All 16U Nebraska Teams Taking on AAU Nationals
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Let’s peek ahead at Wave 3. Rest assured, we will have discussions on all of Nebraska’s top standouts from Wave 2, particularly among the 15U divisions in Orlando. We previewed that list of entries here, and we’re about to do…
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Continue ReadingLet’s peek ahead at Wave 3.
Rest assured, we will have discussions on all of Nebraska’s top standouts from Wave 2, particularly among the 15U divisions in Orlando. We previewed that list of entries here, and we’re about to do the same with the 16s. A new age group is preparing to enter the spotlight.
Here’s an overview of the Cornhusker State representatives in Wave 3 at AAU Nationals.
16 Open
Nebraska Elite 16 Lokahi
The Cornhusker State is in good hands for the 16 Open race.
Nebraska Elite 16 Lokahi enters the mix as one of several Nebraska Elite entries across the AAU age spectrum. We’ll point to the Midwest Power League and Show Me Qualifier as two venues where 16 Lokahi has shown its best stuff. High-flying pin hitters like
Cosette Bartling
Cosette
Bartling
5'10" | OH
Elkhorn South | 2026
State
NE
,
Audrey Bassett
Audrey
Bassett
5'8" | OH
Omaha Burke | 2026
State
NE
, and
Mylee Tichota
Mylee
Tichota
5'11" | OH
Yutan | 2026
State
NE
will be asked to shoulder a lot of swings in Orlando. We’ll also be looking for the outstanding backcourt duo of
Elena Estudillo
Elena
Estudillo
5'6" | DS/L
Fremont | 2026
State
NE
and
McKinzie Brandt
McKinzie
Brandt
5'7" | DS/L
Fremont | 2026
State
NE
to take the next step against the nation’s best. What an opportunity.
16 Premier
Nebraska Juniors 16 Black
Nebraska ONE 16 Black
Here’s a fun Wave 3 pairing to watch.
Nebraska Juniors 16 Black has challenged itself through Open-level competitions this year, so AAU Nationals is just another step in the journey. Annie Backemeyer Annie Backemeyer 5'9" | MB Elmwood-Murdock | 2026 State NE and Ashley Beethe Ashley Beethe 6'0" | OH Johnson County Central | 2026 State NE are an elite scoring duo from the small-town scene, but 16 Black’s offensive strength goes beyond these two. London Meints London Meints 5'8" | OH Beatrice | 2027 NE , Samantha Plas Samantha Plas 5'11" | OH Lincoln East | 2026 State NE , and Elzada Gernstein Elzada Gernstein 5'10" | MB Grand Island | 2026 NE have cemented their vital roles with Nebraska Juniors and will keep developing at AAUs.
The 16 Premier division also welcomes
Nebraska ONE
16 Black, a group with ample Nationals experience on the USAV side. Orlando offers a chance for this group to gel further after several highlight moments in 2024. Versatile attackers dot the entire
Nebraska ONE
lineup, so pay attention to names like
Carlie Talbott
Carlie
Talbott
5'7" | RS
Norris | 2026
State
NE
,
Evelyn Timmons
Evelyn
Timmons
6'0" | OH
Fairbury | 2027
NE
, and
Alivia Gustafson
Alivia
Gustafson
5'10" | RS
Lincoln Southwest | 2026
State
NE
.
16 Club
Club Legacy 16 Alpha
River City Jrs 16 Navy
VCNebraska 16 Black
This group is stacked. Keep an eye on Nebraska’s trio of championship contenders in 16 Club.
Club Legacy 16 Alpha has always been a tough competitor in Nebraska’s 16s scene. This is a great chance to prove that aptitude on the national stage, and 16 Alpha has the talent to get it done.
Addison Janke
Addison
Janke
5'8" | S
Omaha Marian | 2026
State
NE
runs a smooth offense that features a heavy dose of
Resa Milbourn
Resa
Milbourn
5'9" | OH
NE
and
Annabella Suljuzovic
Annabella
Suljuzovic
5'8" | MB
Omaha Marian | 2026
State
NE
.
Jane Kubat
Jane
Kubat
5'6" | DS/L
Omaha Westside | 2026
State
NE
will anchor the defense.
We have fond memories of
River City Jrs
16 Navy competing at high-profile events, including the Show Me Qualifier. This squad incorporates a fascinating medley of 2026s and 2027s to produce an impressive on-court product.
Emeline Myers
Emeline
Myers
5'1" | DS/L
Millard South | 2026
State
NE
commands the backcourt and gives plenty of perfect passes to setter
Mariah Dutcher
Mariah
Dutcher
5'5" | S
Omaha Gross Catholic | 2026
State
NE
.
Faith Wiechman
Faith
Wiechman
5'9" | MB
NE
and Tre’Sor Porter carry the torch for the Class of 2027.
Of course, we can’t forget about
VCNebraska
16 Black. Here’s another group that used Show Me as a launching pad for a late-season surge. 16 Black thrives off the gritty defense of
Piper Petersen
Piper
Petersen
5'8" | DS/L
Lincoln Southwest | 2026
State
NE
, which sets up ample scoring opportunities for frontcourt stars like
Raleigh Bowen
Raleigh
Bowen
6'0" | OH
Lincoln North Star | 2026
State
NE
and
Lauren Eggerling
Lauren
Eggerling
5'10" | OH
Lincoln Northwest | 2026
State
NE
.
16 Aspire
Nebraska Elite 16 Nova
Here’s our second Nebraska Elite entry on the 16U side.
Nebraska Elite 16 Nova has a great shot to make some noise in 16 Aspire. We’ll keep harping on this team’s balance of ball control and frontcourt firepower.
Maggie McMahon
Maggie
McMahon
5'6" | S
Skutt Catholic | 2026
NE
has been a consistent leader for 16 Nova and has a ton of offensive weapons to wield in any rotation.
Reese Stradal
Reese
Stradal
5'10" | OH
Gretna | 2026
State
NE
,
Halle Mason
Halle
Mason
5'8" | RS
Gretna | 2026
NE
, and
Reese Blankenau
Reese
Blankenau
5'10" | MB
Gretna East | 2026
State
NE
are just a few of the 16 Nova athletes who have taken big steps forward this year.
16 Spirit
Nebraska Elite 16 Heat
River City Jrs 16 Red
One more for Nebraska Elite and River City Jrs .
Nebraska Elite 16 Heat features several players we’re assessing for our upcoming rankings update.
Julia Perrotto
Julia
Perrotto
5'7" | RS
NE
‘s stable presence in the lineup has been a strong point for 16 Heat. We’re also looking for
Haley Mattox
Haley
Mattox
5'8" | RS
NE
and
Morgan Zabloudil
Morgan
Zabloudil
5'9" | RS
Gretna | 2026
NE
to build on some positive momentum at AAUs.
Depth is a serious advantage for
River City Jrs
in the 16s age group. 16 Red will trot out a stout group of emerging talents, headlined by
Riley Homan
Riley
Homan
5'6" | S
Bellevue East | 2026
NE
and Taryn Lewis. And, as with 16 Heat, several of 16 Red’s standouts are ready to join our next iteration of the 2026 watch list.
16 Elite
Nebraska Juniors 16 Red
Finally, we’re going two-deep in the Nebraska Juniors camp.
Nebraska Juniors 16 Red knows how to show up in big moments. We documented 16 Red’s hot start in the Show Me Qualifier, culminating in a 3-0 record after the opening round of pool play. Outside hitter
Maddie Johnson
Maddie
Johnson
5'10" | OH
Lincoln East | 2026
NE
was a major part of that effort.
Sophie Gleason
Sophie
Gleason
5'9" | OH
Beatrice | 2026
NE
and
Sutton Classen
Sutton
Classen
5'8" | OH
Lincoln Southwest | 2026
NE
also had breakout performances in Kansas City, and we’re ready to cover the next wave of stock risers from Orlando.
Let's peek ahead at Wave 3.
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