Preview: The Minnesota Fall Exclusive tips off Friday
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Let the games begin! It’s time for the Minnesota Fall Exclusive, the inaugural fall league presented by Prep Girls Hoops and Jr All-Star. Play gets underway at 5:30 p.m. at Bloomington Kennedy with 18 teams in three separate divisions. Each…
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Continue ReadingLet the games begin! It’s time for the Minnesota Fall Exclusive, the inaugural fall league presented by Prep Girls Hoops and Jr All-Star. Play gets underway at 5:30 p.m. at Bloomington Kennedy with 18 teams in three separate divisions. Each team will play a pair of games on Friday nights through Oct. 23 with a week off on Oct. 17 for MEA Weekend. Although a number of players had to withdraw due to the unexpected return of high school volleyball, 157 athletes are expected to compete including such top 10 prospects as Mara Braun Mara Braun 5'11" | CG Wayzata | 2022 State #21 Nation MN (Wayzata,) Tessa Johnson Tessa Johnson 5'11" | SG St. Michael-Albertville | 2023 State #36 Nation MN (St. Michael-Albertville), Kennedy Klick Kennedy Klick 6'0" | CG Maple Grove | 2023 State MN (Roseville), Laura Hauge Laura Hauge 5'9" | SG St. Croix Lutheran | 2024 State MN (St. Croix Lutheran), Clara Glad Clara Glad 6'0" | SF Rogers | 2023 State MN (Rogers) and Tori Oehrlein (Crosby-Ironton)
The Minnesota Fall Exclusive was designed to provide a nice balance between exposure, competition, and structure heading into the winter season. With every game live-streamed and stored for future viewing on BallerTV, as well as Prep Girls Hoops and Jr All-Star Scouts and Analysts covering games, the league is a nice opportunity for college prospects from all levels to showcase their skills for a broad audience.
The WNBA East Division is intended for players in grades 11-12, WNBA West is for grades 9-10 and the NCAA Division is intended for players in grades 6 through 8. To balance the competition, and distribute the number of players evenly, there are plenty of athletes who will compete above grade level. Here’s a quick preview of players to watch in the top two age groups as well as five fresh faces to see among the 6th, 7th, and 8th graders.
WNBA EAST
FEVER – The Fever are led by Mara Braun Mara Braun 5'11" | CG Wayzata | 2022 State #21 Nation MN of Wayzata, the second-ranked player in the Prep Girls Hoops Class of 2022. She’ll combine with the talented trio of Amber Scalia Amber Scalia 5'9" | CG Stillwater | 2022 State MN (Stillwater), Drew Johnston Drew Johnston 5'9" | PG Roseville | 2023 State MN (Roseville) and Chloe Brunsberg Chloe Brunsberg 5'11" | SF Southwest Christian | 2023 State MN (Southwest Christian).
SKY – A pair of Minnesota Stars Nilsen teammates – Lily Fandre Lily Fandre 6'2" | SF Eagan | 2022 State MN of Eagan and Ally Schultz Ally Schultz 6'0" | CG Lakeville South | 2022 State MN of Lakeville South – will be at the core of the lineup for the Sky along with Cambridge-Isanti workhorse Mikayla Aumer Mikayla Aumer 5'9" | CG Cambridge-Isanti | 2022 State MN and talented guard Brynn Senden Brynn Senden 5'6" | PG Wayzata | 2023 State MN of Wayzata.
SUN – The highest-rated player in the league – 2023 #1 Tessa Johnson Tessa Johnson 5'11" | SG St. Michael-Albertville | 2023 State #36 Nation MN of St. Michael-Albertville – is the headliner for the Suns who also boast 2023 top 10 Kennedy Klick Kennedy Klick 6'0" | CG Maple Grove | 2023 State MN , now of Roseville. STMA speedster Emma Miller Emma Miller 5'1" | PG STMA | 2022 State MN , Centennial wing Hannah Herzig Hannah Herzig 6'0" | CG Totino Grace | 2022 State MN and Eden Prairie guard Ashley Fritz Ashley Fritz 5'10" | CG Eden Prairie | 2023 State MN will be key.
MYSTICS – Although she will be absent on opening night there’s no doubt that St. Croix Lutheran freshman Laura Hauge Laura Hauge 5'9" | SG St. Croix Lutheran | 2024 State MN will be an important part of the Mystics lineup. She’ll be joined by the Hill-Murray trio of Lilli Mackley Lilli Mackley 5'11" | CG Hill-Murray | 2021 State MN , Ella Runyon Ella Runyon 5'11" | CG Hill-Murray | 2022 State MN and Payton Mackley Payton Mackley 5'9" | CG Hill-Murray | 2023 State MN , along with Rochester Lourdes teammates Vivica Bretton Vivica Bretton 5'9" | SF Rochester Lourdes | 2023 State MN and Emily Bowron Emily Bowron 5'7" | SG Rochester Lourdes | 2023 State MN .
DREAM – The dream have some height in Ella Giorgi Ella Giorgi 6'2" | PF Coon Rapids | 2021 State MN (Coon Rapids) and Delaney Hoke (Eagan) along with Shakopee guards Natalie Holte Natalie Holte 5'6" | PG Shakopee | 2021 State MN (Black Hills State) and Kelley Brennan Kelley Brennan 5'8" | CG Shakopee | 2021 State MN (Gustavus). Their highest-rated prospect is 2023 top 10 Clara Glad Clara Glad 6'0" | SF Rogers | 2023 State MN of Rogers. Watch for strong out-state prospects Paige Ford of Randolph and Taya Jeffrey Taya Jeffrey 5'10" | CG Albert Lea | 2022 State MN of Albert Lea.
LIBERTY – The Liberty may be in a New York state of mind but they’ll have a heavy St. Paul flavor thanks to a trio of Como Park stars in guards Kaylynn Asberry Kaylynn Asberry 5'5" | PG Como Park | 2022 State MN and Ronnie Porter Ronnie Porter 5'2" | CG Como Park | 2022 State MN and forward Cloey Dmytruk Cloey Dmytruk 5'10" | PF Como Park | 2022 State MN . Throw in Eden Prairie point guard Priyanka Satish Priyanka Satish 5'4" | PG Eden Prairie | 2023 MN and the very gritty Camryn Smith Camryn Smith 5'7" | SG Spring Lake Park | 2023 State MN of Spring Lake Park and you have a nice mix.
WNBA WEST
STORM – The Storm have some highly skilled freshmen leading the way in the 9th-10th grade division, including Ava Cossette of Maple Grove, Gabby Betton of Lakeville North, Taylor Tool Taylor Tool 6'1" | PF Delano | 2024 State MN of Delano, Bella Sutch of Spring Lake Park and Kate Drury of Chanhassen.
ACES – Versatile talents Emma Frost Emma Frost 5'11" | SF Andover | 2024 State MN and Piper Engelby Piper Engelby 5'11" | SG Andover | 2024 State MN will be crucial for the Aces. The pair of Andover guards are sure to make a splash at the high school varsity level when the regular season begins. They’re joined by some sizeable forwards in Cecelia McNair (Prior Lake), Kayla Christy (Elk River) and Casey Beck (Coon Rapids).
SPARKS – The Sparks will no doubt be sparked by guard Nicole Maenke of Shakopee, who was one of the summer’s most impressive breakthrough talents. Her Suns Blue Star teammates Olivia Pawlicki (Shakopee) and Evie Schmitz (St. Louis Park) will be right there with her along with Maddie Kamm of St. Peter.
LYNX – Guard Amy Thompson Amy Thompson 5'10" | SG Stillwater | 2024 State MN is one of the top shooters in the state and the Stillwater freshman is certain to be among the premier prospects when the 2024 top 50 is released next month. She’ll lead the Lynx along with Claire Stern of Maple Grove, Estelle Atkinson or Orono and Jenna Kluxdahl of Jordan.
MERCURY – Skilled guards are important (duh!), and there aren’t many better PGs in the class of 2024 than Drew Buslee of Eagan. The talented floor general will have the ball in hand for the Mercury who also have her Metro Stars teammates Britta Hagen (Eastview) and Ryan Thue (Prior Lake) along with Braziel Fairbanks Braziel Fairbanks 5'5" | CG Edina | 2023 MN of Edina.
WINGS – Speaking of guards, St. Louis Park’s Kiya Hegdahl Kiya Hegdahl 5'7" | PG St. Louis Park | 2024 State MN is one of the most exciting in the class of 2024. She’ll no doubt lead the Wings along with her Minnesota Stars Gardner teammates Mattea Henry (Woodbury) and Sydney Klauer (East Ridge). They’re joined by lengthy wing Shannon Fornshell Shannon Fornshell 6'1" | SF Wayzata | 2023 State MN of Wayzata and gritty guard Isa Nelson of Edina.
NCAA DIVISION
Prep Girls Hoops is not yet covering players in the class of 2025 through 2027 but we have certainly taken notice of a few of them this summer. Here are five players to watch among the 6th to 8th graders competing in the NCAA Division.
- Tori Oehrlein – 2026 guard from Crosby-Ironton (team: UCONN)
- Jordan Ode – 2025 guard/wing from Maple Grove (team: Stanford)
- Ella Kuhlman – 2025 guard of North Branch (team: Stanford)
- Sophie Hawkinson – 2025 guard from Wayzata (team: Stanford)
- Bree Bowman – 2025 forward/wing of Prior Lake (team: Maryland)
ROSTERS
Top photo: Lakeville South junior Ally Schultz Ally Schultz 6'0" | CG Lakeville South | 2022 State MN will be among the participants when the Minnesota Fall Exclusive tips off Friday. Ally is a top 20 prospect in the class of 2022.