Super seniors: Updating the class of 2021 rankings
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I’m not sure it has ever happened before. Since I have been involved in process of ranking prospects for Prep Girls Hoops – and prior to that as a loyal reader of its predecessor Northstar Girls Hoops – I cannot…
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Continue ReadingI’m not sure it has ever happened before. Since I have been involved in process of ranking prospects for Prep Girls Hoops – and prior to that as a loyal reader of its predecessor Northstar Girls Hoops – I cannot recall a top 25 that was as carved in stone entering its senior year as the class of 2021. Despite approaching the 2021 rankings update in our usual diligent manner, the release of the new list features just one player moving up in the top 25. Not surprisingly, that player is Paige Meyer Paige Meyer 5'6" | PG Albany | 2021 State MN of Albany and the Minnesota Comets.
Meyer has had an incredible career to date. I remember the first time I saw the 5’6 guard take to the court. She was an 8th grader, and I was so impressed by what I saw that I watched her play three more times that weekend. I was hooked from that moment forward. In a class with a ton of great guards, the South Dakota State commit is among the very best.
She’s strong and physical and driven to win. Meyer is also a terrific ball-handler with great court vision and the kind of presence that has always belied her years. Paige’s first step is explosive, and her ability to change speeds with ease makes her extremely difficult to defend. Then there’s the pull-up jumper and her decisive execution. She is, in summation, the complete package. Meyer’s final summer of AAU basketball with the Comets was outstanding, which earned her a rise of two positions into the #12 spot among this year’s senior class.
The rest of the top 25 remains the same with #1 Adalia McKenzie Adalia McKenzie 5'10" | CG Park Center | 2021 State #39 Nation MN of Park Center (Illinois), #2 Sophie Hart Sophie Hart 6'4" | C Farmington | 2021 State #44 Nation MN of Farmington (North Carolina State), #3 Jenna Johnson Jenna Johnson 6'2" | PF Wayzata | 2021 State #52 Nation MN of Wayzata (Utah), #4 Katie Borowicz Katie Borowicz 5'6" | PG Roseau | 2021 State MN of Roseau (Minnesota) and #5 Gianna Kneepkens Gianna Kneepkens 5'11" | CG Duluth Marshall | 2021 State #86 Nation MN of Duluth Marshall (Utah) comprising the top 5. St. Louis Park standout Kendall Coley Kendall Coley 6'2" | SF St. Louis Park | 2021 State #94 Nation MN , who might turn out to be the best player in the group long-term, holds down the 6th position. She is committed to Nebraska. The rest of the top 10 includes #7 Kaylee Van Eps Kaylee Van Eps 5'11" | SF Chaska | 2021 State MN of Chaska (Lehigh), #8 Cassidy Carson Cassidy Carson 6'0" | CG Eastview | 2021 State MN of Eastview (South Dakota), #9 Jade Hill Jade Hill 5'8" | PG Mpls. South | 2021 State MN of Minneapolis South (St. Thomas) and #10 Tamia Ugass Tamia Ugass 6'3" | C Roseville | 2021 State MN of Roseville (Louisiana State).
The Prep Girls Hoops prospect rankings are a projection of where players will fit in college basketball, not their current level of performance. Of course the two measures tend to merge by the time players are seniors, but there is still plenty of room to grow their games. With that in mind, here are some players who have done just that over the past few months.
Who went where in the Top 50
While the top 25 remained pretty much as is, there was plenty of movement in positions 26 through 50 where eight players moved in the right direction and one newcomer made her way into the top 50. That newbie would be #49 Ashlyn Bigelow Ashlyn Bigelow 5'9" | PG Kasson-Mantorville | 2021 State MN of Kasson-Mantorville. Truth be told, Bigelow was supposed to be in the rankings several months ago but someone screwed up and accidently left her off the list even though she had been selected. That somebody would be me. Sorry!
Bigelow’s final summer with Southern Minnesota Fury was outstanding as the 5’9 point guard demonstrated week after week that she was a player who simply could not be overlooked. A year ago she would have been hovering in the 100 to 125 range if we had done it right. This summer she played like a Division I guard. In fact, one year from now that is exactly what she’ll be as Bigelow has committed to serve her country by attending the United States Military Academy at West Point where she’ll play basketball for the Army Black Knights.
Bigelow is one of 30 players in the Class of 2021 who has made a Division I commitment. Also among them are the other eight players who moved up in the Prep Girls Hoops Top 50 this time around. Here’s a rundown on the rest of the top 50 risers.
#26 Addy Salzer Addy Salzer 5'10" | CG Waconia | 2021 State MN – The 5’10 guard from Waconia sometimes flies under the radar but that didn’t stop the 43 Hoops star from landing a Division I roster spot with the Iona Gaels in New York. Salzer is just solid with a capital S game after game after game. She moves up one position to #26.
#29 Macy Smith Macy Smith 5'10" | CG Spring Lake Park | 2021 State MN – The 5’10 guard from Spring Lake Park shifted to Fury 2021 Yellow this year and it was just the platform she needed to showcase her skills. Smith was terrific, garnering plenty of notice and being rewarded for her efforts with a DI opportunity at Cal State-Northridge. She rises seven places into the top 30.
#30 Johanna Langbehn Johanna Langbehn 6'2" | C Elk River | 2021 State MN – The 6’2 post from Elk River (North Tartan Elite) has often been overshadowed in a class full of solid bigs. From Sophie Hart Sophie Hart 6'4" | C Farmington | 2021 State #44 Nation MN and Tamia Ugass Tamia Ugass 6'3" | C Roseville | 2021 State MN to Anna Miller Anna Miller 6'2" | C Rochester Mayo | 2021 State MN and Sacia Vanderpool Sacia Vanderpool 6'4" | C Byron | 2021 State MN , there are a ton of great ones, but this jump is long overdue as the St. Thomas commit rises 14 spots into the Top 30.
#33 Ivory Finley Ivory Finley 5'8" | CG Rosemount | 2021 State MN – The 5’8 guard from Rosemount has been sneaky good for a long time. We loved her way back in 8th grade and we’ve watched her evolve over the years with 43 Hoops into a solid next-level talent with a high ceiling. The UMass-Lowell commit jumps 13 positions to #33.
#35 Sophie Haydon Sophie Haydon 6'2" | PF Minnetonka | 2021 State MN – Sophie is aging like fine wine and this vintage is turning out to be a rather nice one. The 6’1 forward from Minnetonka (North Tartan Elite) has gradually evolved into a next-level performer as she expanded her game and got a whole lot stronger. The George Washington recruit rises 12 places.
#36 Emily Kulstad Emily Kulstad 6'1" | PF Prior Lake | 2021 State MN – Emily grew early and often and she has long known how to use her size and strength to great advantage. The 6’1 post from Prior Lake and Fury 2021 UAA looks and plays bigger than that thanks to a sizeable motor and a real passion for the game. The Southern Utah recruit is up two places.
#44 Peyton Blandin Peyton Blandin 5'8" | SG Farmington | 2021 State MN – The 5’8 combo guard from Farmington took a nice jump in the June update and her summer with North Tartan Elite simply reinforced the notion that Peyton is in a new place. The Southwest Minnesota State commit rises one more rung up the rankings ladder.
#50 Erika Lane Erika Lane 5'8" | CG Brainerd | 2021 State MN – The 5’10 workhorse from Brainerd has put in the hours and generated the sweat to improve year over year. That hard work enabled the Minnesota Suns combo guard to earn her way into the top 50 for the first time. Lane, who has committed to North Dakota, moves up three spots.