Technically speaking, Bergan’s AAU career began last April when she made her debut for North Tartan SE. It was the first game of high level basketball that the then 13 year old (pictured above) had ever played. When coach Russ Speer gave us the heads up ahead of time, we weren’t quite sure what to expect, but we were beyond impressed. Despite her lack of true playing experience, Rinlee played with a sense of pace and timing, plus a natural feel for the game that you just can’t teach. We immediately added the young guard to our list of possible candidates for the upcoming Freshman 50. But given that it was still so early, we patiently waited to see how things would develop. Now with a year of varsity basketball under her belt, the 2026 AAU season was Rinlee’s true coming-out party. 

In all honesty, Bergan should have been included in our Class of 2029 rankings when the Freshman 50 was released in the fall, but given that hardly anyone had seen her play yet, we elected to wait until after her first season at the high school level. Needless to say, the Lewiston-Altura freshman blew our expectations completely out of the water. Averaging over 20 points per game for the Cardinals, Bergan led the team to a 19 win season, plus an appearance in the section semifinals. After dominating the floor all winter, we added the 5’11 guard to the rankings at #40 in March. What we would soon come to find out, though, was that we had yet again missed the mark.  

Fast forward to early April when the PGH Minnesota Shootout gave us our first in person look at Bergan since last summer. It was immediately evident how much her game had grown. Now standing at 5’11, the North Tartan guard had gotten taller, significantly stronger, much more coordinated, and had developed a great deal of confidence. On top of that, Rinlee’s ball handling, shooting, court awareness and spacing had all drastically improved. We knew right then and there that we were witnessing something special. 

It doesn’t take more than a few minutes to see Rinlee’s soft touch around the rim, effortless elevation in the midrange, and an innate understanding of where to put the ball and when. Ditto for her hard-nosed defense and ability to use her length and size to her advantage on both ends of the floor. Leading the way for North Tartan SE’s 15U squad, the precocious 9th grader scored at least 40 points in every event her team played in this summer, including a 61 point weekend at the Mill City and an 82 point showing at the Meltdown. After watching her play all summer, it’s clear that Rinlee is quickly becoming one of the biggest breakout stars in the state, regardless of grade level. 

We aren’t the only ones witnessing that evolution either. Coaches from around the region have taken notice, and are beginning to line the sidelines to take a look. While Bergan has, to our knowledge, not received any official offers yet, we can say with a great deal of certainty that they’re not far off. In order to reflect that fact, the rising Class A star now sits at #24 in Minnesota’s class of 2029, squarely in Division 1 territory.

+4 The rapid pace of Bergan’s growth has been well-chronicaled this spring, particularly after her top notch performances at some of the season’s biggest tournaments. Lengthy, strong, and effortlessly athletic, the 5’11 guard is an elite level athlete with an incredible natural feel for the game. Rinlee’s basketball journey began not all that long ago, but what has quickly become apparent is that the Lewiston-Altura sophomore has all the makings of a Division 1 prospect. With her skill level and understanding of the game now beginning to match her physical gifts, Bergan has rightfully earned a spot in the top 25.

Bergan’s performance was undoubtedly one of the highlights of the PGH Minnesota Shootout. Since we last saw her play in person, the Lewiston-Altura freshman (pictured above) has grown taller, gotten significantly stronger, and has taken her skill level to new heights. On Saturday, Rinlee made the right decisions time after time. She took smart shots, fed the ball to her teammates in the right places, and used her effortless athleticism to her advantage. With a substantially higher understanding of the game compared to this time last summer, the North Tartan SE guard is really starting to look at home on the basketball court. Combining Saturday’s performance with her 21 points per game in the high school season, Bergan has become a serious contender in the Class of 2029.

Bergan practically exploded into the basketball consciousness this winter in Southeastern Minnesota as regional media took notice of what we saw for the first time last summer – a precocious talent with a world of potential who was delivering in the here and now. Rinlee put up over 20 points per game as she sparked Lewiston-Altura to 19 wins. She has tremendous natural athleticism, a ton of bounce, and a terrific feel for the game despite not having much high-level experience. She handles the ball well and seems to know where to be on all sides of the court. Rinlee is a star on the rise.

Bergan, a 5’11 long, lean, and highly athletic guard, is one of the most intriguing 2029 prospects in Minnesota. Discovered this summer, she showed rapid growth during her first AAU season, displaying bounce, timing, and tremendous natural feel for the game. Rinlee handles the ball well, elevates to finish in traffic, and shows instincts beyond her experience level. Still raw but improving quickly, Bergan can score inside or out and defend multiple positions. With continued development of her shooting and strength, Rinlee has the tools and athletic upside to become a high-level two-way player in the years ahead.