9 Unsigned Players to Watch in 2019
There are a ton of really good players still to sign on with college programs as we turn the calendar to 2019. Here are some of the best ones worth checking out: Maleeck Harden, F, Moorhead Harden has blown up…
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Continue ReadingThere are a ton of really good players still to sign on with college programs as we turn the calendar to 2019. Here are some of the best ones worth checking out:
Maleeck Harden, F, Moorhead
Harden has blown up in the last year and change, going from a guy we ranked in the 40s and a guy NSIC schools were hoping would stay super athletic but raw to someone with multiple Division I offers. The skills are catching the athleticism. The production is now matching all of it as Harden is averaging around 20 points per game for a Moorhead team that is off to a very nice start to the season.
Malik Willingham, PG, Waseca
Arguably the best unsigned/uncommitted player left (after Matt Hurt of course) in the 2019 class, Willingham is a terrific scorer and facilitator. He’s got good size and athleticism and has been a key contributor for a really good Waseca program for four years now. The Bluejays are one of the best teams in AAA this year and Willingham is the engine for the whole operation.
Jack Thompson, PG., St. Thomas Academy
Thompson has been awesome to start the season, averaging 20 points and better than four assists per game. He’s one of the top unsigned seniors in the state and has taken his game to another level this winter. He’s an outstanding perimeter shooter and has an innate ability to control the game.
Jeremy Beckler, F., White Bear Lake
The Bears are off to an awesome start with really good wins over Cambridge-Isanti, Cretin-Derham Hall and Mahtomedi and Beckler’s been a force through all of it. The 6-foot-8 senior is averaging 24 points and nine boards. His 36 point, 15 rebound effort in the win over Mahtomedi was one of the best individual performances on the season.
Carter Henry, F/C., BOLD
BOLD is one of the best teams in Class A and has been lighting up the scoreboard all season thus far. The anchor in that effort has been senior big man Carter Henry. At 6-foot-8, Henry is a physical specimen few teams especially at the small-school level can contend with. He’s excellent on the block, finishes everything around the rim and controls the paint on both ends of the floor.
Jared Rainey, PG, Maple Grove
Rainey was excellent as a junior, helping Maple Grove reach the state tournament in what was supposed to be something of a retooling season. He’s taken his game to another level as a senior, averaging 19 points, five rebounds and five assists. He’s smooth with the ball, efficient in the mid-range and very crafty in the paint and does a good job balancing finding his shot with setting teammates up.
Charles Johnson, PG., Holy Angels
One of the best unsigned seniors in the state, Johnson’s been the primary reason for Holy Angels’ fast start this winter. A triple-double threat every time out, Johnson is one of the best two-way point guards in the state. He won’t wow people by pumping up shots or pouring in points, but he’s one of those guys you absolutely love when he’s on your team, and hate when you have to play against him.
Jake Weber, SG, Pine Island
Weber’s a multi-year starter for the Panthers and one of the best players in the Hiawatha Valley League. At 6-foot-3, Weber is at his best when he’s getting to the paint and using his size to finish but he’s an effective long-range shooter and very good on the defensive end of the floor.
Mason Zick, F, Northfield
At 6-foot-6, Zick is a matchup nightmare because he can take big guys out on the perimeter and either shoot or drive past them, but he can also take smaller guys inside and score over the top. He’s averaging better than 20 per game for Northfield, a team that will be in the mix in the Big 9 and in Section 1AAA.