10 Twin Cities Instant Impact Freshmen
From an early perspective the 2022 class in Minnesota appears to be loaded with talent and potential, and many of those players have already been making an impact at the varsity level. As we hit the halfway point of the…
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Continue ReadingFrom an early perspective the 2022 class in Minnesota appears to be loaded with talent and potential, and many of those players have already been making an impact at the varsity level. As we hit the halfway point of the high school season, we at Northstar Hoops give you ten freshmen who have been making an early impact in the Twin Cities.
Trejuan Holloman (6’2 2022 PG, Cretin-Derham Hall)- As the starting point guard on a competitive Class AAAA squad, Tre is playing high level competition night-in and night-out. Already holding three Division One offers, he has more than held his own against some talented upperclassmen players. Trejuan boasts some impressive averages thus far, scoring 10.9 ppg while leading the state in assists at 9 a contest. Despite some scoring struggles at times, Tre’s passing vision keeps his teammates involved, and the threat he possesses driving to the hoop opens up a lot of looks for his shooters. On the defensive end, Tre is a highly competitive on-ball defender who uses active hands and quick feet to come up with nearly 3 steals a game. Holloman has transitioned smoothly into the competitive AAAA scene in Minnesota, and will likely keep The Raiders a state competitor as long as he is running the show.
Willie Wilson (6’3 2022 G, Minneapolis North)- Holloman’s former teammate as middle schoolers, Wilson has gone from a limited reserve as an eighth grader, to a scoring threat as a freshman. After a slow start to the season, Willie has come into his own and has scored in double digits in some big games games for North, including 12 points against both DeLaSalle and Caledonia. Averaging 8 points a contest, Willie has a nice offensive skillset with the ability to create his own shot off the dribble and knock down jumpers from mid-range or from beyond the arc. Watching Willie play it appears that he sees the game in slow-motion, playing with a poise and maturity not often found at his age, and not forcing much offensively. Also an intriguing athlete, Willie has a lot of potential to grow over the next few seasons at North.
Prince Aligbe (6’5 2022 W, Minnehaha Academy)- Speaking of intriguing athletes, Prince Aligbe is a strong 6’5 wing, with springs for legs allowing him to make some showstopping plays for Minnehaha. Moving into the starting lineup as a freshman, Prince has been a contributor on both ends of the floor averaging 9.9 points per game while often taking guarding the other team’s star on defense. Whether knocking down three pointers, or banging inside to get some tough buckets at the rim, Prince is able to put up points on offense. When not scoring the ball, Prince has a knack for making some flashy assists and crashing the boards hard. He is a fiery competitor who leaves it all on the floor, and will look to help lead Minnehaha to a third straight state title.
Jimmy Koch (5’10 2022 G, Breck)- We all knew David Roddy was going to dominate for Breck this season, but questions remained on who else would be able to step up for the Mustangs. Jimmy Koch has answered those questions by coming in as a freshman to average 7.5 points a contest, using his sharp shooting to open up space for Roddy to go to work inside. Koch has come up big for Breck in some big games, including 12 points in a close win over Lake City. Jimmy is a shooting threat from beyond the arc, while possessing an accurate pull-up jumper from mid-range that keeps defenders honest when closing out on him. Breck currently sits at 12-3, and the contributions of Jimmy Koch have played a big role in that success.
Chase Carter (6’5 2022 F, Marantha)- Sticking with the small school theme, Marantha is off to a 14-1 start, and Chase Carter has been a key contributor in that success. Playing on a team that spreads the ball a lot on offense, Chase has managed to score 8.3 points a contest, with double-digit outputs in 5 of his last 7 games. The young forward has also contributed on the glass, pulling in around 5 rebounds per game. Chase is a skilled post player who has strength and good footwork inside, that combine with a soft finishing touch around the rim. He is also capable of knocking down open threes from beyond the arc. After a big win over St. Croix Prep, Marantha could find themselves high up in the state rankings, with freshman Chase Carter playing a key role in that rise.
Camden Heide (6’5 2022 W, Wayzata)- With a school as big as Wayzata, it’s more than impressive to have a freshman on the varsity squad, let alone one that is starting and putting up double digit scoring numbers consistently. At 6’5 with fluid athleticism, Camden Heide is doing just that. The freshman swingman is putting up 11.7 ppg while consistently facing off against some of the state’s top teams. He has been getting more aggressive as the season progresses, leading to an increased scoring output, and opposing defenses are being forced to put more attention into keeping him out of the lane. Camden is a player who can score inside or out, using a smooth stroke to knock down good looks from beyond the arc, while using his length and athleticism to finish off drives around the rim or tip in offensive rebounds over defenders. As the team’s third leading scorer, Heide has played a big role in Wayzata’s 12-4 start.
Hassan Kamara (6’4 2022 F, Fridley)- Perhaps no other freshman in the state has matched the impressive scoring numbers that Hassan Kamara is putting up, having been thrust into a big role immediately at Fridley. Just recently the 6’4 wing-forward scored 30 points in a win over Columbia Heights, a game which brings his average up to 15.9 points a contest. Kamara already has four games of 20-plus points, using his length and three point shooting to terrorize opposing defenses. He has shown an impressive post-fade jumper that he can knock down consistently, as well as possessing the length and athleticism to finish at or above the rim. The freshman has exceeded expectations thus far, and will look to continue an impressive freshman campaign as the season progresses.
Emmett Johnson (5’10 2022 PG, Holy Angels)- After playing as an eighth grader at Minneapolis Washburn, Emmett enrolled at Academy of Holy Angels for high school, and has been an instant boost to their success as a team. The young point guard uses exceptional quickness to maneuver the floor, where he is a capable scorer or facilitator. Emmett has been a contributor in all facets of the game, with averages of 11.4 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 3.4 apg, and 1.7 spg. Though small in stature, Emmett’s quickness allows him to blow by defenders and get to the rim where he is a talented finisher. Emmett’s impact as just a freshman have allowed Holy Angels to get off to a 13-2 start on the season.
Muja Burton (6’3 2022 W, Columbia Heights)- Muja Burton is another player that has been having a big impact scoring the ball as a freshman. He has been an efficient scorer all season long for the reigning Class AAA state runner-ups, shooting 52% from the field and 42% from distance to average 12.1 points per game. The 6’3 shooter has been arguably the most efficient scorer on his team this year, and has helped to stretch the floor with his ability to knock down deep shots. When teams over-commit to his three point shot, he is able to one dribble pull-up into a mid-range jumper that is knocked down with consistency. Though Columbia Heights is just 5-9 on the season, Muja’s ability to impact the game as just a freshman is a promising sign for the future of the team.
Donovan Smith (5’8 2022 G, Minnehaha Academy)- Donovan started off the season coming off the bench, and has worked his way into occasionally starting for Minnehaha Academy. Arguably the most dangerous three point shooter in the class from an early perspective, Donovan has been a threat launching threes from seemingly everywhere in the half-court this season. His physical quickness combined with a quick shooting release allows him to get open and get his shots off without the risk of getting blocked by longer defenders. His shooting ability has seen him average 7.6 ppg through his freshman season thus far. With so many weapons around him, Donovan’s shooting really helps to open up his teammates’ games as well, giving them the necessary space to operate on the floor. Even when he isn’t putting up big scoring numbers, the constant threat of Donovan as a shooter makes a big impact on Minnehaha’s success as a team.