In a state brimming with emerging basketball stars, one player on the Gophers’ watchlist could outshine them all by the end of her high school career.
Chloe Johnson, a standout at Duluth Marshall, turned heads as an eighth-grader with a scholarship offer from the University of Minnesota. Last season, as a ninth-grader, she posted an impressive 28.9 points, 9.1 rebounds, 6.4 assists, and 3.8 steals per game.
This week, ESPN W ranked her No. 3 in the nation for the high school class of 2028. Johnson isn’t the only Minnesota talent in ESPN W’s 2028 “Terrific 25.” Ari Peterson from Minnetonka is ranked No. 20, and Lakeville North’s Sahara Wilson is No. 23.
Johnson was one of 22 finalists for the 2025 USA Women’s U16 National Team. Although she didn’t make the final roster of 12, being selected as a finalist from a pool of 52 top prospects was a remarkable achievement.
Minnesota continues to produce a stream of elite high school basketball talents, with the class of 2028 trio adding to the state’s growing list of stars. This year, Maple Grove’s Jordan Ode, committed to Michigan State, holds the No. 33 national ranking. The class of 2026 includes Providence Academy’s Maddyn Greenway at No. 11, Crosby-Ironton’s Tori Oehrlein at No. 62, and Minnetonka’s Lanelle Wright at No. 72.
In 2024, Liv McGill and Olivia Olson, ranked No. 15 and No. 16 in ESPN’s top 100, made their mark and are now shining at Florida and Michigan, respectively.
These players follow the path of Hopkins’ Paige Bueckers, now a rookie with the WNBA’s Dallas Wings. Bueckers, the No. 1 overall draft pick, led UConn to the 2025 national championship.
SOURCE: SI.COM
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