Comets Shootout: Take Five
All things considered, the Comets Shootout was well worth the fifty-minute hike up Interstate 94 this weekend. I give you my observations of various areas of the tournament in the inaugural “Take Five”!
Five teams
D1 Minnesota 17U – We’ll begin with the tourney champs at the highest level. This squad has a mammoth combo of size and athleticism. They ran into some hiccups in bracket play, most notably the MN Eagles (Apple Valley kids). The ballhandling depth is a bit of an issue, and though forwards like Race Thompson and Matthew Hurt can weave through smaller defenders, there are only three legitimate guards on the roster. Make them dribble and opponents have a shot. But they’re too talented and big to not win against the local teams.
MN Select Jaryan 16U – These kids play gritty defense. Mark Possis is an Apple Valley Eagle who was a JV stud this season and will be a nice role stopper for them next year. Malik Willingham is the Waseca scorer we’ve heard great things about but he was active on the other end all weekend too. Jarvis Wright of Columbia Heights runs the point and orchestrates offensive flow. Very tough group.
MN Comets Lewis 17U – One of the more talented and balanced Comets teams I’ve seen over the past few years, this group fills it up in a hurry, but that all comes from their seemingly effortless trapping and pressuring. Length is aplenty (Joe Hedstrom, Brevyn Spann-Ford, Ethan Youso, Mitchell Plombon) and the high-octane guard productivity in support (Kyler Kluge, Camden Jackson, Matt Todd, Nate Rund) is very impressive. I’d say they’re the best 17s team not named D1 MN or Howard Pulley.
MN Fury Antl 17U – They surprised many by knocking off Powerhouse MN in pool play to get to the champion’s bracket, led by Orono scoring guard Max Bjorklund. Offensive punch is packed with him alongside STA’s Sam Vascellaro and Stillwater’s Manny Jingco. Fury always puts together a tough second team and this year is no exception. Watch out for these guys making names for themselves this spring.
MN Heat Henderson 16U – This was the first team I saw all weekend and I was pleasantly surprised. I didn’t recognize any of the roster; it seems they were all JV guys, or varsity guys on subpar teams, this winter. They took it to the D1 Minnesota Prospects in pool play and fought their way into a championship bracket spot. Very impressed with their size: 6-7 Jeremy Beckler (White Bear Lake) and 6-6 Alex Larson (East Ridge) moved very well and showed great touch.
Five prospects
Max Bjorklund (PG, 6-1, 2018, Orono/Fury Antl) – One of the best finishing guards in the state. Led his Spartans to a section final appearance and now spearheads the Fury Antl attack. Averaged around 20-22 a game this weekend; MIACs are watching closely.
Jovan Hunter (SG, 6-1, 2019, Roseville/Heat Bui) – Hunter was the standout scorer for a struggling Raider team this winter. He pumped out more than 20 points for Heat Bui (with interim coach Jared Nelson) in a one-point loss to the top Comets 16s. Smooth stroke and excellent pull-up game.
Joe Hedstrom (C, 6-10, 2018, Hopkins/Comets Lewis) – He’s been the talk of the tournament so far, being as reliable as can be on both ends. The Comets fed him the rock on the first possession every game; that tells me he is a go-to offensive option. Thicker shoulders, balanced footwork, the physical attributes are there. His court skill has drastically improved. Expect more offers in the near future.
Mason Miller (C, 6-7, 2020, Ada-Borup/Comets DLR) – I caught a 15U semifinal game with Comets DLR battling Team GetShook, and my attention was immediately taken by Miller. He has awesome touch within five feet, looks very coordinated already, and blocked three shots. He’s tucked away at Ada-Borup, but more performances like this one during the spring will get him on radars fast.
Drew Galinson (SG, 6-2, 2018, Wayzata/Fury Wilde) – I love Galinson’s game. Always ready to shoot, a competitive defensive presence despite giving up inches and pounds, and you can tell he’s just having fun out there. He will be a really, really hot name for D3s this season. Knocked out multiple corner treys when I watched him.
Final Review: Grassroots Behavior
I’m a 3 on 3 referee. Every week I officiate kids third grade up to tenth grade playing a halfcourt game. No coaching, no manipulating, no complaining, no nothing; the goal is to just play and have fun. For some parents, that’s hard to resist, and I get it. Who doesn’t want to see their kid do well, learn the game and be competitive? But there is absolutely a line to be crossed, and a lot of times the game’s surroundings determine that line.
Point is, I saw two parents get tossed on Sunday on the same court by the same official. Foul calls are what they are, and really the officials are there for the same reasons you and college coaches are: they want to see the top talent all in one place. Does a parent truly want their kid to be standing on the lane line watching two free throws go up every 30 seconds, or would they rather see the game run smoothly so that the NAIA coach observing from the baseline can evaluate how their kid plays in a continuous, flowing game?
All of us need to lay off the refs during the spring and summer, because they’re trying to make the game less herky-jerky for the players’ sakes. Keep that in mind!