MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – The Blue Star Media State Tournament Tour 2017 touched down in the Great White North last week for the Minnesota State High School League 2017 Girls Basketball Championships.  Beyond the athletes on the floor, Hundreds of students showed up, stood up, and represented their schools dressed in hard hats, Hawaiian shirts, the stars and stripes, and all sorts of other themes making an already electric environment even more dramatic.

With four levels set to crown the best the state has to offer, we were had the chance to see some of the state’s premier seniors take center stage. Elk River’s signed senior tag team of Sidney Wentland (Denver) and Gabi Haack (Bradley) battled it out with a very talented Lakeview North squad, led by Temi Carda (Creighton), in the AAAA Semi Finals. Another AAAA Semi-Finalist was Eastview Apple Valley, led by seniors Rachel Ranke (Kansas State) and Allie Pickrain (Winona State). Park Center was once again led by the dominant post play of Mikayla Hayes (Florida), their favorite three point shooter Ann Simonet (Minnesota-Duluth). Tori Andrew is off to the Ivy League next year to play for Yale after she capped off her high school career at Orono with a AAA State Title by defeating a loaded Winona squad starring seniors Eden Nibbelink (Fairfield) and Danneka Voegeli (North Dakota State).

The tournament talent stretched well beyond the 2017 class.  Here are some of the standout players the action on the big stage in Minnesota. Many players from the state’s talented 2018 class have already made high profile college commitments the Land of 10,000 Lakes appears to have a deep pool of prospects for years to come.

Kacie Borowicz – 2019 – 5-8 – Guard – Roseau – Three point threat…Knocks down the open jumpers out of play sets…Smart player…Anticipates on D…Great motor…Can get to basket and play up tempo style

Katie Borowicz – 2021 – 5-4 – Point Guard/Guard – Roseau — Young combo guard off the bench…Nice push and decision making for a young guard…Feisty on D…Already has three point range

Kiley Borowicz – 2017 – 5-8 – Guard – Roseau — Powerful player…Playmaker and gamer…Can shoot the three or take you to the rim…Sneaky defender…Steals off the pass and dribble…Bulldozer mentality

Taylor Brown – 2018 – 6-2 – Forward – Lakeville North – Stretch four player…Can handle it some…Range to the arch…Combo of size and skill makes her an interesting prospect

Paige Bueckers – 2020 – 5-10 – Point Guard – Hopkins — Big time prospect…Tall, lanky point guard…Poised and patient…Nice hesitation on the handle…Can score effectively…Posted 29 in quarterfinal action

Alexis Cochran-Starr – 2020 – 5-5 – Point Guard/Guard – DeLaSalle — Lefty with range to the arch…Nice floater…Keeps it simple…Effective, young PG already starting…Hit multiple threes

Maggie Czinano – 2021 – 5-8 – Guard – Watertown-Mayer – Long, young wing coming off the bench…Has the handles to penetrate already…Bright future

Monika Czinano – 2018 – 6-2 – Post – Watertown-Mayer – Big post…Verballed to Iowa…Fights for position on the boards…Relentless player inside…Strong on offensive glass…Shot blocking presence

Jordan Ferrand – 2018 – 6-2  — Forward – White Bear Lake — Lanky four player…Has a touch inside as well as range out to three point range…Long arms lead to lots of rebounds…South Dakota State commit

Nora Francois – 2021 – 6-0 – Forward—DeLaSalle — Good size for eighth grader…Good lateral movement on D inside…Not afraid to mix it up with older, bigger posts…Some rip and go drive off three or four dribbles…Offensive development is next step 

Nevaeh Galloway – 2019 – 6-1 – Forward – Minnehaha Academy – Wiry frame…Arms go for days…Very effective rebounder in traffic…Will shoot and hit the three…More offensive development would advance her game…Has the build for some face up moves

Ke James – 2018 – 6-2 – Post – Lakeville North — Big post…Sets a good, wide screen…Active down low overall…Nice catch and finish on the high-low…Aggressive…High energy player

Ella Janicki – 2020 – 5-6 – Point Guard/Guard – White Bear Lake — Young combo guard off the bench…Really elevated the pace of the game…Attack mode in transition…Got to line…Three point range already…Knows how to relocate on the perimeter

Lauren Jensen – 2020 – 5-9 – Guard – Lakeville North — Nice wingspan…Three point range…Keeps head and feet moving on D…Scored in both mid range and in transition…Promising future

Victoria Johnson – 2018 – 6-2 – Forward – Roseau – Good size and length…Good feet…Likes the up and under…Finishes the easy ones…12-15 foot range

Maddie Loder – 2018 – 5-10 – Point Guard/Guard – Orono – Tall ball handler…Plays lots of point…Can score the ball in many ways…Can catch and shoot the three on the move…George Washington commit

Kayla Mershon – 2018 – 6-3 – Forward – Minnetonka – Nebraska commit…Moves well with size…Plays hard…Fights for boards…Force on the offensive glass…Versatile

Destinee Oberg – 2019 – 6-2 – Post – Academy of Holy Angels – Big, strong post…Agile…Has some jab and go game…Nimble driver…Shot blocking presence in the lane…Smooth passer out of the post…Good combination of size and ball skills

Jaide Pressley –2020 – 5’8 – Guard – Hopkins — Strong built freshman guard…Can handle and score…Bright future

Taytum Rhoades – 2019 – 5-9 – Guard – Minnehaha Academy – Can get out and score in transition…Prefers the right hand finish…Splits defenders…Hits the three but release is a still a bit low…Has some speed with the ball…Far from a finished product but can produce 

Betsy Schoenrock – 2018 – 6-3 – Post – New Richland HEG – Legit height and reach…Can run and finish…Blocks shots of opposing posts one on one…Keeps it high and finishes…Continued physical development (weights and footwork) advance her potential at the next level

Alyssa Ustby – 2020 – 5-11 – Guard/Forward – Rochester Lourdes – Young freshman wing…Tall with length…Can hit the mid range jumper off the bounce, catch, or move…Rip and drive…Nice feet on the Euro finish…Potential

Megan Walker – 2018 – 5-9 – Point Guard/Guard – Minnetonka — Combo guard…Can create her own shot…Nice stroke…Likes the up and under in the paint…Gets to line and converts

Megan Walstad – 2018 – 6-2 – Forward – Eastview – UW-Milwaukee commit…True stretch four…Can shoot at all levels…Handles it and starts the break on her own…Posts up and seals inside…Faces up for high-low looks…Can defend inside and out…Offered up 24 points and 11 boards in one outing

Nurjei Weems – 2020 – 6-0 – Forward – DeLaSalle – Energy player off the bench…Takes advantage of opportunities to make plays and score…Can get the and one inside…Hit the mid-range

Bridget Yellin – 2019 – 6-1 – Post – Esko – Young on the interior…Came off bench and immediately made an impact with points and shot blocking on the other end…Three blocks in one half alone…Skill set is still coming along but can finish