Saturday Standouts: Top Stock Raisers
Saturday’s Tip-Off Classic was a great display of talent—whether it was known or just emerged. NHR was there for just about every game and we give you the top 8 stock raisers of the day. Devin Burger (6-6 PF, So.,…
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Continue ReadingSaturday’s Tip-Off Classic was a great display of talent—whether it was known or just emerged. NHR was there for just about every game and we give you the top 8 stock raisers of the day.
Devin Burger (6-6 PF, So., Totino-Grace) – Burger is the starting center for TG and he showed great agility and lateral quickness guarding the Brooklyn Center frontcourt. He contributed a double-digit point total that included two makes from deep. Keep an eye on this confident 2021.
Cameron Steele (6-8 PF, Jr., Minnetonka) – Steele has emerged as the top option for a Skippers squad that definitely outdid their expectations on Saturday, winning over Rochester Mayo 105-77. Somehow he did it silently, but Steele scored 45 points and collected 19 rebounds along the way to lead his team. Plenty of mid-majors were in the building and they had to sneak over to glimpse the 2020’s dominant and versatile performance.
Jake/Justin Wohlers (SGs, 6-2, Jr. and Fr., Lake City) – The main court at Hopkins was the “City of Brotherly Love” for the 10:45 game as the Wohlers siblings provided a much-needed spark from outside to keep Lake City in the game against Breck. The duo combined for six treys on the day and are going to be big factors for the Tigers come March.
Curtis Jones (SG, 6-1, Sr., Cretin-Derham Hall) – Jones was a dynamite scorer at Minneapolis South and now is a Raider. He caught fire early and often for CDH knocking down 4 treys in five minutes. With a guy like Tre Holloman pulling in defenses, Jones will be a critical spacer with a quick trigger. He scored 21 on seven bombs.
Jack Rusch (PF, 6-5, Sr., Lakeville North) – Speaking of torches, let’s talk the bench spark that Lakeville North needed to keep pace with Hopkins in half one. That spark was Jack Rusch, a senior forward who had a solid year with the Comets. He hit four first-half treys including one at the buzzer to put North in the lead. His lefty stroke was on target and on balance all day swishing every shot. With the balance of so many frontcourt players for the Panthers, it’s easy to forget about Jack, but his floor spacing will give him big minutes all season.
Julian Wright (SG, 5-10, Sr., DeLaSalle) – Guarding and containing Jacob Beeninga is no easy task. Making him work hard for every inch of space is something even fewer players can accomplish. Julian Wright did exactly that. While Jamison Battle destroyed Wayzata offensively, Wright and a few other guards defended the Trojan perimeter with outstanding quickness, energy and anticipation.
Lukas Dunford (C, 6-7, Jr., Eden Prairie) – Dunford came off the Eagle bench and provided valuable frontcourt minutes guarding Dain Dainja. The Park Center phenom was forced to float to the arc and play like a guard because Dunford was aggressive and didn’t back down from pushing back on Dainja on the block. Definitely can be a solid center that plays within his role at the next level.
Jacob Johnson (SF, 6-4, Sr., Champlin Park) – Bennett Otto runs things smoothly but on the receiving end of those passes are creative and active finishes from Jacob Johnson. He’s grown into a lanky and athletic frame like his older brother Jeremy (one of the most athletic wings in recent Minnesota hoops history) and he scored 13 for the Rebels in a loss to Minnehaha. D3s need to peek!