Anderson will be a real problem for defenses this upcoming season. After staying the course and playing behind four Division I commits, her time has arrived. On Sunday, the Augustana commit showcased her inside-out versatility knocking down shot after shot from beyond the arc while taking smaller defenders into the paint and punishing them consistently. She controlled the glass on the defensive end, snatching rebounds and pushing the ball up the floor, often making the right decision in transition. Anderson’s patience and persistence have paid off, and now she’s poised to take the keys and lead.

Maple Grove had big shoes to fill after last year’s state runner-up finish and numerous graduations, and Anderson, a 6-foot combo guard, looks ready to step in. She impacts both ends, plays off two feet in the paint, handles pressure and finishes through contact. The Augustana commit averaged 6.3 points as a junior but has major breakout potential this winter.

Every showcase has its shining stars. On Sunday, Anderson was positively radiant. From beginning to end Sophia grabbed the bull by its proverbial horns and took charge of the proceedings. She showed off her superior handles – they are special – and demonstrated her ability to take advantage of her natural assets. She’s long and tall and so bouncy. Sophia has also got some swagger. She plays with equal parts joy and ferocity, bringing the type of energy and effort to the court that college coaches crave. Coming off a summer in which she was named runner-up for our AAU Breakout Player of the Year award, Anderson took another step forward in her evolution on Sunday. Now her goal is to earn a much more prominent role at Maple Grove where the roster is deep and expectations run high. At the Expo, Anderson made it obvious that she is up to the task.