Great Plains Alliance: Thursday 17U Notes
Essa Adam (tMBA Rip City, 6-1, SG, St. Paul Harding). Adam has the ability to score off the bounce in many ways. He opened the first half with three attacking baskets and then went on a second half run that…
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Continue ReadingEssa Adam (tMBA Rip City, 6-1, SG, St. Paul Harding). Adam has the ability to score off the bounce in many ways. He opened the first half with three attacking baskets and then went on a second half run that included two attacks and a three that brought his team within two scores. It lists Essa as a 2016 so this is a player that would be very good for a program needing a pace pusher and a transition scorer.
Curtis Bell (Select Ellis, 6-2, SG, St Paul Washington). Bell is one of the best transition players we’ve seen in Minnesota at the 17U level this year. Not just finishing, which he does well, but Curtis has been a quality passer feeding at the right times and making the right reads. Curtis may be one of the most underrated players in this state.
Dillon Haider (Comets Lewis, 6-0, PG, Melrose). Haider has been mostly a steady ball handler and offensive orchestrator who still hits shots but doesn’t get as many because of the talent around him. Today Dillon showed us he still has that touch to hitting four treys early and helping blow open the game with Minnesota Nice quickly.
Burt Hedstrom (Comets Lewis, 6-5, SF, Minnetonka). Burt seems to improve with every game. He started his career in high school as a shooter, has developed as a defender and high IQ role guy who can hit some shots, and today against MN Nice he went back to hitting a load of jumpers. Burt made five treys and scored 21 points meaning this is a guy who has shown he can shoot, defend, and play a high IQ game. Seems like a great fit for several good Minnesota programs plus he’s high character and great in the classroom.
DeNario Jackson (tMBA Rip City, 5-9, PG, Tartan). Jackson also recently graduated but injury robbed most of his senior year so it’s nice to have him out here playing. Jackson was the uptempo talented pace pusher that we saw last year before fouling out against the Dynasty. Had three And1 finishes including a really nice fall-a-way basket and a couple attacks.
Liam McGreal (Select Ellis, 6-5, PF, Centennial). Playing with his brothers team for this weekend Liam didn’t take away many chances from others but when he did get his looks they were memorable. In the first half against WI City Liam made a top of the key trey, he scored high off the glass on the break, and had a memorable putback. The shot from distance was memorable as Liam can definitely be a player that has the frame and agility to be a good prospect.
Kaleb Nelson (Select Ellis, 6-4, SG, Waseca). First off Nelson looks a couple inches taller and a lot stronger but just as agile as when we saw him over the winter. Scored with two really clean pull-ups, defended well on ball and in the passing lanes, scored twice in transition, and assisted to others with well placed lead passes. One of a handful of Waseca guys who should keep the Jays strong.
Logan Rezac (Crossfire, 6-2, SG, Andover). There is something about his confidence and toughness that rubs off on his teammates. Guys can depend on Logan to complete plays late and he did that turning a corner after a reversal, attacking, and touching shots over the top. Such a confident scorer who you want to have the ball late.
Sam Wilson (WOTN, 6-3, SF, Farmington). Sam Wilson. A year ago we were at this event talking about his competitive fight and his constant productive attack. How he willed his team to a win. Today we are going to talk about how his team was fighting with PBC from South Dakota and then Sam changed the game with four jumpers in five possessions. Can Sam shoot it? Sure looks like it.
CJ Woda (Crossfire, 6-4, SF, Heritage Christian). His ability to finish plays in transition ranks with the best in his class. So effortless as he gets the angle, stays on balance, withstands contact and ignores length, and finishes. Against ECI’s second team Woda had three scores late that put his team into the next round. He is at least going to be a fantastic MIAC player in my opinion.