The True Sleepers of Minnesota High School Basketball: Minneapolis
Today at Prep Hoops Minnesota we give you the true sleepers in the state of Minnesota. Guys that are truly under the radar.
Kids, if you play for a top five 17u program in Minnesota, have earned all conference honors, and have played a big role for one of the more recognized high schools in Minnesota, don’t kid yourself, you aren’t a sleeper. It may make you feel better and it may motivate you to call yourself that, but these are the real sleepers in Minnesota.
We kick off The True Sleepers with Minneapolis players that are ready to have a great year.
Jaylen Blakley of Minneapolis South. Jaylen is a now junior point guard at about 5-foot-9 who scored 7-8 points a contest last year during his varsity game minute days. Jaylen scored a dozen to help South defeat St. Croix Prep a year ago and this team will need his pace in a big way this winter.
Aimonti Booth of Prairie Seeds. A 5-foot-10 guard who is always on the attack getting to the rim for finishes deep in the lane or dishing to cutting teammates for the finish. Booth is a fantastic ball handler who put up 15/5/5 last year and if the team gels they have a real chance to make the state tournament for the first time in seven years.
Amir Davis of Columbia Heights. The name many associate with Columbia Heights this year is Jarvis Write and rightfully so, but watch that backcourt of junior Jordan Jones and senior Amir Davis. Amir is 5-foot-8 and all sorts of tough. He scored nine points with five assists a game last year as a key part of the runner up team in state. Also, this is a young many who is blind in one eye but you wouldn’t know it the way he competes.
Victory George of Cristo Rey. James Sommer, the Burgess Brothers, these are known players that have Cristo Rey as a team that could work their way into the Class AA top ten. Known guys. But another reason the team is so deep is the returning of six foot senior guard Victory George, a talent not only with a great name but returns ten points a game. Victory scored 29 in last year’s regular season finale loss to Prairie Seeds.
Kameron Givens of DeLaSalle. There will be two types of people that react when seeing Givens have success at DeLaSalle this winter: 1) the people that are shocked that the Islanders have another guard this good and will come up with theories as to where he came from (he’s been there!), and 2) those that saw Givens grow playing with Mentality Minnesota this past 17u season. Strong player!
Raushad Rollins of Minneapolis Henry. Normally 14 points a game at Henry has a guy all over the headlines but Raushad, everything is great. The 6-foot-0 has excellent handles and a quick first step that pushes the Patriots pace. Rollins and Mark Campbell as a backcourt will make Henry a Minneapolis City contender.
Jackson Rusnacko of Minneapolis Edison. Jackson is All City Conference in football and baseball and we imagine he will earn a basketball honor this year considering he put up 15 points and six rebounds a game as a junior. He’s a tough player that finishes with touch at the rim, or from mid-range.
Aaron Zambrano of Richfield. There is no beating around the bush here, Richfield had a top 17-18. A player that gives them hope is Aaron Zambrano, a guy that scored 15 a game last year with eight boards. Zambrano stands 6-foot-3/6-foot-4 at forward mixing in a mid-range game with a low post fight. Aaron is a senior this year and should pair well with sophomore lead guard Ryan Miles, another legit sleeper.