Players to Watch in the Community Clash
***Photo Credit: Presspubs.com*** One of the best showcase events of the winter, the Community Clash is this weekend in St. Michael-Albertville. Always stocked nicely with strong teams, this year’s crop of teams features a number of highly competitive clubs and…
Access all of Prep Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue Reading***Photo Credit: Presspubs.com***
One of the best showcase events of the winter, the Community Clash is this weekend in St. Michael-Albertville. Always stocked nicely with strong teams, this year’s crop of teams features a number of highly competitive clubs and a ton of high-end individual talent.
Here are some of the names to know:
J’Vonne Hadley, Jr., Mahtomedi
An emerging star for the Zephyrs, Hadley’s taken his game to a whole nother level as an upperclassmen. The 6-foot-5 guard is averaging 30 ppg and providing dynamic play on a nightly basis. He’s one of the top players in the 2020 class and the go-to guy for a team that has the look of a contender to play for the Class AAA state title.
Jeremy Beckler, Sr., White Bear Lake
One of the stars of the 2018-19 season, Beckler’s been a catalyst in White Bear Lake’s hot start to the season. The 6-foot-8 big is averaging 21 points and nine rebounds and has already had his share of impressive performances against top-end competition.
Maleeck Harden, Sr., Moorhead
One of the top unsigned players in the 2019 class, Harden’s production is starting to match his athleticism and upside. The 6-foot-5 swingman is putting up 21 points per game, providing highlight reel dunks on a nightly basis for a Spuds team that looks like a contender is Section 8AAAA.
Joich Gong, Jr., Mankato East
Gong’s been a star for the Cougars in his junior year, parlaying a solid sophomore year and strong summer on the AAU circuit into an all-conference type season here. At 6-foot-3 and in possession of length, quickness and shooting touch, Gong will be a highly-sought after recruit next summer. For now, he’s got Mankato East eyeing another state tournament.
PJ Hayes, Jr., Waconia
Hayes has been terrific for the Wildcats, averaging 24 points per game. His ability to score from all three levels of the court has been impressive and he’s got the Wildcats in the hunt to win a conference title.
Mason Zick, Sr., Northfield
Zick’s been a good player for a while now for Northfield but he’s turned it up in his senior year, averaging better than 20 points per game for a Raiders team that should be in contention for a top-four finish in the Big 9 and a deep run in Section 1AAA.
Logan Nagorski, Sr., Big Lake
Big Lake hasn’t taken as big of a step as we thought the Hornets were capable of this winter but with Nagorski around, they are always dangerous. The 6-foot-5 forward is stuffing the stat sheet on a nightly basis, putting up 21 points and eight rebounds while connecting on 55 percent of his shots (40 percent of his 3-pointers).
Ryan Samuelson, Jr., Jordan
The new star for the Jordan Hubmen, Samuelson went from excelling in the Robin role as a sophomore to full on Batman this year. The 6-foot-3 guard is putting up 19 points per game for a Jordan team that looks like a runaway favorite in Section 2AA.
Austin Wetter. Jr., Monticello
Wetter’s been a breakout star for the Magic this year, stuffing the stat sheet on a nightly basis and keeping Monticello in the mix for a top seed out of Section 6AAA. The 6-foot-5 junior swingman is averaging 17 points, five rebounds, three assists and knocking down 43 percent of his 3-pointers.
Zac Centers, Sr., Mahtomedi
The No. 2 guy for the Zephyrs, Centers has taken his game to another level in his senior season, averaging 16 points per game and providing a solid all around floor game. In what figures to be the game of the day, Centers has a chance to help Mahtomedi make a statement against a very good Mankato East team.
Jax Madson, Jr., Mankato East
The other half of the dynamic backcourt duo for the Cougars, Madson has been awesome in his junior year, leading Mankato East to a 13-1 start. He’s a terrific shooter, strong defensively, smart and steady. He’s been a catalyst for the team that will likely win the Big 9.
Sam Schwartz, Sr., White Bear Lake
Schwartz missed a few games early in the season but has made up for lost time since. The 6-foot-4 wing is putting up 20 points and eight rebounds for a White Bear Lake team that has been perhaps the best surprise in the 2018-19 season.
Paris Johnson, Soph., St. Louis Park
St. Louis Park has been solid this season and Paris Johnson is the main reason why. Averaging 16 points and 10 rebounds, the 6-foot-4 sophomore forward has established himself as a player to watch not only in the future, but very much now.
Tyler Kemp, Sr., New Prague
Kemp is one of the more well-rounded players in the 2019 class. At 6-foot-5, Kemp’s ability to knock down perimeter jumpers, combined with his vision and passing ability plus defensive versatility is a weapon for a New Prague team that remains in the mix for a Wright County Conference title.
Isaac Tessier, Sr., White Bear Lake
All the talk about White Bear Lake starts with the two Division II forwards but senior guard Isaac Tessier has been super this season. One of the best point guards in Class AAAA, Tessier is averaging 16 points, five rebounds and six assists.
Drew Hagen, Jr., Moorhead
The No. 2 option for the 13-3 Spuds, Hagen has come into his own this season. The 6-foot-3 wing is putting up 16 points per game and has been perhaps the team’s most consistent player.
Kale Hoselton, Jr., St. Michael-Albertville
One of the surprise teams of Class AAAA has to be St. Michael-Albertville. The Knights are 11-4 and in the mix for the top seed in Section 8AAAA. Hoselton’s been the go-to guy this winter, averaging 14.7 points per game while becoming one of the best players in the Mississippi 8.
Hunter Nielsen, Sr., New Prague
Nielsen had a good summer on the AAU circuit and he’s parlayed that positive energy into a really good senior year. The 6-foot-6 forward is putting up 15.5 points per game, combining solid low-post skills with a motor that runs hot.
Reagan Koch, Soph., Jordan
Koch might be the next star at Jordan. For now, he’s playing the sidekick role and playing it well. The sophomore guard is averaging 11 points per game for a Hubmen team that has just two losses on the season.
Nick Manthana, Sr., Rockford
Rockford has been much better than expected and the breakout star for the Rockets has been Manthana, who has taken his scoring average from 11 points per game to 18.
The schedule for Saturday looks like this:
St. Louis Park vs. Rogers, 11 a.m. – STMA High School
Mankato East vs. Mahtomedi, 12:45 p.m. – STMA High School
New Prague vs. White Bear Lake, 2:15 p.m. – STMA Middle School
Waconia vs. Monticello, 4 p.m. – STMA High School
Jordan vs. Rockford, 5:30 p.m. – STMA Middle School
Moorhead vs. St. Michael-Albertville, 8:30 p.m. – STMA High School
Northfield vs. Big Lake, 8:30 p.m. – STMA Middle School