Great Plains Alliance: Friday 17U Notes
NHR was at the Great Plains Alliance second and third round bracket games all day Friday and saw know names and new names alike step forward and shine for their teams. Here is one group of players that have earned…
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Continue ReadingNHR was at the Great Plains Alliance second and third round bracket games all day Friday and saw know names and new names alike step forward and shine for their teams. Here is one group of players that have earned their praise.
Collin Anderson (MN Magic, 6-0, SG, Eagan). The graduated senior was able to keep the Magic within a couple scores of Fury K by supporting his team with 19 points including a string of five made jumpers in six attempts in the heart of the game. Definitely a kid that should find a solid place to play college basketball next fall. Very good touch and he made many of his jumper with a hand in his face.
Gavin Baumgartner (Comets Lewis, 6-4, SG, Wayzata). His split of the defense zig-zagging from one angle to the next was incredible enough but the acrobatic finish contorting away from the defense and spinning the ball in off the glass, it was the play of the day. Gavin didn’t play much in the win over Select Ellis but this one play was worth the time to write about. Made all three shots he took.
Curtis Bell (Select Ellis, 6-2, Wing, St. Paul Washington). I may write about Curtis every time I see him because his transition play and effort is always top notch. Scored 19 against the Comets with a hard charging effort and he leaves every game as one of the most respected players. Colleges at a few places should have a look because he’s as under the radar productive as they come.
Brendan Emery (WC United, 6-2, SG, Browerville). A shooter with a nice touch and some range to go with it, Brendan hit three treys and scored 15 in a loss to ECI. Also battled for boards as he is one of the biggest guys on his team (had 7). Definitely looks like a guy that can play a nice role as a shooter and worker for Bryce Irsfeld as they make a run next year.
Parker Fox (Heat Vang, 6-6, SF, Mahtomedi). This was the best game I’ve seen from Parker when it comes to a rebounding perspective. He was bouncing above the rim to get boards and then clearing hard with swings and kicks. He also had a couple scoring runs of his own that included two treys, two open floor impressive dunks, and a couple active scores. Maybe the best game I’ve seen form Parker and more games like that will lead to many good things for him.
Chase Grinde (Heat Vang, 6-4, SF, Spring Grove). Grinde helped Heat Vang over Warriors with some of the most mature baskets of the event. His threes came off physical separations and were hit in rhythm just as the defense came to contest and he did a great job clearing without the ball to get space, and he scored twice off the bounce using his handle against a similar sized defender to get space. The numbers were solid but more important was the type of scores and timing of the scores.
Dillon Haider (Comets Lewis, 6-0, PG, Melrose). Dillon has the ability to see some things that even some of the better players in this state don’t. He has consistently sent passes into tight lanes at such a speed that most guys don’t see it and others want to keep their fingers. Great vision and he is an explosive shooter shown by his five three-point makes including three in a row in the second half against Select Ellis.
Matt Hofrenning (MN Magic, PF, 6-7, Edina). The first game we watched Matt and wondered how much he would help Edina next year and in the second game we watched Matt it looked like he can be the big for the Hornets. He started the game jumping a passing lane and throwing down a dunk and then scored twice more in the next minute actively getting position and quickly turning to touch over the top. Matt had four early scores for the Magic which was the big reason they were neck and neck with their opponent.
Bryce Irsfeld (Comets Lewis, 6-0, Pg, Browerville). Bryce had some frustrations with his Friday afternoon shot and then worked them out by making two more after a couple misses. He had a game changing three foul shots in the first half as he made them and the game was never the same. Also grabbed six boards and dished out six assists. Another solid game.
Andrew Kallman (Fury K, 6-3, PG. Chaska). There are lead guards who set up and then try to get the ball to score and there are PGs who move the ball to the first pass and then try and score by working hard off the ball to set up scores. Andrew scored with basket cuts as well as moved off the ball around screens to catch and hit his three treys. Another good all around game scoring 15 with five boards and four assists against the Magic. Grabbed four offers from NSIC schools yesterday.
Rocky Kreuser (Fury K, 6-8, PF, Totino-Grace). Rocky had nine NSIC schools watching and what he did included the following: Sweeping baseline dunk that must of felt like an airplane coming in as Rocky is so long and covered so much ground, a clutch three late along with free throws that put the game away, six boards, four assists that were all to cutters within the offense, a pair of treys on his way to 15 points.
Alec/Luke Loehr (Warriors, 6-7, Forward, Rosemount). This will be the only time I write about them as one and it comes because of a need to separate. On this day against the Heat, Luke was the guy that hit early jumpers and Alec hit from distance later. Luke was very aggressive early while Alec’s full body dove late in the game was memorable. The two of them at one point had the team’s first seven field goals and ended up with most of the team’s points which says a lot about them but also says why the team wasn’t able to beat the Heat.
Ryan Lindberg (Comets Lewis, 6-2, SG, Wayzata). One of the state’s best shooters and one of the state’s best at moving around the screens and coming off sharply at the right angles to get space to catch and hit. Got his Bemidji State offer for these things and hit for a dozen on six shots against Select because of these things. Added offers from a couple NSICs for his play.
Billy Odenthal (MN Magic, 6-6, PF, Tri-City United). Had double figure rebounds fighting against Fury Kallman against some good size. Billy has a good physique and he plays with consistent energy chasing boards out of his area and skill wise he’s got some work to do but what we did see was promising. A nice prospect to know going forward.
Alex Preston (MN Magic, 6-3, SG, Prior Lake). Preston is a new name for me and a name I will remember when we talk about all the up and coming Prior Lake guys. He scored 14 points on including three triples and I liked the way he competed. Definitely a guy you have to locate and close out hard on. In their last game of the night Preston hit a game winning NBA three to give his team a memorable win.
Trey Prince (Fury K, 6-1, G, Chanhassen). Was back-cutting on sleepy Magic defenders constantly which led to his four scores in the framework and his four offensive boards (had seven total). Trey hit double figures with ten points but his contribution was all of his activity behind the defense that led to results. Smart, hard working player.
Rieshaun Satar (Grassroots MN, 5-10, PG, Minnehaha Academy). Satar’s amazing control over the basketball and control of his team against the Magic had a lot of people talking. His comfort with the ball makes his opponents uncomfortable as Satar is so good going either direction that veteran 17U defenders could not keep the 2018 guard in front. Hit four treys in one game as well so there is a scoring touch. He and fellow 2018 Lorenzo Smith are great together (he hit five treys in that game).
Brian Sitzmann (Fury K, 6-2, SG, Prior Lake). Brian had a team high 17 points mixing his two treys with attacks drawing fouls and open floor transition runs. He has the look of a feet set shooter but when Brian plays everything is different. He is a better athlete than people know and he charges to space to get his results.
Jimmy Vollbrecht (Comets Lewis, 6-7, PF, Jordan). Vollbrecht grabbed a dozen rebounds against Select Ellis including three on one possession. He was coming out of the pile with them, banging guys around to get them, pushing guys back to get them, out jumping people to get them. All the NSIC coaches on the baseline must of inspired Jimmy because this was some of the best effort boarding I’ve seen from him.
Will Whitmore (Heat Vang, 6-1, PG, BSM). Will is a lead guard but his impact was as an active wing using his muscle, touch, and experience to get four early scores at the front of the rim taking advantage of his size to catch and complete. Did a great job of using his leverage to get position and then he set the tone for his team with early scores.