AAU Weekly Recap #2: Jenny Ntambwe makes a statement
This might be the strangest recruiting year ever, particularly for the class of 2022, but one thing has not changed: There’s still time to make a good impression that greatly improves one’s chances of playing collegiately. By mid-morning Saturday that…
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Continue ReadingThis might be the strangest recruiting year ever, particularly for the class of 2022, but one thing has not changed: There’s still time to make a good impression that greatly improves one’s chances of playing collegiately. By mid-morning Saturday that is exactly what Jenny Ntambwe Jenny Ntambwe 6'1" | PF Coon Rapids | 2022 State MN had done, which is why she tops our list of notables in this, our Prep Girls Hoops AAU Weekly Recap #2. Here’s a rundown on some of the notables we saw on Saturday and Sunday.
Breakthrough Player of the Week
Jenny Ntambwe Jenny Ntambwe 6'1" | PF Coon Rapids | 2022 State MN – 2022 forward, Minnesota Stars Bjorgaard
The 6-footer from Coon Rapids has drawn some notice over the past couple of years while playing in situations where her best contribution was to grab the ball and take it end-to-end for a powerful finish at the rim. She has become quite adept at that scenario, but it has done little to showcase her true potential as a college player. Last fall she was able to do some individual skill development and landed herself a spot on Stars Bjorgaard, a team-oriented squad that plays together, plays hard, always seems to have solid team culture. This weekend was Jenny’s debut.
Let’s just say she killed it. She very quickly integrated her size, speed and skill into the bigger picture for Chris Bjorgaard’s team and the results were impressive. She fit right in with other college prospects like Ava Stier Ava Stier 5'10" | PF Waconia | 2022 State MN (MSU-Mankato), Audrey Swanson Audrey Swanson 5'11" | SF Waconia | 2022 State MN , Leah Dengerud Leah Dengerud 5'9" | SF Totino Grace | 2022 State MN , Camille Cummings Camille Cummings 5'8" | CG Centennial | 2022 State MN and Taryn Frazer Taryn Frazer 5'4" | PG Cass Lake-Bena | 2022 State MN . Her sense of timing, on-court instincts and natural athleticism make her a force whose potential is suddenly heading northward. Jenny’s phone has been ringing in the past 24 hours, and interest is certain to grow.
Stars Bjorgaard had a nice weekend. The team was undefeated, including an impressive comeback from 10 down in the second half to win over a very strong Fury 2024 UAA squad led by Olivia Olson Olivia Olson 6'1" | CG Benilde-SM | 2024 State MN .
Comeback Player of the Week
Ruby Carlson Ruby Carlson 5'4" | PG Orono | 2022 State MN – 2022 guard, Crossfire 11th South DeWitt
It had been over a year since we had seen Orono guard Ruby Carlson Ruby Carlson 5'4" | PG Orono | 2022 State MN on the basketball court thanks to lengthy recovery from a torn ACL. When she showed up at the AAU open tryout last month, it was immediately obvious that her skill level was a cut above everyone else there. As a result of that endeavor, she landed a spot with Katie DeWitt’s 2022 Crossfire South squad and this weekend she returned to competition. The sense of timing wasn’t quite there yet, and she’s still learning a new system and teammates. What hasn’t changed is Ruby’s incredible motor and absolute fearlessness. The small guard is short and stocky, with super quick feet and an energy level that few can match. Ruby has always been a confident player, and we’re confident that she’s going to make an impact this spring and summer. Welcome back Ruby! By the way, two other Crossfire kids who stood out this weekend were 6-footer Ava Tretin of Lakeville South and feisty guard Brycelyn Brewster, who is home-schooled. We’ll pay them a return visit later.
Game of the Week
North Tartan 2022 EYBL vs FBC Real 2022 UA Select
We chose this game not because it was an epic struggle, or a fight to the finish. It wasn’t. We picked it for the sheer volume of talent involved. If you wanted a preview of many future Division 1 college players this was the game to see. The North Tartan attack was led by small-school newcomers Ellie Colbeck Ellie Colbeck 5'9" | PG Fergus Falls | 2022 State MN of Fergus Falls (South Dakota State) and Madison Mathiowetz Madison Mathiowetz 5'10" | CG Sleepy Eye St. Mary's | 2022 State MN of Sleepy Eye St. Mary’s. With the game tied in the latter stages of the first half, those two sparked their team to a 15-5 run. Out of half time they nailed back-to-back triples and North Tartan was headed for a 66-40 win. Among the elite North Tartan prospects who played this weekend were Nia Holloway Nia Holloway 6'0" | PF Eden Prairie | 2022 State #45 Nation MN (Minnesota), Kiani Lockett Kiani Lockett 5'9" | PG Minnetonka | 2022 State MN , Mara Braun Mara Braun 5'11" | CG Wayzata | 2022 State #21 Nation MN (Minnesota), Britt Carlson Britt Carlson 6'4" | PF East Ridge | 2022 State MN , Lily Fandre Lily Fandre 6'2" | SF Eagan | 2022 State MN and Lilly Nuytten Lilly Nuytten 6'1" | PF Hastings | 2022 State MN .
FBC Real’s roster is similarly impressive. It includes the likes of Maya Nnaji Maya Nnaji 6'4" | PF Hopkins | 2022 State #7 Nation MN , Ronnie Porter Ronnie Porter 5'2" | CG Como Park | 2022 State MN , Kaylynn Asberry Kaylynn Asberry 5'5" | PG Como Park | 2022 State MN , Savannah White Savannah White 6'1" | SG DeLaSalle | 2022 State MN , Aniyah Reuben Aniyah Reuben 5'10" | SF Minnehaha Academy | 2023 State MN and Sydney Runsewe Sydney Runsewe 5'8" | CG DeLaSalle | 2022 State MN . Porter had 17 to lead the team in scoring against North Tartan. Nnaji had 23 in a one-point loss to Fury 2023 UAA and 16 in a win over Martin Bros of Iowa.
Fresh Faces of the Week
Metro Stars 2024 was on my schedule this weekend. They were a quality team last year, but some key additions to the lineup this spring make them a squad that requires our attention. Unfortunately the BallerTV feed went down just a few minutes into the game and our viewing plans were scuttled. The fresh faces we’re playing close attention to in coach Lawrence Barnes’ group are as follows:
- Guard Ja’Kahla Craft of Farmington
- Guard Daviyana Singleton-Buchanan of Bloomington Kennedy
- Guard Lilly Hahs of Cretin-Derham Hall
- Guard Mya Green of Bloomington Kennedy
I’m told the big guard Hahs had an outstanding weekend. She is emerging as a rising star in the class of 2024, which may also be true of the others. We wrote about the 5’11 racehorse Singleton-Buchanan last fall and are bullish on her potential. We’ll watch more closely when that is physically and/or technologically feasible.
In Closing
I had intended to watch a lot more games at the Midwest Kickoff, and was planning to go to the Comets event in and around St. Cloud on Sunday. Unfortunately Mother Nature had other ideas and I have been convalescing at home for over a week now. Let’s hope things will be better this coming weekend at the Spring Showdown, which opens on Friday in the Twin Cities.
Top photo: Minnesota Stars Bjorgaard. Jenny Ntambwe Jenny Ntambwe 6'1" | PF Coon Rapids | 2022 State MN is the back row left, next to coach Chris Bjorgaard.