2010 More, Younger Girls Excelling in AAU Summer Btball

A couple days ago I highlighted some of the 15 and 16 year old girls who are playing particularly good ball this summer. Today, here are some of the younger girls who are doing the same. Allof the picks are based on info published by Kevin Anderson at kjasr.com.

T.T. Starks, North Tartan Kuppe (12s) and Mpls. North. Last March I saw Benilde-SM come from behind in the final minute to edge North in the 5AAA section final. Benilde, of course, went on to take the state title behind such established stars as Itisha Alexander, Olivia Antilla, Josie Dillon and Khadidja Shumpert. North's 7th grader (class of 2015), T.T. Starks was the best player on the court. Recently, Starks led NT Kuppe to the state AAU title among the 12 & unders, scoring 24 points in a 49-26 win over Metro Stars Wiese.

Kristina White, Minnesota Suns Davison (14s) and Woodbury. Kevin Anderson called White (class of 2013) the best 3 point shooter regardless of age in the AAU state tournament field as she scored 37 points in 2 games to lead the #4 seeded Suns to the state title. They hammered the #1 seeded MN Stars Smith 70-43 behind White's 21, and then beat Metro Stars Amos 69-57 in the final.

Nia Coffey, Metro Stars Amos (14s) and Hopkins. Richard Coffey's younger daughter (class of 2013) led the Stars with 13 points and 6 defensive stops in the loss to the Suns, and had 17 with 10 defensive stops in a 55-30 win over MN Stars Berkvam in the AAU qualifier the previous week. (The numbers are courtesy of kjasr.)

Kiara Russell, MN Stars Martin (11s) and unknown. Russell (class of 2016) impressed with 22 points in the 11 & U AAU final as the Stars defeated the Midtown Monarchs 53-34.

DeAnna Winston, Midtown Monarchs (10s) and Hopkins. Winston (class of 2017) led the Monarchs to the 10 & under championship with 18 points and also scored 6 for the Monarchs 11s in their loss to the Stars. The 10s beat MN Stars Johnson 49-25.

2nd Team

Chelsey McGee, MN Suns Davison and Mpls. North (2013)

Angie Davison, MN Suns Davison and Maple Grove (2013)

Sam Trammel, North Tartan Kuppe and Hopkins (2015)

Michelle Johnson, Midtown Monarchs and Hopkins (2017)

MaKenna Panning, Metro Stars Broback and Chaska (2014)

3rd Team

MC McGrory, Metro Stars Amos and Edina (2013)

Micaela Noga, North Tartan Alexander and Parkers Prairie (2014)

Tia Elbert, North Tartan Alexander and Tartan (2014)

Nia Hollie, MN Stars Martin and unknown (2016)

Abbey Rostamo, MN Stars Johnson and unknown (2017)

Honorable Mention

Grace Sawatske, MN Stars Antl and Monticello (2014)

Alaysha Sutton, Midtown Monarchs and Hopkins (2016)

Larissa Lurken, MN Stars Smith and Park (2013)

M'Caela Seller, Midtown Monarchs and Lakeville (2016)

Grayson Schroeder, MN Suns Quattrocchi and Lakeville South (2014)

Look out for Hopkins, with 5 girls among these top 20, including Nia Coffey (2014), Sam Trammel (2015), Alaysha Sutton (2016), and DeAnna Winston and Michelle Johnson (2017). More immediately, look out for a resurgence from Woodbury. Michelle Young (2011) was MVP of the Battle of the Hardwood, while Kristina White (2013) was one of the top two younger girls at the AAU tournament. Of course, they only get one year together. Mpls. North gets 3 years of T.T. Starks (2015) and Chelsey McGee (2013), and will still have 2 more years of Starks remaining after that, assuming that North High remains open.