Minnesota AAU State Championship – Bell & Fricke Shine
Maggie Fricke Maggie Fricke 5'7" | PG Minot | 2025 ND and Leelee Bell Leelee Bell 6'0" | SF Minot | 2026 State ND , both of Minot High, just captured a state A championship this past high school season,…
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Continue ReadingMaggie Fricke Maggie Fricke 5'7" | PG Minot | 2025 ND and Leelee Bell Leelee Bell 6'0" | SF Minot | 2026 State ND , both of Minot High, just captured a state A championship this past high school season, but they weren’t stopping there. They competed at the Minnesota State AAU Championship and took home the crown there with their Minnesota Stars Hill 8th team as well. Both are stud Division 1 2026 prospects that have very bright futures. Let’s breakdown how they played from game-to-game.
8th grade D1 MN State champions! great teamwork. Now on to working for North Carolina in 2 weeks @MaddyBlaylark @mrpjhill @LeeleeBell2026 @amaya_penn32 @EarnestElite @MinnesotaStars pic.twitter.com/H21p4JY5IP
— MN Stars Hill 3SSB 2026 (@MNStars2026) May 15, 2022
Game 1 – Minnesota Stars Hill 8th – 64 – MN Comets Durbin 43
Fricke didn’t compete in the first game.
Bell was impressive in game 1, totaling 21 points. She was too much to handle for the MN Comets. I haven’t seen all the teams, but I’d imagine Bell is one of the top 2026 prospects in the region. She showed such a versatile and smooth offensive game at 6’0. Without Fricke, Bell was handling the ball often in the 1st half. Brought the ball down and was unguarded for a pull-up three. She missed it, but it shows a great confidence in her game and range, to be able to pull-up like that. She then showed a quick release on a corner three that she sunk. She was able to get the ball off before the defense had a chance. Bell had an impressive in-and-out dribble to finish in traffic and easily over the defense. Defensively, she played as the rim-protector and back-end of the defense. Had some steals in the back-court in the 1st half. She was rebounding well and had a nice offensive-board for a put-back easy two. She just had too much size, length, and skill to be denied. She could get to her spots and was an overall playmaker and stat-stuffer. What really stood out, was a play where she had a steal in the paint, then stormed the ball up-court with skill and hit a deep contested three. It was deep. Had another cross-over into a three, that was swished. Finished with three made threes in the game. She was subbed-out early, with the team having a commanding lead. Move and advance.
Game 2 – Minnesota Stars Hill 8th 64 – Crossfire Gee 27
Fricke was back in action and both Fricke and Bell were starters in the 2nd game.
Fricke’s first of her 13 points was a three-ball coming off a ball screen. She got it up quick and confidently. Got a steal in the press and had a nice left-handed pass to her teammate near the hoop. Fricke was playing aggressively to be a playmaker. Drove and got into the lane to score or kick. In the 1st half, she got into the lane with grit and earned herself a two-shot foul for a reward. Fricke was very disruptive in her team’s full-court pressure. She was making it tough for the ball-handler. She was playing tough in the paint and had an offensive rebound that she put-up and got fouled on. In the 2nd half, she had a strong drive and finish with her left, where she went through three lines of defense. A strong trait of hers’ is that she’ll continue her dribble and drive until she is completely stopped.
Bell had 14 points on one made three in game 2. Bell had a move where she drove to her right and was stopped, then spun-off to finish easily with her left hand. That’s one of her major skills — her ability to use both hands and finish. Bell was moving well without the ball in this game. Had a few clean blocks in the 1st half. Missed on the finish with a floater, but had an impressive hesitation dribble to get by the D with ease. Has a long and quick first-step with the ball when she drives. Got the ball on the block and had a smooth a quick turnaround shot that had no wasted movement to it. Barely missed the shot. Ran the floor for an easy lay-in two-pointer in the 2nd half. Had an impressive steal off the pass, hesitation at the defender, then into a euro-move to finish on the left. Such an advanced series of plays for a 6’0 2026 prospect. In game 2, Lee Lee earned a lot of her points by turning her own steals and defensive plays into points.
Game 3 – Minnesota Stars Hill 8th 59 – Minnesota Stars Nilsen 8th 47
Fricke was a very impactful player on both ends in game #3. She finished with a hard-earned 16 points with two threes made. Fricke had an open three but drove past the D and passed a laser left-handed pass to Bell for two. Fricke had a very quick and explosive drive from the corner going to her left to earn foul shots. One of her threes was a smooth-looking shot that was drained from the right wing. It was fairly deep from the wing. Also, brought the ball up and did a quick stutter-move at the defender and pulled-off for a rhythm three. To explain Fricke’s game and demeanor on the court, she doesn’t play with flash, even though she possesses high-level skill. She plays tough and hard-nosed on both ends. Not afraid to take on contact and put her body out there — especially when driving in a straight line at the hoop. Already has an offer from University of North Dakota.
Bell finished with 10 points with two threes. She scored initially off the tip with a left handed layup. No more than three seconds could have gone off the clock. Nailed a three on a screen and pop play. She set a ball-screen then popped back for an open three that she hit in rhythm. Had a block, where she blocked the ball and gathered it herself, pushed the ball up and kicked to Fricke for a corner three attempt. Stars Hill ran an isolation play for Bell, with her handling the ball at the top of the perimeter. She drove to her right and then spun-off the other shoulder for a turnaround floater type of shot. It was a near-miss. What makes Bell such a tough matchup is her ability to shoot the three. She cannot be left open and can get her shot off whenever she wants with her 6’0 frame. Like mentioned already, Bell has the ability to make numerous moves to get to the hoop as well. A nightmare of a matchup she is.
Minnesota Stars Hill 8th 50 – North Tartan 14 Nike 33
Fricke had 9 points and one three in the final game. Had a couple near-steals early in the game, showing quick hands. Drove right on a smaller defender, was initially stopped, but willed her way with an up-and-under floater type of shot that was on the baseline. Fricke was flying around defensively all tournament, and it was noticeable in this one. She was moving well with the ball and anticipating passes to quickly recover. Came off a ball-screen and saw some space and drilled a three going to her left. Fricke came to play. Got into the lane a often in the 2nd half to kick the ball out to shooters. Late in the game, she received heavy ball-pressure, but willed her way to the hoop for a layup finish with her right hand.
Bell finished with 13 points and one three. She was doing a great job in the paint, protecting the hoop and attacking the glass and ball in the air. She was consistently trying for offensive rebounds, as she clearly had a height advantage. North Tartan only scored 33 points and Lee Lee was a key part of that result. Had another highlight three when she brought three ball up attacked the defender slightly, then stopped and went behind the back to pop a three. I’m not sure if this play could have been defended. Just a great player making a great play. On the defensive side, she even played on the perimeter in Hill’s half-court trap/pressure defense at times. Uses her length well in that position. In the 2nd half, Bell got the ball in the middle and quickly turned her shoulder and knocked down a mid-ranger. Her quick release really stood out in the tournament.
Though I didn’t see all the teams and prospects, Maggie Fricke Maggie Fricke 5'7" | PG Minot | 2025 ND and Leelee Bell Leelee Bell 6'0" | SF Minot | 2026 State ND were clearly a few of the top prospects in the tournament and proved they deserve a recognition in the region. Bell has massive upside, with her long frame and guard-like skills. She makes the “wow” play every game. A few of them a game actually. While Fricke, is a true and seasoned point guard, that is a gym rat and a true basketball player that eats, sleeps, and breaths the game. The great part is, we get to witness their talents for many years to come.