show at Sunday’s event. That didn’t make it any less enjoyable to watch, though! All throughout the Freshman Showcase, the Delano freshman made high-IQ defensive plays, scored crafty buckets at the rim, and threw dazzling backdoor passes that produced an audible gasp from spectators on the sidelines. For many players, a 5’6 stature and a small frame would be a disadvantage in the game of basketball. But for Kali, whose speed and skill level are off the charts, those things don’t even seem to matter.

When thinking about how to best describe the North Tartan guard’s defense, there’s one particular performance that jumps out in my mind. It was at the AAU State Tournament back in May when Schultz really showed what she’s capable of. In a tightly contested semifinal matchup against ‘The North’ 3SSB, the game was coming down to the wire and it looked like it could be anybody’s game. Until Kali came into the picture. The moment the 5’5 guard stepped onto the court, she took over. The Delano 9th grader came up with big play after big play, getting stops, forcing both live and dead-ball turnovers, and leading her team with a commanding presence and a tremendous amount of poise. While Schultz isn’t the tallest or strongest player on the court, her ability to think the game and make smart decisions in high pressure situations made her an incredible asset for the 14U EYBL squad all summer.