MN Rise Invitational: Sunday’s Top 10 performers
In this article:
If you are a regular here then you already know it’s true: Minnesota produces a ton of great players and they come from all corners of the state. That was certainly obvious on Sunday in Nicollet where we traveled for the final day of the Minnesota Rise Invitational League, a three-week gathering of more than 90 of the best players from across Southern Minnesota. Players from at least half a dozen AAU clubs were represented and the level of competition was incredibly high. We saw lots of familiar faces among the four 2023-2024 teams and plenty of exciting young talent on the six squads made up of 2025-2027 prospects. Kudos to Ryan Hulke of the Rise for putting this competition together for the second year in a row. It was a ton of fun.
Among the participants on Sunday was rising star Avery Koenen Avery Koenen 6'3" | SF Montevideo | 2023 State MN of Montevideo, the #54-rated prospect in the Prep Girls Hoops Class of 2023 who played this summer for both West Central United and Pentagon Schoolers from Sioux Falls. Avery had a 26-point game on Sunday and averaged 17 ppg for the event over two weekends. No word yet on where she intends to play in 2022. Another rising star in the 2023 class was also on hand. That would be big Taylor Johnson Taylor Johnson 6'3" | PF Cannon Falls | 2023 State MN of Cannon Falls, who has been doing great stuff for the past three months and is heading north fast in the PGH rankings. She has committed to play next summer for Minnesota Stars Hersch.
We also saw some really good work from the likes of Taylor Clarey Taylor Clarey 5'8" | CG Rochester Century | 2024 State MN (Rochester Century), Brynn Busse Brynn Busse 5'6" | CG G-F-W | 2023 State MN (GFW), Kristi Kottke Kristi Kottke 5'8" | CG Buffalo Lake-H-S | 2024 State MN (Buffalo Lake-Hector-Stewart), Brea Mertz Brea Mertz 5'10" | PF Sleepy Eye | 2024 State MN (Sleepy Eye), Alexis Thomas (Maple River) and others. These are the 10 players we thought stood out the most on Sunday.
Rachel Kottke Rachel Kottke 5'8" | CG Buffalo Lake-H-S | 2024 State MN – 2024 guard, Buffalo Lake-Hector-Stewart
Nobody works harder at developing their game than Rachel and her twin sister Kristi. They train constantly and have the skills to show for it. Rachel put up 21 points in one game on Sunday and averaged over 14 ppg in the event. Ranked #77 in the class, Kottke is getting bigger and stronger and her game looks as good as ever. The compete level is too high to measure.
Maci Farmer Maci Farmer 5'7" | CG Jackson County Central | 2023 State MN – 2023 guard, Jackson County Central
We didn’t get to see a whole lot of Maci this summer when she played for Bartlett Basketball of Sioux Falls, but the sharpshooter certainly made an impression when we did. It was true again Sunday. She was in attack mode all afternoon, driving to the hole to score through contact and launching bombs, too. Farmer has skill and grit and she can score. The #55-ranked junior in Minnesota averaged 14.5 ppg.
Olivia Harazin Olivia Harazin 5'8" | PG LCWM | 2023 State MN – 2023 guard, Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial
We never get tired of watching Olivia’s game. She’s got speed, she’s got skill, and she’s got sizzle. Harazin had 35 points in two games on Sunday just going about her business like normal. Olivia has great handles, can shoot it from really deep, and plays with a big motor and a bigger smile. The Top-50 prospect is also an outstanding teammate.
Peyton Stevermer Peyton Stevermer 5'5" | CG Mankato East | 2023 State MN – 2023 guard, Mankato East
Peyton is a pest. She’s not the biggest kid on the floor in terms of height but she is solidly put together and really packs some punch. Stevermer, who plays for her dad Rob at Mankato East, is a pit bull. She’s just relentless with or without the ball. She sees the floor, makes good decisions and she can score. Peyton averaged over 12 points per game in the Rise league and will likely do the same this winter.
Macy Birkholz Macy Birkholz 5'5" | CG Mankato East | 2024 State MN – 2024 guard, Mankato East
Birkholz is cut from the same cloth as Stevermer. She’s low to the ground but built like a tank. Her feet are incredibly quick and she has tremendous elevation. Ranked #66, Macy boasts one of the biggest motors we’ve seen, and her will to compete and fight for every inch is impressive. Her mom was an incredible athlete and the apple hasn’t fallen far from the tree. Macy moves to the Minnesota Stars in 2022.
Tucker Downs Tucker Downs 5'11" | CG Mankato West | 2026 State MN – 2026 guard, Mankato West
Tucker is hands down one of the most exciting young players we have encountered this year. After one day of viewing we were hooked on what Downs has to offer and we’ve watched many times since. She’s got super light feet, terrific movement and agility, and excellent elevation. Now 5’9 and very long, Downs does so many thing so well and has that court presence all the great ones possess, playing with just the right mix of swagger and poise.
Brooklyn Lewis – 2026 guard, New Ulm
Lewis isn’t far behind Downs in terms of speed, quickness, agility and skill. She is explosive, and on Sunday we watched her leave several defenders in the dust with a stutter step and quick change of speed. Brooklyn is crafty and aggressive, utterly unafraid to power through contact and skilled enough to slip by defenders of all descriptions. Brooklyn looked like a star last time we watched her. It was more of the same on Sunday.
Annika Southworth Annika Southworth 5'8" | PG St. Peter | 2025 State MN – 2025 guard, St. Peter
We love a coach’s kid. More often than not they just get it and tend to make really good point guards. Southworth, whose dad Bob is the head coach at St. Peter, is certainly no exception. She’s super smart, highly skilled and very crafty on the court. Annika handles the ball well, understands timing and pacing and she can score, including 43 points on Sunday. She was also one of the best defenders in the gym.
Elisabeth Gadient Elisabeth Gadient 5'10" | CG Goodhue | 2024 State MN – 2024 guard, Goodhue
Fresh off a terrific summer with Minnesota Fury Premier, Gadient took the opportunity to compete with some of the best in Southern Minnesota in August and certainly made the most of it. Elisabeth is one of the most well-rounded players in the Class of 2024, where she is the #62-rated prospect. She’s smooth and smart and steady and doesn’t seem to get rattled. We love Gadient’s low-key excellence and college coaches do, too.
Abigail O’Reilly Abigail O’Reilly 6'1" | PF PEM | 2023 State MN – 2023 forward, Plainview-Elgin-Millville
A year ago Abby was a bit of a project; today she’s a beast! At 6’1, with a huge frame, Abby casts a really large shadow in the paint. She’s a big body with a big presence on the court and she’s made big progress in terms of skill development. O’Reilly spent the summer with North Tartan Southeast and the investment she has made in herself is paying off. Currently ranked #139 in the class, O’Reilly is on the way up.
Next up: There was some terrific kids in the 2027, 2026 and 2025 classes on hand. We’ll take a look at the brightest young stars in that group tomorrow.
Top photo: The winning team in the 2023-2024 division was the Sky, led by Macy Birkholz Macy Birkholz 5'5" | CG Mankato East | 2024 State MN of Mankato East (bottom left)