Rankings update: Time to fish or cut bait for the 2022s
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By the time players reach their junior year of high school they need to have built a reputation for themselves, a positive impression that says they are serious about making it to college basketball two years hence. In other words,…
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Continue ReadingBy the time players reach their junior year of high school they need to have built a reputation for themselves, a positive impression that says they are serious about making it to college basketball two years hence. In other words, it’s time to fish or cut bait or whatever other cliché in that vein you might care to employ. Now that it’s time to update the Prep Girls Hoops Class of 2022 rankings for the first time since June, we are happy to report that there are plenty of quality prospects at the top end of the rankings who have been fishing rather productively.
We plan to break down the Class of 2022 rankings update into five parts. Yes five. There’s a lot of news related to this class and, as per usual, we aim to bring you all of it. First up is an overview of the top 25 where there is no shortage of players taking noteworthy steps in the right direction. Two players have moved up in the top 10, four more players have entered the top 20 for the first time and two other strong prospects have made their entry into the top 25. It’s an impressive group of Division I candidates.
CHANGES IN THE TOP 10
One place you won’t find any adjustments is in the top six where the order remains the same: #1 Maya Nnaji Maya Nnaji 6'4" | PF Hopkins | 2022 State #7 Nation MN (Hopkins), #2 Mara Braun Mara Braun 5'11" | CG Wayzata | 2022 State #21 Nation MN (Wayzata), #3 Amaya Battle Amaya Battle 5'10" | PG Hopkins | 2022 State #29 Nation MN (Hopkins), #4 Mallory Heyer Mallory Heyer 6'1" | PF Chaska | 2022 State #36 Nation MN (Chaska), #5 Nia Holloway Nia Holloway 6'0" | PF Eden Prairie | 2022 State #45 Nation MN (Eden Prairie) and #6 Lilly Meister Lilly Meister 6'2" | PF Rochester John Marshall | 2022 State #55 Nation MN (Rochester John Marshall). That order has been the subject of much debate here over the past month. It’s a topic we’ll address in more detail in a separate article. Every single one of the six is a slam-dunk, high-major prospect and deserving of their current ranking or higher.
What has changed is the order of positions 7 through 10, where Nebraska commit Callin Hake Callin Hake 5'8" | PG Chanhassen | 2022 State #64 Nation MN of Chanhassen (Fury 2022 UAA) has moved up one place into 7th spot and point guard Kiani Lockett Kiani Lockett 5'9" | PG Minnetonka | 2022 State MN , formerly of DeLaSalle and now of Minnetonka (North Tartan EYBL) has risen to 8th. That leaves Grand Canyon commit Ellie Buzzelle Ellie Buzzelle 5'9" | SG Rogers | 2022 State #60 Nation MN of Rogers (Fury 2022 UAA) in 9th and Alabama-Birmingham commit Desiree Ware Desiree Ware 5'8" | CG Minnetonka | 2022 State MN of Minnetonka (Stars Nilsen) in 10th.
MOVING INTO THE TOP 20
Ellie Colbeck Ellie Colbeck 5'9" | PG Fergus Falls | 2022 State MN of Fergus Falls and Savannah White Savannah White 6'1" | SG DeLaSalle | 2022 State MN of DeLaSalle have been solid top-20 performers for well over a year now, but they have continued to improve their games and, as a result, have continued to improve their status as collegiate prospects. This time around both players will go up two more positions. White, the lengthy 6’0 guard who plays AAU ball for FBC North, rises to #13 in the rankings. Colbeck, a 5’9 point guard who recently transferred from West Central United to North Tartan EYBL for the 2021 AAU campaign, rises to #12. Ellie recently announced her commitment to South Dakota State.
The top 20 welcomes four newcomers this time around:
#14 – Britt Carlson Britt Carlson 6'4" | PF East Ridge | 2022 State MN – The 6’4 center from East Ridge (North Tartan EYBL) has transformed her game this year, putting more time into basketball than ever before and playing with and against much better players. The hard work paid off. One year ago Carlson was ranked #72 in her class before rising to #63 in January. In the spring she took a huge leap forward into the 21st position. Now she elevates another seven places to #14. Britt has already made a volleyball commitment to Texas Tech, but if she should decide to change her mind there will be plenty of willing suitors waiting.
#15 – Madison Mathiowetz Madison Mathiowetz 5'10" | CG Sleepy Eye St. Mary's | 2022 State MN – The 5’9 guard from Sleepy Eye St. Mary’s (North Tartan EYBL) is coming off an outstanding summer with the Minnesota Rise, where she played up one year for Dan Wolfe’s 2021 squad. This fall she joined North Tartan, where she has been training with some of the state’s very best players. Maddie has made it clear she fits right in with that level of athlete, the kind that earn DI offers and opportunities. Next summer, if there’s a normal AAU season, Mathiowetz will hopefully have the opportunity to prove she can go at it against some of the best players in the country. She rises 10 places into 15th position.
#16 – Lizzie Holder Lizzie Holder 6'1" | PF Stillwater | 2022 State MN – We have practically worn out the keyboard this year writing about the 6’1 forward from Stillwater. From the first time she suited up in AAU practice in the spring to the last time we watched Lizzie a couple of weeks ago, Holder has continued to make huge progress. Hopefully there will be a high school season so she can show the rest of the Minnesota basketball scene just how much she has improved. Lizzie, who now plays for Fury 2022 UAA, entered the rankings for the first time last fall at #71. In June she moved up to #57 before proving to one and all that she is now one of the state’s best. Holder goes up 41 positions to #16.
#18 – Lily Fandre Lily Fandre 6'2" | SF Eagan | 2022 State MN – About 18 months ago the 6’1 forward from Eagan (Stars Nilsen) was starting to demonstrate what might be possible in the months ahead. She had barely cracked the top 60 in the spring of 2019, but Lily continued to grow in stature, strength and skill. Over time she became more comfortable in her body, expanded her repertoire to play multiple positions, gained a ton of confidence, got more physical and established a leadership presence. It’s all coming together rather nicely for Fandre, who entered the top 30 one year ago, moved to #22 in the winter, and now rises four more rungs on the prospect ladder to #18.
WELCOME TO THE TOP 25
Matt Nilsen’s Minnesota Stars squad had a terrific summer, and one of the primary reasons for that was the addition of 5’10 guard Mackenzie Schweim Mackenzie Schweim 5'10" | PG Mankato East | 2022 State MN of Mankato East. Schweim, along with her East teammate Lexi Karge Lexi Karge 6'2" | PF Mankato East | 2022 State MN , came to the Stars from Minnesota Nice and the change of scenery did them both good, particularly Schweim. Mackenzie proved that she could play with bigger, stronger, faster players. She showed her ability to handle defensive pressure, execute the offense and make big plays. 18 months ago, Schweim was ranked 50th in the class. By this summer she had entered the top 30, and now Kenzie migrates into the top 25 for the first time, going north five places to #23.
Mikayla Aumer Mikayla Aumer 5'9" | CG Cambridge-Isanti | 2022 State MN of Cambridge-Isanti played just three tournaments this summer for Metro Stars Starks but she played really, really well. This fall she has been nothing short of outstanding. At the Prep Girls Hoops Top 250 Expo the 5’9 guard may have been the best player in the gym on the day. At the Fall Exclusive she was a dominant performer every week. Aumer continues to grind harder than anyone in the state and that work ethic keeps on producing dividends. Mikayla moves up one more position now to enter the top 25 for the first time.
Top photo: Lilly Fandre’s defense is just one of the reasons she is in the top 20.