The Race for Mr Basketball – 2020
The Mr. Basketball trophy is the most coveted individual high school award in the state of Minnesota. The 2019 hasn’t been handed out but I’m already thinking a bit about the 2020 award as well! The Favorite – Jalen Suggs…
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Continue ReadingThe Mr. Basketball trophy is the most coveted individual high school award in the state of Minnesota. The 2019 hasn’t been handed out but I’m already thinking a bit about the 2020 award as well!
The Favorite – Jalen Suggs
Heading into next season it’s pretty clear that Jalen Suggs will be considered the favorite. Jalen has two state titles to his name, is going for a third this March, and is recognized nationally as one of the elite guards in the country. When you have both state titles and a national five star pedigree you are going to be the favorite.
Top Contenders
Picking five top contenders the short list would be big! As in 6-foot-10/6-foot-11 Dawson Garcia, 6-foot-8 Dain Dainja, and 6-foot-9/6-foot-10 Ben Carlson. Dawson Garcia is a 30 point per game player at the moment making a massive impact on both ends of the floor. All three of these players compete for balanced top five level basketball teams doing a lot every night, but Garcia is the one with the consistent explosive scoring totals (in addition to everything else these guys do for their teams). All three are double-double guys. Dain is the leading scorer for a Park Center team that arguably should be number one if they avenge their loss to Armstrong (a team who is much better than initially thought when PC first lost to them). Carlson’s numbers are solid but next year will likely go way up with talented Courtney Brown Jr moving on to college.
The Outstate Core
This year’s outstate group has been really strong. Matthew Hurt is of course the best player in Minnesota, Isaac Fink, Jake Kettner, Maleeck Harden, Malik Willingham, and Noah Christensen all made a big push for the top ten (Fink and Hurt made it and you can argue the list should of included one more name from the group).
At first glance the junior outstate group may not have huge recognition but looking deeper there are many quality names on good teams. Gabe Madsen and Mason Madsen of Rochseter Mayo certainly have the talent to contend. Mankato East is one of the best teams in the state now and they are led by Joich Gong and Jax Madson. Noah King has long been a part of Caledonia success and there is also Mason Miller at Ada-Borup who has hit team ranked number one in Class A at the moment. Lake City’s Nathan Heise certainly will be considered with the best from the oustate next year as he leads his top three level team.
There are also seven footers that could improve and make a big impact – Calvin Sisk at Rockford and Jacob Jennison at Sauk Centre – plus Noah Puetz at Marshall and Dylan Dechampeau at Greenway have also had strong careers. Throw in Drew Hagen at Moorhead and Brady Williams of Dover-Eyota, and that is a strong group.
What About Us?
Don’t worry metro talents how dare we wait this long to mention you? J’Vonne Hadley of Mahtomedi and Kerwin Walton of Hopkins are certain players to be considered for the final five. Hadley is scoring 30 a game for a top ten team while Walton is the second leading scorer for a top five Hopkins squad.
There’s Steven Crowl leading Eastview, Jacob Hutson scoring in the paint at Edina, and I don’t know that I have enough room for the Eden Prairie kids! I will just list Drake Dobbs, Austin Andrews, and Connor Christensen and move on from there. Matt Willerts could be a 30 point per game guy at Buffalo, Henry Abraham at Cambridge could do the same, and we haven’t even mentioned Cam Steele at Tonka, Charlie Katona at Shakopee, DT Frierson at Park Center, and PJ Hayes at Waconia.