Best of the 8th graders at the AAU Midwest Kickoff
We saw some great basketball at the AAU Midwest Kickoff last weekend hosted by the Minnesota Metro Stars, from the debut of the new-look North Tartan 2020 EYBL squad and the return of the Minnesota Fury 2020 and 2021 UAA…
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Continue ReadingWe saw some great basketball at the AAU Midwest Kickoff last weekend hosted by the Minnesota Metro Stars, from the debut of the new-look North Tartan 2020 EYBL squad and the return of the Minnesota Fury 2020 and 2021 UAA teams to a couple of eye-popping performances by UVA freshman Desiree Ware of Minnetonka. We will recap some of the top individual performers by grade over the next couple days beginning with today’s top 8th graders.
There were so many quality teams at the tournament that it was impossible to see all of the players I wanted to see, including many of the state’s best rising freshmen. The way the scheduling worked I was only able to watch a handful of 2023 teams: Fury UAA, Metro Stars Wiese, E1T1 East, Crossfire Dubose and two versions of TC Takeover. The Fury were clearly the best collection of 8th graders in that group and may once again be the best team in the class.
Like most of the top Fury squads, 2023 UAA is a team that is loaded with elite prospects. That would include several players we have written about in recent months because they have already made an impact at the varsity level: post Brynn Beffert of Hutchinson, guard Kennedy Sanders of Chaska and guard Kennedy Herndon of St. Paul Academy. It also includes elite point guard prospect Molly Lenz of Eden Prairie. Last year this Fury squad captured the state 7th grade state championship, winning every game in running time by an average of 29.5 points.
Two players who stood out for the Fury over the weekend were guard Sydnee Nelson of Red Wing and forward Teresa Kiewiet of Mankato West. Here is more about them, as well as the other the top 8th graders we saw. They are listed in alphabetical order by first name.
Julia Wagner, forward, Metro Stars 2023 Wiese (St. Michael-Albertville)
The 6’0 post hosted a block party on Friday night against the Wisconsin Playmakers. Wagner is clearly a difference-maker on defense with nice length, good size and a whole lot of potential. Possession after possession she made it difficult for the Playmakers to get the ball to the basket by either swatting it away or otherwise disrupting its path to the target, and generally just taking up space in the paint. On offense Julia showed a nice drop step and the ability to finish at the rim. Wagner has a long way to go in the polish department but what 8th grade big doesn’t?
Priyanka Satish of Eden Prairie and Metro Stars 2023 Wiese.Priyanka Satish, point guard, Metro Stars 2023 Wiese (Eden Prairie)
I know we wrote about Priyanka and her Metro Stars teammates a couple of weeks back but she and her crew are loaded with potential so we’re going to say a little more. Besides, it was the Metro Stars’ event so why not. We watched Priyanka play twice on Friday after seeing her twice on March 30th and the 5’4 point guard has been better every time out. Simply put, this kid has got game! Priyanka is skilled and smart and she knows how to efficiently distribute the ball. She also gets to the rim with some impressive one-on-one ability even though her physical stature would seem to make that a low-percentage endeavor. With so many great young guards I’m really not sure how Eden Prairie is going to find playing time for all of them.
Sydnee Nelson of Red Wing and Fury 2023 UAA.Sydnee Nelson, guard, Fury 2023 UAA (Red Wing)
Nelson did a lot of great things this winter as a regular in the rotation for a very strong Red Wing squad. She really put herself on the radar with a stunning defensive performance against Waseca’s Gus Boyer to hand the Bluejays their only loss of the regular season. Again on Friday Nelson showed that tenacity on defense. At 5’5 she is small but she is also skilled and oh so feisty. Sydnee can also score. Nelson was Red Wing’s third-leading point producer at 9 per game with a high of 18. Those attributes earned her a spot on the Prep Girls Hoops 8th grade All Star team along with Sanders and Herndon. Nelson is in her 5th year with the Fury.
Teresa Kiewiet, forward, Fury 2023 UAA (Mankato West)
We’ve seen glimpses of Kiewiet on the varsity level at Mankato West but it is a tough lineup to crack. You can be sure, however, that Teresa will have plenty of time in the limelight for the Scarlets before it’s all said and done. We had our first up-close look at Kiewiet at the AAU 3 X 3 event in March. She was impressive then and she looked just as good now. Teresa has a larger body, is very athletic and plays with a big motor. Her skills are solid, too. Teresa is listed as a forward but really you could employ her in a lot of different roles, especially as she develops her shooting ability. At 5’9 or 5’10 and growing, Kiewiet is an excellent prospect with a high ceiling. I love this kid!
Zoe Rae Thompson, guard, Crossfire 2023 Dubose (Mounds View)
Friday night was the first time I have seen or heard of Zoe, who has been playing travel ball at Mounds View. She was hard to miss. On a Crossfire team that has average talent, Thompson is a very bright light. The first thing you notice about Zoe is the fact that she is longer than long. Really long. She’s also quite athletic, and at 5’9 playing 2023 ball she is one of the bigger guards. She runs the floor, is great in transition and can handle the ball.
Bloodlines are important in my view and we’re told that Zoe’s 6’3 grandfather was an All American and Hall of Famer at UW-Stout. That matters. As Prep Girls Hoops Iowa writer Mason Asher noted in his items over the weekend – he was in Bloomington covering the Lady Martin Brothers teams but wrote about some Minnesota players, too – Zoe is long and fluid and has a nose for the ball. She also has a solid understanding of the game at both ends of the floor. Zoe Rae isn’t exactly a common name, but it’s one you might be hearing more often over the next few years.
Top photo: Minnesota Fury 2023 UAA are the defending state champions in their age group. (Photo courtesy of the Fury)