Minnesota has long been known as the state of hockey and rightfully so but it is also rapidly gaining a reputation as a hotbed for hoops. Perhaps this is best evidenced by the fact that there are nearly 220 Minnesota natives currently playing Division 1 men’s and women’s basketball – this would have been unheard of even just 10 years ago. This is proof positive that Minnesota players are benefiting from some of the best high school coaches, AAU programs and skills trainers in the country. With March Madness officially underway, nearly one-third of these players are representing NCAA tournament teams. Here’s a look at the best-of-the best from this season – a Minnesota All-American list, if you will.
Women
It is not a stretch to say that if you created a college team of just Minnesotans you would have a realistic chance of winning a national title. The talent is simply amazing – two of the headliners Paige Bueckers of UConn and Gianna Kneepkens of Utah are razor close to joining the exclusive 40/50/90 club. Bueckers is shooting 53.6% from the floor, 40.6% from three, and 89.9% from the free throw line. Kneepkens is 50.4% from the floor, 45% from three, and 89.5% from the free throw line. I will guarantee there is not another state in the country that can claim two shooters of this caliber.
1st Team:
Paige Bueckers – UConn (Hopkins) – the likely #1 pick in the 2025 WNBA draft had another amazing season. Named an AP 1st team All-American, becoming just the 12th player in history to earn All-American honors 3 times. Big East Player of the Year after finishing 3rd in the league in scoring at 19 ppg and leading the conference in assists with 4.9 per game. Also named Most Outstanding Player in the conference tournament won by the Huskies. Will this be the year that she finally gets to cut down the nets after winning a national championship?
Gianna Kneepkens – Utah (Duluth Marshall) – the 6’0 junior guard averaged 19.2 ppg, 5.1 rpg, and 3.1 apg on her way to earning 1st team All-Big 12 honors. Was also named the Big 12 Scholar Athlete of the Year.
Olivia Olson – Michigan (Benilde-St. Margaret’s) – last year’s Minnesota Ms. Basketball made an immediate impact leading the Wolverines in scoring at more than 16 ppg and earning 2nd team All-Big Ten honors and being named the Co-Freshman of the Year in the conference.
Lauren Jensen – Creighton (Lakeville North) – senior guard led the Bluejays to a second-place finish in the Big East Conference averaging nearly 18 ppg and shooting a remarkable 91% from the free throw line. Earned honorable mention All-American honors and was a 1st team all-conference selection.
Alyssa Ustby – North Carolina (Rochester Lourdes) – 6’1 senior guard/ forward was a double-double machine for the nationally ranked Tar Heels, averaging 10.6 ppg and nearly 10 rpg. Earned 1st team All-ACC honors as well as a spot on the league’s all-defensive team. Will finish her career with more than 1,800 points and 1200 rebounds.
2nd Team:
Liv McGill – Florida (Hopkins) – playing in the SEC, unquestionably the nation’s toughest conference, this electric point guard earned All-Freshman Team honors after finishing 12th in the league in scoring at 16.4 ppg and 4th in assists at 5.1 per game.
Ayoka Lee – Kansas State (Byron) – 6’6 senior center was limited to just 19 games because of injuries but was still recognized as an honorable mention All-American and earned 2nd team All-Big 12 honors after averaging 15.5 ppg and 6.1 rpg. Became first player in school history with more than 2,000 points, 1,000 rebounds, and 300 blocks. If she returns healthy for the tournament, the Wildcats will be a force to be reckoned with.
Nunu Agara – Stanford (Hopkins) – another player limited by injuries this season but was able to earn 2nd team All-ACC honors after leading the Cardinal in scoring 15.5 ppg and rebounding 7.4 rpg.
Paige Meyer – South Dakota State (Albany) – the 5’6 senior guard is the experienced leader driving the Summit League champions who enter tournament play with a 29-3 record. Averaged 12 ppg and led the team in assists and steals. Earned 1st team All-Summit league honors and was named to the all-defensive team as well.
Tessa Johnson – South Carolina (STMA) – the hero from last season’s championship game victory over Caitlin Clark’s Iowa Hawkeyes doesn’t put up eye-popping numbers but no one at South Carolina does. In a testament to the coaching genius of Dawn Staley, she has made South Carolina the preeminent program in women’s college basketball by getting highly ranked, incredibly talented players to sacrifice for the greater good of the team – whether that be minutes, stats, individual accolades, etc. Johnson is one of those players, the 6’0 sophomore is a pure shooter who averages 8.5 ppg while playing just 21 minutes a game.
3rd Team:
Anna Miller – Drake (Rochester Mayo) – the 6’3 senior forward averaged 13.8 points, 8.7 rebounds and 2.0 blocks per game on the way to earning second team All-Missouri Valley Conference honors as well as a spot on the all-defensive team. She was also named the conference’s Scholar Athlete of the Year for the second consecutive season.
Kierra Wheeler – Norfolk State (Robbinsdale Cooper) – senior center capped off an outstanding career leading the Spartans to the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Championship and an NCAA tournament berth. Earned 1st team All-MEAC honors after finishing 3rd in the league in scoring at 15.6 ppg and second in rebounding at 9.0 rpg.
Avery Koenen – NDSU (Montevideo) – 6’2 post player had an outstanding season for the Bison, earning 1st team All-Summit league honors after averaging 13.9 ppg and 7.6 rpg.
Adalia McKenzie – Illinois (Park Center) – senior guard earned honorable mention All-Big Ten honors after averaging 13.5 ppg, 4.9 rpg, and 3.4 apg for the Fighting Illini.
Amaya Battle – Minnesota (Hopkins) – helped lead the Gophers to their second consecutive 20 win season and earned honorable mention All-Big Ten honors. Led the team in assists – 4.1 apg and was second in scoring – 11.8 ppg and rebounding 5.0 rpg.
Honorable Mention:
Jenna Johnson – Utah (Wayzata); Paige Kindseth – Presbyterian (Farmington); Molly Lenz – NDSU (Eden Prairie); Marisa Frost – NDSU (Centennial); Shania Nichols-Vannett – IU Indianapolis (Como Park); Madison Mathiowetz – South Dakota State (Sleepy Eye St. Mary’s) Anna Olson – Vermont (Monticello); Molly Mogensen – Creighton (Farmington); Piper Carlson – Idaho St. (STMA); Sophie Hart – Minnesota (Farmington); Mallory Heyer – Minnesota (Chaska); Tori McKinney – Minnesota (Minnetonka); Annika Stewart – Minnesota (Wayzata); Ronnie Porter – Wisconsin (Como Park); Ivane Tensaie – UTEP (Concordia Academy); Macy Smith – Oakland (Spring Lake Park); Somah Kamara – Tennessee St. (Robinsdale Cooper); Lily Fandre – Lehigh (Eagan); Nora Francois – New Orleans (Minnetonka); Alayna Contreras – Kansas City (Hopkins); Jade Hill – St. Thomas (Minneapolis South); Jo Langbehn – St. Thomas (Elk River); Amber Scalia – St. Thomas (Stillwater)
Men
While the men don’t have the depth of star power that the women do, there are plenty of players who have had outstanding seasons and will be playing key roles for highly ranked teams, poised to make deep runs in this year’s NCAA tournament.
1st Team:
Curtis Jones – Iowa St. (Cretin-Derham Hall) – 6’4 senior guard earned honorable mention All-American honors after leading the Cyclones in scoring at more than 17 ppg. Was named 1st team All-Big 12 as well as the league’s 6th Man of the Year, becoming the only player in conference history to accomplish this feat.
Dain Dainja – Memphis (Park Center) – redshirt senior was a dominating presence in the paint for the American Athletic Conference champions. Was named 1st team all-conference and the league’s Newcomer of the Year. One of only 5 players in the country to average at least 13.5 points, 7.5 rebounds and shoot 60% or better from the floor with 30 or more blocks.
Dawson Garcia – Minnesota (Prior Lake) – finished an outstanding career by earning 2nd team All-Big Ten honors after finishing 5th in the league in scoring at 19.2 ppg and 7th in rebounding at 7.5 rpg. During the season he moved into the top 10 in scoring in Gopher history with more than 1500 career points.
Terrence Brown – FDU (Columbia Heights) – 6’1 guard had a breakout sophomore season for the Knights finishing in the top 10 nationally in scoring at more than 20 ppg. Was named 1st team all NEC as well as the league’s Most Improved Player.
Drake Dobbs – St. Thomas (Eden Prairie) – graduate point guard had an outstanding final season for the Tommies, averaging nearly 12 ppg, leading the team in assists with 4 apg, while shooting 43% from three and 86% from the free throw line. Earned 2nd team All-Summit League honors and was a member of the all-defensive team as well.
2nd Team:
Gabe Madsen – Utah (Rochester Mayo) – 6’6 guard led the Utes in scoring at more than 15 ppg and earned honorable mention all-conference in the Big 12. He also broke the school record for 3-point field goals made.
Steven Crowl – Wisconsin (Eastview) – 7’0 center has been a fixture in the Badgers lineup since he arrived on campus. Finished his final season by averaging nearly 10 ppg, 5.4 rpg while shooting over 40% from three. Is a 3-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree in his career.
Nolan Winter – Wisconsin (Lakeville North) – 7’0 sophomore had remarkably similar stats to his fellow Minnesotan, Crowl, on the Badgers’ frontline. Led the team in rebounding at nearly 6 per game, while averaging nearly 10 ppg while shooting 36% from behind the arc.
J’Vonne Hadley – Louisville (Cretin-Derham Hall) – 6’6 senor wing is one of the key players for the highly-ranked Cardinals. Averaged more than 12 ppg and led the team in rebounding at 7.4 rbg.
Tre Holloman – Michigan State (Cretin-Derham Hall) – junior captain is one of the leaders for the Big Ten regular season champions. On a deep and balanced team, he was 3rd in scoring at 9 ppg and 2nd in assists at nearly 4 per game. And if you need someone to protect your logo on Senior Night he’s your guy. You know that drew a huge smile from Spartan legend Draymond Green.
3rd Team:
Pharrel Payne – Texas A&M (Park of Cottage Grove) – former Gopher post player had a solid first year with the tournament-bound Aggies. As a part-time starter, he averaged nearly 10 ppg and 5 rpg while shooting a team-leading 62% from the floor.
Jackson McAndrew – Creighton (Wayzata) – 6’10 sharpshooter arrived in Omaha as the highest ranked recruit in Bluejay history and he didn’t disappoint. Was named to the Big East All-Freshman team after averaging nearly 8 ppg and 4 rpg, and making more than 60 3-pointers, good for second on the team.
Lu’Cye Patterson – Minnesota (Minnesota Prep Academy) – 6’2 senior guard was one of the most reliable Gophers, finishing second on the team in scoring at 11.6 ppg and assists at 3.3 apg.
Kendall Blue – St. Thomas (East Ridge) – 6’6 junior guard was the Tommie’s 2nd leading scorer at 12.3 ppg while shooting over 40% from three. Was named to the Summit League’s all-tournament team. Became just the 2nd Tommie to surpass 1,000 career points in the Division 1 era.
Brody Fox – The Citadel (Mahtomedi) – the younger brother of Gopher big man Parker Fox, he made the jump from Division 3 UW-Stout and had an outstanding season for the Bulldogs. He averaged 16.7 points per game to finish as the 4th leading scorer in the Southern Conference.
Honorable Mention:
Jacob Hutson – UNI (Edina); Braeden Carrington – Tulsa (Park Center); Nate Heise – Iowa St. (Lake City); Kerwin Walton – Texas Tech (Hopkins); Prince Aligbe – Seton Hall (Minnehaha Academy); Will Tschetter – Michigan (Stewartville); Andrew Morgan – Nebraska (Waseca); Cade Haskins – Dartmouth (DeLaSalle); Nasir Whitlock – Lehigh (DeLaSalle); Eli King – UND (Caledonia); Carter Bjerke – St. Thomas (Wayzata)
As the announcer at the Xcel Center would say: let’s play hockey basketball!
About the Author
As Hoop Habits’ media contributor, Roger Johnson brings decades of basketball expertise to his articles. Having served as a marketing executive at Wells Fargo & Company and a content writer for Ultimate Hoops, Roger’s true passion has always been basketball. With experience as a collegiate player at Moorhead State University, coach, and parent of successful players, Roger offers unique insights into the game. His dedication shows through his Minnesota Timberwolves season tickets, University of Minnesota basketball support, and attendance at over 3,000 basketball games throughout his lifetime.