The Race for Mr. Basketball: The Watch List
The Mr. Basketball Committee put together a watch list for the award over the weekend and today we at NHR want to quickly break that list down. The list has 32 names and honestly the group seems to have included…
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Continue ReadingThe Mr. Basketball Committee put together a watch list for the award over the weekend and today we at NHR want to quickly break that list down. The list has 32 names and honestly the group seems to have included just about everyone you would expect to be on it (when it comes to guys that are real top ten contenders). Let’s break the list down into categories real quick.
Leader: Matthew Hurt of JM. The Rockets had a tough start with so many new players to their line-up but they have battled back to an 8-4 year.
Final Five. I would guess that the final five would also include Tyrell Terry of DeLaSalle, Tyler Wahl of Lakeville North, David Roddy of Breck, and Zeke Nnaji of Hopkins joining Hurt.
Next Up. If somebody was to knock one of those five out the first name would likely be Courtney Brown Jr of East Ridge. None of the names above have two teammates like Ben Carlson and Kendall Brown like Courtney does so that may take away some individual recognition but Brown is knocking on the door.
Top Final Five Contenders. Jamison Battle would likely be next in line with his 28 points per game but he is dealing with an injury right now. Jack Middleton has had some massive moments for Edina and Issac Fink of Springfield has a chance to be a top five scorer in Minnesota history so he is right there too.
On the Cusp. Jake Kettner of Minnesota Valley Lutheran went head to head with Fink and grabbed a win. His team is ranked and is likely one of the biggest surprises out there. The USF commit takes big steps to a higher level every day. Malik Willingham’s Waseca team is undefeated and he’s recording strong numbers and when you talk undefeated there is Jon Stimmler of Princeton who is putting up 19 and 11 each night.
Top Talent. Idaho State bound Antwan Kimmmons of Tartan and Jaeden King of CDH (signed with Western Illinois) are putting up huge numbers for their Class AAAA teams. If they can get their team back in the Top Ten and/or to state they will be on the cusp as well. Jacob Beeninga has Wayzata in the top ten, Maleeck Harden-Hayes is grabbing D1 offers and pushing the Spuds to highs, and Bennett Otto is doing versatile things for Champlin Park that I don’t think people knew he could do. Noah Christensen has taken Breckenridge to state the last two years and is pushing for a third and let’s not forget about Brandon Adelman of New London-Spicer (a two loss team).
The Rest of the List. There are 13 more names that have earned the right to be among the best. The following make up that group of 13:
Jeremy Beckler of White Bear Lake
Eli Campbell of Minneapolis North
Dajuan Carter of North St Paul
Noah Chamberlain of St. Thomas Academy
Tommy Chatman Jr of Park Center
Daveonte Davis of St. Paul Central
James Flicek of Princeton
Cade Goggleye of North Woods
Matt Johnson of Fergus Falls
Robert Jones or Prior Lake
Cole Nicholson of Chaska
Baden Noennig of Mayer Lutheran
Jack Thompson of St. Thomas Academy