The True Sleepers of Minnesota High School Basketball: SE Minnesota
Today at Prep Hoops Minnesota we continue the “True Sleepers Series” in the state of Minnesota. Guys that are truly under the radar. Southeast Minnesota is up next!
Again student athletes, if you play for a top 5/6 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, 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 southeast Minnesota!
Brady Agrimson of NRHEG. If you only take one thing from this article, take fro it that Brady is a very, very good basketball prospect that more people need to learn about. When it comes to getting off the floor Brady is one of the best in southern Minnesota. Great bounce but he’s also a guy that can handle the ball or play either wing spot. Scored a dozen points with six boards a game last year on a 24-4 team. Know this name Minnesota!
The BP Trio of Blooming Prairie. The Awesome Blossoms played a team of nearly all underclassmen last year and built up a 13-12 mark building for the future. Three 6-foot-3 sophomores averaged in double figures last year and are back ready to play for a 20 win season (they are also coming off a state football title game run). The players are Gabe Hagen, Kaden Thomas, and Karson Vigeland.
Calvin Dixon of Rochester Mayo. Dixon was the third leading scorer for the Mayo Spartans in 17-18. Dixon is a 5-foot-11 guard that scored nine points a contest as a junior so he has bigger expectations as a senior.
Luke Dudycha of Hayfield. Luke stands 6-foot-8 and he nearly averaged a double-double as a sophomore (14 points and 9.5 rebounds a game). Luke had 11 double-doubles last year and did that because he can face-up and hit with range or score with his back to the bucket .
Steven Eckard of Owatonna. A 6-foot-2 combo guard from a solid Big Nine school, Eckard has some of the best shooting range in the Big Nine and in southern Minnesota. Scored a couple buckets a game last year and will be the top player on the team this winter.
Austin Funk of Grand Meadow. Another top athlete and scorer from southern Minnesota Austin Funk who scored 15 points a contest as a junior. Why is Austin an unknown senior? Ankle surgery that sidelined him hurting his team’s W total and forcing Austin to miss games. When healthy last year though, Austin shot nearly 60 percent from the floor as a guard making 47 percent of his treys despite extra attention plus he’s an 80 percent foul shooter.
Carsyn Gunderson of Randolph. Randolph was ranked 14th in our Class A power rankings because they bring back several pieces from a good team. Carsyn averaged nearly 17 points as a junior last year playing both forward spots at 6-foot-3.
Matthew Hayford of Rochester Lourdes. Lourdes has big expectations because prospects Collin Meade and Antewan Webber have unique abilities that have caught eyes. That said, the leading returning scorer of the team is senior combo guard Matt Hayford who not only scored 16 a game last year but defended the other team’s best guard and handled the ball.
Medi Obang of Austin. If you score in double figures at Austin and return the following year, that’s the sign of a good player. Not sure many people are aware that Obang has a chance to be a consistent 15-16 point per game guy this winter as a senior.
Matt Olsem of Waseca. There are many reasons that Waseca is a top three team in Class AAA entering the season but because Olsem wasn’t a big spring/summer name he sometimes slips from conversations. Make no mistake about it, Matt is no “fifth starter”. He’s a 6-foot-3/6-foot-4 strong power forward who passes really well out of the post and does whatever his team asks. Averaged 9/7 last year.
Nick Schorr of Rochester John Marshall. Schorr’s family moved from the Chicago area to Rochester this summer and Schorr should be able to help the Rockets add depth to the backcourt. Good shooter.
Luke Schwartzhoff of La Crescent. A 6-foot-7/6-foot-8 junior that took 3-4 threes a game last year and made 39 percent of them, Luke also blocked two shots a game as an underclassmen while averaging 12.7 points and six rebounds a game. Inside/out player that could quickly become a well known 2020 prospect.
Landon Skalet of Rushford-Peterson. The Trojans are once again a preseason top five team and a state championship contender. It’s tough, high IQ players like Skalet that make the R-P program what it is. Sure he scored double figures last year but it’s more about the control of the game as a decision maker, high percentage shot completer, and tough defender.
Mitchell Stanincha of Northfield. The 6-foot-5 Northfield forward is one of the most under appreciated athletes that takes the court and gets numbers in Minnesota. Averaged 9/5 last year as the third forward on the team, this year you can expect double-doubles and a lot game changing defensive plays.