Class of 2020 rankings update: 8 double digit risers
We’re now in the homestretch of the girls basketball season. For the class of 2020, it is the final run for the roses, and many of them are making the most of their senior seasons. Nobody has done more to make herself a more marketable commodity than Kayla Bohr Kayla Bohr 5'10" | CG Blaine | 2020 State MN of Blaine. The 5’10 power forward has had a breakout season, so it is not surprising that her stock has risen greatly in the second-to-last ranking of Minnesota’s top seniors. Today we offer up the 8 players who have taken the biggest jump up the Prep Girls Hoops Senior 150.
THE DOUBLE-DIGIT RISERS
Kayla Bohr Kayla Bohr 5'10" | CG Blaine | 2020 State MN has a big body. She is strong, powerful and imposing. If you described Kayla as having a mean streak you would not be wrong. This winter, however, Bohr has become a much more complete performer and her scoring production has jumped accordingly. Kayla is averaging 19 points per game and shooting 62 percent from the field. Although her shot is much improved, and she tells us she is putting in a lot of work on that aspect of her game, Bohr still does most of her scoring at the rim. She generally gets there by overpowering her opponents and leaving a trail of bodies in her wake.
As a result of the improvement, Bohr has taken a quantum leap up the prospect rankings, moving 60 spots north and into the 73rd position. That makes her a scholarship candidate at the D2 or NAIA level and there are discussions taking place to that effect.
Here are the other big risers in the winter update.
Up 42 — Stewartville guard Lily Welch Lily Welch 5'7" | CG Stewartville | 2020 State MN rises from #116 to #74. She is an athletic point guard who has a really nice mid-range game and can create her own shot. Her court management skills and understanding of the game are excellent.
Up 35 — Proctor guard Sam Parendo Sam Parendo 5'9" | CG Proctor | 2020 State MN (UW-Superior) is part of a strong senior class for the Rails that has been together since elementary school. Sam is a sold, well-rounded consistent performer whose workmanlike approach makes a big impact on the game. She moves up from #125 to #90.
Up 32 — Minneapolis Washburn forward Kesha White Kesha White 6'0" | C Mpls. Washburn | 2020 State MN is a Division 1-level athlete who has rebounded from a long-term ACL injury to turn in a solid senior season. With the right seasoning Kesha has a very high ceiling. She jumps from #107 to #75,
Up 25 — Park Christian guard Karley Motschenbacher Karley Motschenbacher 5'9" | CG Park Christian | 2020 State MN (MSU-Moorhead) was the subject of our feature story from the Moorhead showcase. This highly-talented athlete is a complete player who will excel in D2 ball. Motschenbacher was at #55 last fall; today she is in the #30 position.
Up 17 — Pipestone guard Zoe Velde Zoe Velde 5'9" | CG Pipestone | 2020 State MN (U Mary) has a long track record of consistent production, physical defense, and team leadership, both for the Arrows and with North Tartan Elite. Zoe is also very versatile but she’s slated to play the point guard spot at Mary. Zoe is up from #73 to #56.
Up 12 — Woodbury forward Carley West Carley West 5'11" | PF Woodbury | 2020 State MN (Iowa Central) is a super athletic 5’11 forward who scores in a variety of ways and has high-level potential. West’s game continues to evolve, and her ceiling keeps on rising. Carley moves up 12 places to #50.
Up 11—Rogers guard Alaina Brenning Alaina Brenning 5'9" | PG Rogers | 2020 State MN (Upper Iowa) has been a talented prospect for a very long time, but this season it has all come together for the D2 commit. Brenning can shoot it, and her production has risen to 14 ppg. She had a career high 31 versus Park Center. Alaina is up 11 places to #52.
CHANGES IN THE TOP 25
By the time we do the winter rankings update for any senior class, things at the top have pretty much sorted themselves out already. This year is no different and there has been minimal movement among the Class of 2020’s Top 25 prospects.
The biggest riser is Rosemount’s Taylor Janssen Taylor Janssen 6'1" | C Rosemount | 2020 State MN . The 6’1 forward, who has committed to Montana State, rises four places in the rankings, escalating from #22 to #18. Over the past four rankings periods, Taylor has gone from #41 to #33 to #22 and now #18. It has been fun to watch her game blossom as she earned the right to play Division 1 basketball.
Elsewhere in the top 25, two players moved up two spots apiece. Nebraska commit Annika Stewart Annika Stewart 6'3" | PF Wayzata | 2020 State MN of Wayzata rises from #16 to #14; Monticello post Anna Olson Anna Olson 6'2" | PF Monticello | 2020 State MN (Vermont) moves up from #25 to #23. Moving up one spot each are new #9 Abby Schulte Abby Schulte 5'10" | PG Maple Grove | 2020 State MN of Maple Grove (NDSU), #16 Natalie Mazurek Natalie Mazurek 6'1" | PF Eden Prairie | 2020 State MN of Eden Prairie (South Dakota) and #22 Sydney Stensgard Sydney Stensgard 5'9" | CG Simley | 2020 State MN of Simley (Montana State).
Click here to see the entire Class of 2020 rankings.