Minnesota 2022: The Players to Watch

There is a lot of excitement surrounding the Class of 2022 talent in Minnesota as it appears to be strong group all around.  NHR looks at a few of the standouts to know heading into the winter season.

Prince Aligbe of Minnehaha Academy.  An explosive forward at about 6-foot-6 that already has the look of a player that Tom Izzo says "yep" on because of the frame.  Prince spent August traveling to top events including the Gatorade and CP3 talent packed days of basketball. Came of the bench and gave a state title team 3-4 buckets a game last winter.  Already considered one of the top 2022s nationwide.

Kendall Blue of East Ridge.  Kendall is a big guard at about 6-foot-3 that plays the position with a patience letting the offense develop before making the right play.  We saw Kendall play in St. Cloud and in Apple Valley this spring each viewing showed a player that is developing in understanding of the game and in consistency.

Muja Burton of Minneapolis Roosevelt.  Played in the Minneapolis City Conference as a grade eight standout giving the Teddies three buckets a game including a buzzer beater in February.  A key member of the Howard Pulley 15u squad this spring/summer as well.

Camden Heide of Wayzata.  Played varsity at Wayzata so the defensive understanding is there, comfortable handles at 6-4 or 6-5, and Camden attacks aggressively with lift/body control that is rare.  Aggressive player and has some range on the shooting touch. Really good baseball player too.

Trejuan Holloman of Cretin-Derham Hall.  The IQ is beyond his years.  Beyond most high school players really.  Trejuan is already being talked about as one of the nation's elite, some say THE nation's elite at his position.  Scored 10.5 points per game last year on a veteran Minneapolis North team fitting right into the chemistry supporting his team in whatever way was needed.  Played for both the Pulley 16s and 17s this Grassroots season and then spent August traveling to camps impressing everyone in attendance.

Hassan Kamara of Fridley.  A long 6-foot-3 athletic wing that came off the Fridley bench and scored three times a contest during the 17-18 season.   Above the rim finisher and a quick-to-close out talent that can erase shot attempts and snatch quick boards as well as nearly anybody in the group.

Eli King of Caledonia.  The next member of the King family might be the most interesting.  The game IQ is already there as you would expect: all of the Kings have that IQ.  Eli is the most explosive athlete of the three brothers and will likely be the tallest and longest.  Eli has the look of an Isaiah Dahlman type player (not quite as big but could be) right now and like the Dahlmans, the King family is full of prospects.  Scored eight a game last winter.

Jackson Loge of Morris Area.  Jackson scored 11 a game last year at Morris Area and a big reason why the team has such big expectations for the winter.  Loge's post moves are excellent and he's really good in the pick and roll game with great hands and footwork plus his screens open the floor perfectly followed by the well timed basket cut.  Stands about 6-foot-7 (dad was a 7-footer that played at Minnesota) and has a touch that can be hit from several different angles.

Ayden McDonald of Hibbing.  Hibbing was a lot better last winter than most realized and a big part of that was Ayden McDonald scored a dozen points a night including several 20 point games.  The McDonald family has another generation of top hoopers coming at you and one to certainly know is Ayden up in Hibbing.

Elvis Ohagwu of Hopkins.  Elvis rebounds in big numbers and has the type of length that makes you believe that he is going to be as big as his relative Zeke Nnaji.  Elvis is a defensive pain because of that active length getting deflections and shutting down advances forcing passes to bad spots.  Also moves his feet really well so he can switch off to several players. 

Willie Wilson of Minneapolis North.  Wilson scored 7.5 points per game as an eighth grader at North with a defensive energy that allowed him to play at the varsity level while in middle school.  Quick off his feet and highly energetic, Wilson slashed for a lot of success both in the winter and with Grassroots Sizzle 16u.