Handicapping the 2021s
As some of you know, each summer we cover the top 4 age levels. That means that we are covering the so-called 8th graders for the very 1st time during the spring of their 8th grade year and the summer…
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Continue ReadingAs some of you know, each summer we cover the top 4 age levels. That means that we are covering the so-called 8th graders for the very 1st time during the spring of their 8th grade year and the summer between 8th and 9th grade. Those who played varsity ball, well, we’ve already covered them. But for most girls, this is the 1st time they’ve officially been on our radar.
So our ranking of the top 2021s entails a bit of guesswork until we get a chance to see them this summer. But, here goes.
1. Taylor Hill Elite 2021. We have not seen a roster for this team yet, but there are 2 things we know. They are the defending AAU state champions, having beaten North Tartan 7th West last year 53-43, and so they are the #1 seed going into this summer season. And, another thing we’re fairly certain of—that, like last year, Tayler’s younger sister, Jade Hill, will be at the point guard spot for this team. That’s enough to keep them at #1, certainly for now.
2. North Tartan 8th Kuppe.
3. North Tartan 8th Coley.
6. North Tartan 8th West.
But, OK, here is where it gets tricky. Tartan 7th West finished 2nd last year, while Tartan 7th Coley finished 3rd, and Tartan 7th Kuppe finished 6th. Not only that, but West started out the AAU championships as the #1 seed and beat Coley 30-25 in a semi-final game.So what gives?
Well, Kuppe has picked up 3 new team members—Ellie Dague, who scored 23 ppg for Henning this past year and who played for the Comets last summer; Ellie Hasz, coach’s daughter, who scored 8 ppg for Pine City; and Gianna Kneepkens, who was part of that incredible turnaround at Duluth Marshall.
Coley returns its top players, forward Kendall Coley of St. Louis Park—coach Tylor Coley’s daughter, Chase Coley’s sister—and 3-point shooter Takara Mason of Tartan.
Finslly, West returns pretty much its entire roster but it’s not obvious that they have anybody with the upside potential of Dague and Coley, just to name 2.
4. Fury 2021 Blue. Finished 6th last year, the #6 seed. Led by guard Miah Monahan of Gibbon-Fairfax-Winthrop and wing Kylee Van Eps of Chaska.
5. Stars 8th Hersch. Has the guards—Katie Borowicz of Roseau, Tamira Ugass of St. Paul Highland Park and Cate Moe of Blake. Took 5th last year, beating Fury 28-20 in the consolation final. Borowicz led all scorers in that game with 17.
7. So Minn Fury 2021. Finished 11th last year but adds 6-1 Erin Lamb of Stewartville, who was probably the state’s #2 8th grader last winter after Jade Hill.
8. Comets 8th. Finished 4th last year after beating Fury 2021 Blue in a quarter-final. But, as we’ve already noted, they’ve lost Ellie Dague. In fact, we haven’t seen the roster yet, but this ranking (#8) is based on the assumption that point guard Julia Bengtson of Becker is back.
9. Fury 2021 Gold. The Fury’s 2nd team looks competitive with guards Jayla Reliford of Cooper and Marissa Radtke of Lester Prairie.
10. Rise 8th Purple.
11. Crossfire 8th Schuck.
12 tie. Suns 8th Fredenburg.
12 tie. Suns 8th Porisch.
14. Metro Stars 8th Berkvam. 8 of the 11 girls are from Northfield, including Lizzie Berkvam, as is coach Andy Berkvam (of the Northfield boys).
15 tie. Stars 8th Voyce.
15 tie. Stars 8th Carli.