Talented 8th graders making an impact on varsity, part 2
Think about this for a minute: If Laura Hauge lived in Iowa she would be playing travel ball. If Benilde-St. Margaret’s star Olivia Olson was from Milwaukee she, too, would be toiling in obscurity. Instead, the two 8th graders are…
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Continue ReadingThink about this for a minute: If Laura Hauge lived in Iowa she would be playing travel ball. If Benilde-St. Margaret’s star Olivia Olson was from Milwaukee she, too, would be toiling in obscurity. Instead, the two 8th graders are among the brightest young stars in Minnesota basketball. Hauge, of St. Croix Lutheran, is a two-year veteran, who lit it up as a 7th grader. Ditto for Angel Hill of Minneapolis South.
Instead, these players have a major leg up on their cross-border competition when it comes to experience on the big stage against older varsity veterans. And we, of course, have a whole lot bigger sample size on which to base our early evaluations of the class of 2024.
Yesterday we brought you the first installment of our two-part piece on 8th graders who are making a big impact this season in varsity basketball. Today we offer up part 2 – four more high-performance athletes and a few other names you need to know.
Katie Vasecka – 6’0 forward, New Prague (Fury 2024 UAA)
We won’t compile our first ranking of Minnesota’s class of 2024 until next fall, but we can tell you now that there is a better-than-average chance that Miss Vasecka tops the list. She’s that good. The 6-footer is tall and thin – yes, she does have a long way to go in the physical development department – but Katie is also athletic, mobile and skilled, and can play any position you want. Vasecka competes with zero fear. She makes big plays, has nice touch around the basket and can definitely shoot it. We watched Katie this summer filling in on one of the older Fury teams which definitely impressed upon us how good she can be. Vasecka is averaging nearly 8 points per game for the 10-5 Trojans.
Alivia McGill – 5’8 guard, Park Center (Metro Stars)
Alivia McGill has swagger. That is the first and most obvious thing about her game. She reminds me so much of former Bloomington Kennedy star Kenisha Bell, who went on to star at Marquette and Minnesota and was drafted by the WNBA’s Minnesota Lynx. McGill can flat out handle the basketball. She’s about 5’7 or 5’8, super quick and very skilled. Playing in a talented lineup behind D1-level teammates Adalia McKenzie Adalia McKenzie 5'10" | CG Park Center | 2021 State #39 Nation MN (#1 in class of 2021) and Lauren Frost Lauren Frost 5'8" | CG Park Center | 2020 State MN (Omaha commit), Alivia has to earn her minutes but she is most definitely an impact player already. On Friday night McGill shot 9-for-13 from the field and 4-of-5 at the line for 22 points. She plays with high energy, is a tenacious defender and knows how to move the basketball. McGill is among the state’s top 8th-grade prospects.
Maia Stevens – 5’6 guard, Minneapolis Washburn (Lady Get Shook)
The Washburn Millers are not what you’d call a high-profile team, at least not since Chase Coley rewrote the record books in 2014 with the state’s only quintuple-double performance (14 points, 14 rebounds, 10 assists, 11 steals and 11 blocks!) before heading off to the University of Iowa. As a result, you probably haven’t heard about Maia Stevens. Unless, of course, you read my account of Washburn’s opening night meet-up with Rockford. We saw then that Stevens is an emerging talent who is skillful, deceptive and tenacious. She was good on opening night but she has just gotten better and better as the season has progressed and is now a regular in the starting lineup. Stevens is averaging nearly 9 ppg, third-best on the team behind seniors Kesha White Kesha White 6'0" | C Mpls. Washburn | 2020 State MN and Kari Johnson, with a career-best 21-point game in a three-point win over Minneapolis North. She is shooting a remarkable 56% from the field.
Daviney Dreckman – 5’8 guard, New Ulm
Rhyan Holmgren wasn’t the only 8th grader who impressed us at the Big South Showcase. Daviney Dreckman also turned some heads. There is absolutely nothing about Dreckman that belies her age. She looks older, plays older and has the frame and the game of a much more experienced player. Daviney is much more physically advanced than most of her peers, with broad shoulders, no shortage of strength and the sort of poise and maturity it takes to be successful in high school basketball before you are actually in high school. Dreckman takes care of the basketball and makes sound decisions. She’s not flashy, just solid and is a major contributor in all aspects of the game. Dreckman is averaging 8 ppg while shooting 56% from the field.
Others to keep an eye on
Here are a few more players who have been earning varsity minutes this winter and having more than their share of influence on the game.
- Kristi Kottke – guard, Buffalo-Lake-Hector-Stewart
- Rachel Kottke – guard, Buffalo-Lake-Hector-Stewart
- Berkley Neubauer – guard, Holy Family
- Kylie Waytashek – forward, Pierz
- Sophia Zay – guard, Holy Family
- Amy Thompson – guard, Mahtomedi
- Finley Ohnstad – forward, Lakeville South
- Kaylie Cox – guard, St. Michael-Albertville
- Tyreana Reliford – guard, Benilde-St. Margaret’s
Top photo: Point guard Alivia McGill of Park Center is a gifted point guard form the class of 2024. (Photo courtesy of LB Insider)