Battle at the Lakes: LeBrun leads the Standouts
With so many teams playing across the Twin Cities Prep Hoops had writers watching talent at all levels. Top day two standout? Dylan LeBrun out of Flandreau High School in South Dakota.
Air LeBrun. The local college coaches showed up in mass to watch 6-foot-6 long wing Dylan LeBrun. Division two programs U of Sioux Falls, Southwest Minnesota State, Northern State, U of Mary, and others looked on closely likely with LeBurn in mind. After Saturday it’s becoming clear that many more should get involved with Dylan. In an event where teams on the Adidas circuit have been knocked out of bracket play already, the Sanford Pentagon National team has pushed on to the Elite Eight.
In a game two victory over the Southeast Minnesota Lightning, LeBrun showed his skilled range making five three-point shots spread out throughout the game. Inside there were three potentially scholarship bigs between the two teams but it was LeBrun collecting boards out of his area and immediately turning to make a play as he collected ten boards for a double-double. And then there was the explosive dunk. A lob where Dylan jumped over the top of a 6-foot-2/6-foot-3 opponent and off balance LeBrun was still able to collect and throw down with a physical one hander. It was one of the most amazing examples of body control I’ve ever seen. And the gym erupted.
Dylan is a prospect that is about to get more and more interest because he is a true wing with length in a 6-foot-6 frame. LeBrun is able to put the ball on the deck with one dribble and explode to the cup but he also is able to use his agility to get open without the ball to catch and hit with good form and range as well use a dribble to pull-up and sink. And let’s not forget LeBrun’s agility which few in the gym will ever forget. Division twos? All get on him. Division one? He is skilled, long at 6-foot-6, and explosive as a wing. Sounds like some D1s should have a look see.
More Pentagon National Team. Zach Heins is grabbing division one football offers but fans had to appreciate him on the court yesterday as he completely shut down a scholarship level big from France limiting that player to 2 of 11 shooting. Heins was excellent passing the ball out of the post and moving without the ball he scored four active buckets. Physical but smart player.
Another reason so many of the Northern Sun coaches were in the gym was to see Cole Bergan, a 6-foot-7 Aberdeen Central power forward. What stood out about Bergan against the Lightning? The motor he played with. Bergan’s double-double was 14 points and 14 rebounds and all of that was done with effort plays. Cole made contact on his guy, separated, and then chased to collect boards out of his area. He also scored most of his 14 physically around the cup. Cole has a nice face-up touch with range but on this day it was all about effort plays.
It’s going to be football…right? West Central United picked up a nice win over a good Comets Servaty team on Saturday and all coaches could talk about was the hands, agility, footwork, and battle of this vocal player in blue and white. Who is he? That everyone is PJ Fleck’s local recruiting prize Logan Richter who is committed to play defensive tackle. And based on this game he is going to be a great vocal leader for Fleck and his team. Logan scored a dozen points and the energy he played with was as infectious as anybody’s I’ve seen.
Anthony Davis the Consistent. Powerhouse Minnesota suffered a tough loss to a solid team from Illinois on Saturday and many guys had tough games, but Anthony Davis stayed Mr. Consistent like he was with Hopkins all winter long. Davis is always a solid defender and his jumper has improved this winter. Against the Tri City Thunder Davis scored his double figure points on the move as the opponents didn’t have the athletes to move their feet with his attack or to keep him from separating with off ball cuts. Davis was also very big in the Powerhouse Minnesota win over Team Rush on Friday Night.
Benji Dogged You. With 11.5 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 3.5 assists a game shooting 55 percent from the field Benji Lundberg teamed with Oakley Baker in helping NRHEG to a great season. Saturday Benji pushed Minnesota Nice to a 14-0 lead and an eventual win against the North Dakota Cougars with early threes, defensive pressure, and on point delivery to his teammates. Love his demeanor and versatility. He is southern Minnesota’s version of Aaron Craft.
Saturday Names to Know. We know use the fine technology that is bullet points to run you through some new names that we found at the 17U level on Saturday:
- The Wing Brother. Trae Steckler was great last weekend when we watched, this weekend Camren Steckler and his scoring on all three levels to get Dakota Phenom a win caught our eye. Scored 18 and did it in a longer frame than expected.
- The Sparkplug. That’s Max Henry from Bottineau playing with the ND Cougars. This 5-foot-10 quick guard put together a scoring run of a quick pull-up, a wing three, and the fastest attacking reverse lay-up in traffic I’ve seen.
- The Phenom Big. Big Josh Kihle has the hands, footwork, and touch that you can not stop because his 6-foot-10 and 280 pound frame is unmovable. When he’s got his wind and moves his feet on his move he will score on you.
- Yes they hoop in South Dakota! If there is anything we’ve learned at Prep Hoops it’s that high school basketball in South Dakota is a special passion that is matched by few. The Wisconsin Dynasty kids now know it as BBA Force beat them on their way to a 3-1 weekend after the Dynasty guys may have been a bit lippy. The only BBA loss this weekend was to an Under Armour team out of Michigan. And shootout to Blair Slaughter on that dunk! Three good wins.
- Another Cougar to Watch. With the talent coming back Mankato East is expected to have a big 2017-18 season. Add Edmond Oyet to the mix of players that will help them. The 6-foot-3 wing exploded for 16 Minnesota Nice first half points in their first win on Sunday. Long and confident scorer.
- Screw the Flu! Kaden Koski’s job on Saturday? Shut down the North Dakota Cougar big that so many schools were in the house watching. And despite playing with the flu Kaden shut that player down allowing only two field goals and having a gigantic chase down pin block.
- Tri City Thunder is a Halfcourt Beast. This team simply wore out their Powerhouse Minnesota opponents with their halfcourt offense. Six-foot-5 big Kyle King took everybody out of plays with his screens, and then went and got a double-double of 16 and 11. Guard Zach Robinson knocked out four second half threes for his 16 points. Eric Peterson was the Thunder’s most versatile with his outstanding court vision (five assists mostly out of the high post) and team high 17 points.
- You All Need Big Shooters. Here’s one for you, Carter Groski out of Stewartville from the SE Minnesota Lightning. At 6-foot-7 his form and touch are what you need and he made his five threes over a big Pentagon team. Contested or not Groski knocked shots down.