2022 rankings update: Meet the biggest stock-raisers
With two more full seasons of high school basketball remaining, the top talent in the Prep Girls Hoops class of 2022 has been turning heads and setting records at a torrid pace since we first ranked them in the fall…
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Continue ReadingWith two more full seasons of high school basketball remaining, the top talent in the Prep Girls Hoops class of 2022 has been turning heads and setting records at a torrid pace since we first ranked them in the fall of 2018. All of the top players have improved, but the order hasn’t changed among the four who are a notch above the rest.
#1 Maya Nnaji of Hopkins, #2 Amaya Battle of Hopkins, #3 Mallory Heyer of Chaska and #4 Mara Braun of Wayzata are each having incredible years. Nnaji (FBC North 2021 Coley) has evolved into a dominant force drawing BCS-level scholarship offers from around the country. Battle (Metro Stars 2022 Starks) missed some time nursing a sore back, but she has come back strong and is a big guard with big talent and a big future. Heyer (Minnesota Fury 2022 UAA), who will likely move from the 4-spot to the 3 in college, has been incredible since 8th grade and continues to get better. And what can you say about Braun of North Tartan 2021 EYBL? Mara has a remarkable set of tools as she so clearly demonstrated last week when she matched Paige Bueckers step-for-step in an incredible performance.
Among the best of the rest in the class of 2022 top 10 there are only minor changes:
- Forward Nia Holloway of Eden Prairie (North Tartan 2022 EYBL) remains at #5
- Forward Lilly Meister of Rochester John Marshall (Fury 2022 UAA) moves up one position to #6
- Guard Ellie Buzzelle of Rogers (Fury 2022 UAA) is at #7
- Guard Callin Hake of Chanhassen (Fury 2022 UAA) also rises one position to #8
- Guard Desiree Ware of Minnetonka (Stars 2022 Nilsen) is in the #9 position
- Guard Kaylynn Asberry of St. Paul Como Park (North Tartan 2022 EYBL) is at #10
Elsewhere in the top 25, diminutive guard Ronnie Porter of St. Paul Como Park continues to defy the odds. Porter’s elite quickness, outstanding shot-making and big motor has helped her move up two spots this time around as she rises to #18. Porter was at #26 one year ago. This summer she will face the best the country has to offer as a member of North Tartan 2022 EYBL.
The top 25 features one fresh face: the very versatile Lily Fandre of Eagan. Fandre (Minnesota Stars 2022 Nilsen) has been forced into the point guard role and has done an admirable job for the Wildcats while tripling her offensive production to 15 points per game. She’s probably a 3 at the collegiate level, with plenty of length and an ever-evolving set of skills. Last year at this time Fandre was ranked at #59. She moved up five spots in the spring before a breakout summer established Lily as a solid Division 1 prospect. Fandre leaped into the #30 spot in our fall update. Now she rises 8 more places to #22.
5 MORE BIG MOVERS IN THE TOP 50
Up 27 – Lake City guard Natalie Bremer has had a breakout season. The super-long 5’11 guard has been in the #60-65 range for more than a year, but her performance this high school season has been off the charts as she is averaging over 20 points per game while leading her team to 21 wins so far. Bremer, who’ll play for Wisconsin Playmakers this spring, rises 27 places to #33.
Up 17 – Stillwater point guard Amber Scalia is rapidly escaping the rather large shadow cast by her sister Sara Scalia (Minnesota). This winter the younger sister has established herself as a legitimate D1 prospect. She has tripled her production to 15 ppg, shooting over 50 percent from the field, over 80 percent at the line, while averaging 6 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 2.5 steals. She moves up 17 spots to #34 in the class. She’ll play for North Tartan 2022 EYBL.
Up 11 – Mankato East point guard Mackenzie Schweim has size (5’10 with a big frame), skill and a scorer’s touch. East doesn’t have all of it’s box scores posted online but we know Schweim is averaging north of 17 points and 7 rebounds per game. This summer she’ll move from Minnesota Nice, where she has played up for the past few summers, to the top Minnesota Stars 2022 team coached by former Edina bench boss Matt Nilsen. We’re confident she’ll prove worthy against better competition of her new position in the rankings: up 11 places to #32.
Up 7 – Cambridge-Isanti guard Mikayla Aumer has put in more blood, sweat and tears to get better than any player in Minnesota. We have liked her potential since seeing her for the first time in the 7th grade. Now that promise has come to fruition. Aumer is an outstanding high school player who is averaging 17 points, 2.6 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 2.4 steals for the Bluejackets. Mikayla’s improvement earned her a slew of AAU offers for 2020. She chose Tara Starks’ new 2022 Metro Stars squad and it is loaded. Aumer began 2019 at #47, moved to #37 in the fall and now rises 7 more places to #30 in the class.
Up 7 – Holy Angels guard Kassie Caron offered us glimpses of what was possible for her future with a breakthrough performance on day one of last year’s high school state tournament. This winter, high-level performances have become more the norm for Caron, who stepped up big time during the brief absence of Holy Angels top player Frankie Vascellaro with a 36-point performance against Fridley. At 6’0, Caron has tremendous upside if she continues to get better. She’ll return this spring to Fury 2022 UAA.
6 MORE WHOSE STOCK TOOK A BIG JUMP
Up 34 – Chaska guard Lucy Dardis has been crucial off the bench for the Hawks demonstrating nice improvement that earns her a 34-spot jump from #124 to #90.
Up 32 – Hill-Murray forward Ella Runyon is averaging 17 points per game to lead the Pioneers while sharing the basketball with 1,000-point scorers Bella Hartzel and Lilli Mackley. The super-athletic Runyon moves from #85 to #53.
Up 27 – Jackson County Central guard Sadie Voss is one of the most athletic players in the class. Voss, who scores more than 20 points per game, moves from #84 to #57. She is a volleyball-first athlete. Should Sadie decide to pursue basketball in college, her prospect ranking will probably rise a lot higher.
Up 23 – New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva guard Sophie Stork recently scored her 1,000th career point as a member of the Panthers varsity. She is athletic, aggressive and possesses a scorer’s touch. This summer Stork will try her hand at AAU with Minnesota Stars 2022 Fleming and we’re expecting big things. Stork rises 23 places to #68.
Up 21 – Shakopee guard Maya Mitchell is cashing in on her growth spurt and has taken her game to a new level. The daughter of Sabers coach Juan Mitchell is a versatile, athletic guard who contributes in a variety of ways. At 6 points per game, Mitchell isn’t lighting up the scoreboard but plays a vital role in Shakopee’s starting lineup. Maya moves from #105 to #84.
Up 14 – Mahtomedi combo guard Zoie Centers is small but feisty. She is also very skilled and aggressive, and is playing this winter with a high degree of confidence. At 8.5 points per game, Centers is the third-leading scorer on a very balanced squad. Mahtomedi has exceeded all expectations this year and Centers has been a key reason why. Zoie rises from #93 to #79.