Adidas Gauntlet: D1 Minnesota 16U
The D1 Minnesota 16U squad was defeated by arch rival Iowa Barnstormers in the elite eight of the Adidas Gauntlet championships on Friday. NHR was there for a pair of their Friday games. Anders Nelson (Edina). The point guard had…
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Continue ReadingThe D1 Minnesota 16U squad was defeated by arch rival Iowa Barnstormers in the elite eight of the Adidas Gauntlet championships on Friday. NHR was there for a pair of their Friday games.
Anders Nelson (Edina). The point guard had a hot hand early against the Barnstormers and helped the team to a nice start not only with his sharp, controlled, and deep handle but his touch in space. Guys try and turn him and he doesn’t seem to break a thought.
Anthony Davis (Hopkins). Some lower major D1 programs are interested in Davis right now because of his agility and work rate on both ends of the floor. Davis is an athlete and Hopkins educated player who is best in transition and on the defensive end right now. With skills developing he is on the radar of surrounding state D1 programs.
Joe Hedstrom (Hopkins). The Hopkins center had NDSU at every game and others that recruit Minnesota were there as well. Hedstrom had a strong day Friday completing a high percentage of his attempts but more importantly he was a physical defender who forced everything in front of him over the top if players even wanted to try him. Rebounded well and made a nice impression.
Jarvis Thomas (Orono). The explosive four man had offered programs UWGB and Oregon State tracking his every move on Friday including when he made a game tying putback exploding off the ground to touch the ball in above the rim just a fraction of a second before the buzzer. Scored in his active ways as Jarvis usually does. Many of the low and mid major programs in Minnesota are crossing their fingers that they can have a chance as they lined the walls on Friday to see Jarvis.
Shae Mitchell (Lakeville South). The number one thing you say about Shae is that he has definitely become more of a face-up small forward prospect with a jumpshot that looks to become more consistent every day. He still has that explosive game on the move though as the 6-foot-7 long striding forward went backdoor and scored at the rim against a perfectly placed defender who just wasn’t tall enough or quick enough off the ground. Drexel has offered Shae and they watched his every move on Friday and they saw a guy that can get things done with his length and bounce around the basket but also a guy getting better away from the cup.
Calvin Wishart (Delano). Wishart is a guard with juice, a guy that D1 Minnesota kids love to compete with. He was the primary ball handler for much of the games we attended and his ability to ignore full court pressure and make the right entry read was noted.
Zach Theisen (Osseo). Without Zach’s shooting D1 never makes it to overtime against the Barnstormers. In fact, his four jumpers in the morning contest was one of the things that set his team apart from the opponent. Theisen is one of Minnesota’s best shooters not just because of the look of the shot but of when he makes them (clutch) and how he works to space to get those shots off. Also a hard working player on the defensive end.
Race Thompson (Armstrong). Race just gives you some of everything and wets the appetite for the future. There was the full court push when he crossed a guard into a stumble at mid-court followed by a contested finger roll finish, there were the late scores against the Barnstormers in the open floor and halfcourt set, his several possessions of playing point forward, and the explosive finishes at the rim as guys just aren’t able to deal with his quick bounce and physical frame. Minnesota, Marquette, and Northern Iowa had a coach at every game with Pitino watching him all day Friday.
Cody Landwehr (Sauk Rapids-Rice). This is the guy making people think twice. First off Cody has grown physically, he’s simply taller. Next he’s tough. Cody will mix it up with anybody on the glass and in the fight on both ends. And also his mid-range jumper is one of the most dependable things I saw from D1 Minnesota in South Carolina. At a listed 6-foot-7 Cody has moved into a spot where I believe he is definitely a scholarship kid at some level.