5 newcomers who are about to make an impact on varsity
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Every year they emerge, the unknown talents who make an impact on varsity for the first time. We know it’s going to happen; we just don’t know who it’s going to be. Last year, for example, 7th grader Addison Mack…
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Continue ReadingEvery year they emerge, the unknown talents who make an impact on varsity for the first time. We know it’s going to happen; we just don’t know who it’s going to be. Last year, for example, 7th grader Addison Mack (then of Blake, now of Minnehaha Academy) quickly blew up in the first few weeks of the season.
Then there are the youngsters we have had our eye on for some time, the up-and-coming talents whose wares have been on display throughout the summer and fall, making it clear they are ready to get the job done. With the Minnesota high school season about to begin this Thursday, here are five players who have played little to no varsity basketball but are about to announce their arrival.
Shannon Fornshell Shannon Fornshell 6'1" | SF Wayzata | 2023 State MN – 6’0 sophomore forward, Wayzata
Patience is a virtue, especially if you are a gifted player toiling away on the junior varsity squad of a program that is neck-deep in quality players. If these patient prospects transferred to one of dozens of different programs not blessed with so many quality kids to choose from, they might be starters. Instead they wait. Well the waiting is over for Shannon. We first covered the lanky sophomore a year ago during the holiday tournament season when she was playing JV for the Trojans. Throughout 2020 we have seen Shannon mature and watched her game blossom. She runs the floor well, is very good off the dribble and can finish with either hand. She’s also a quality shooter. Fornshell made the all-star team at both the Top 250 Expo and the Fall Exclusive before moving up another 12 spots in the rankings in November to #60.
Anisa Longs Anisa Longs 5'8" | PG Mpls South | 2024 State MN – 5’8 freshman guard, Minnehaha Academy
Anisa could have played high school basketball last winter but elected, instead, to focus on skill development and academics so she would be ready for a proper varsity debut. That grand entrance is on tap this week as the gifted freshman will suit up on behalf of the Minnehaha Academy Redhawks. Our first look at Anisa was at Crystal Flint’s Rising Stars Showcase back in April of 2019. We were excited about the possibilities then; we’re even more amped up now. Longs is about 5’8 with a super-long wingspan. The combo guard is very quick, very athletic and very aggressive on both sides of the ball. Although Longs can shoot it well, she seems to prefer to drive and finish and draw the inevitable foul. Anisa has a quick first step, handles the ball very well and has terrific lateral movement which, combined with the length and a physical presence, makes her an excellent defender. Longs is ranked #9 in the class of 2024.
Tori Oehrlein Tori Oehrlein 5'10" | CG Crosby-Ironton | 2026 State MN – 5’9 7th grade guard, Crosby-Ironton
Tori is a 7th grader. If you’ve seen her play you’ll find that extremely difficult to believe. No really, she is actually only in 7th grade. Tori is bigger than average, more athletic than average, has a higher basketball IQ than average. OK, there is absolutely nothing average about her. Playing two years up, Tori lit it up all summer for the Minnesota Suns. At the Fall Exclusive Oehrlein absolutely dominated. We debated whether to put Tori with her age-group peers or play her up with the older kids. We went with the younger option which made it blindingly obvious just how far she is ahead of the pack. Oehrlein scored 75 percent of her team’s points – 44 in one game on opening night – while clearly demonstrating her ball-handling, court vision, IQ, body control, shooting ability… basically she showed it all. To me Tori’s greatest asset is how she keeps the game simple.
Maddyn Greenway – 7th grade guard, Providence Academy
It’s hard to miss Maddyn. When the 2026 guard from Wayzata takes to the floor, she is 100% dialed in, 100% amped up and 100% committed to doing whatever it takes to win. It helps, of course, that she is uber-athletic, strong for her age and very, very skilled. Greenway is one of the most dynamic guards we have seen in Minnesota of any age, and is among the very best talents in the class of 2026. Greenway directed the Providence offense a lot in fall league and looked right at home. 7th graders will make mistakes, of course, but Greenway has a chance to be very successful at the AA level right now. Maddyn comes by her athleticism honestly. Mom was a college athlete and dad played professional football. We have a feeling this Greenway is going to make a name in the game all for herself.
Mackenzi Simmons – 5’10 freshman guard, Winona
Winona had a really good high school team a few years back. The Winhawks played in the state championship game as recently as 2016, but it has been a pretty severe dry spell ever since. Now the program possesses one of the most exciting young talents in the state in Simmons, who was the best newcomer we saw in October at the Top 250 Expo. She’s long and tall, with very long arms, huge loping strides and nice elevation. Mackenzi sees the floor well, always has her hands ready to receive the pass and can beat defenders consistently to get to the rim. We have not had the good fortune to watch Simmons as much yet as we would have liked, but based on what we have seen she is a player who is going to make some noise before her high school career is over and done with. Given the opportunity, one suspects that impact will begin real quick.