#MNStateHoops19 – The Target Center Underclassmen Standouts
The underclassmen were among the top performers at the Target Center on Wednesday. NHR gives you a quick look at some of the best young players at State. Prince Aligbe of Minnehaha Academy. The ninth grader played 24 minutes totaling…
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Continue ReadingThe underclassmen were among the top performers at the Target Center on Wednesday. NHR gives you a quick look at some of the best young players at State.
Prince Aligbe of Minnehaha Academy. The ninth grader played 24 minutes totaling 11 points and seven boards. Prince opened the game with a corner three and a pair of foul shots. There were some interior misses he would like to have back but Prince played his role as a third scorer the way he needed to.
Caden Boettcher of Maple Grove. Caden is a 6-foot-3 sophomore forward that came off the bench this season giving the Crimson 4 and 4. Tonight he was given the challenge of Dain Dainja and DT Frierson and giving up size, experience, and agility, Caden made 5 of 8 shots for 12 points in 26 minutes. A memorable game for a sophomore that has really grown.
Kendall Brown of East Ridge. Most teams don’t have an answer for Kendall Brown, and that went double for Eastview who is a team with smaller wings. Brown looked to be on an open run all game long making 8 of 11 shots for 17 points with nine boards and five assists. Even when the Lightning tried to get physical with Kendall he was able to finish through contact. Honestly it was such a wide open free game for Kendall to his explosive ability that it’s tough to dive to far into anything else other than, dominance.
Connor Braaten of Cambridge. Connor looks like the frontcourt player of the Cambridge future. Connor is a really good rebounder at 6-foot-4 as a sophomore and I really liked his intelligence in moving the basketball with a couple of assists.
John Hernandez of Hopkins. John is a 6-foot-9 sophomore who I initially though was even bigger than that. John is a strong and long post that moved every body to get position in his few possessions on the floor.
Chet Holmgren of Minnehaha Academy. Few teams in the state have the advantage that Minnehaha Academy does with Chet Holmgren blocks shots (8), contesting shots (too many to count), and grabbing defensive boards (6 of his 12) and sending the ball the other way. Holmgren is incredibly unique with his ability to control a game defensively but also use a developed touch to score. Put 14 on the board scoring on 7 of 15 shots.
Grant Moscho of Melrose. Grant scored 11 plus points per game for the Dutchmen this season shooting 48 percent from the floor and 42 percent from the arc as a sophomore. Made 3 of 4 triples in a loss to Lake City scoring his season average of 11 points.
Rowan Nelson of Melrose. Nelson came into state as a 6-foot-4 sophomore frontcourt player putting up 11.5 points and 5.8 rebounds for a top ten team in Class AA. Scored eight points in this game on four shots.
Elvis Ohagwu (Nnaji). Elvis comes off the Hopkins bench in big scoreboard differential situations but I would expect that next year his 6-foot-9 freshman size will be in the line-up. Elvis is the cousin of Zeke Nnaji and the wide shouldered frame, great size, and agility were very clear when he was on the floor.
Jackson Purcell of Eastview. Jackson caught my eye in his minutes today as a 6-foot-2 sophomore guard off the bench. Did some active defensive things recording a deflection and a steal or two.
Donovan Smith of Minnehaha Academy. One of the deadliest shooters in the freshman class Smith came off the bench and hit one triple plus scored two times in the paint. A 40 percent three point shooter through 29 games.
Jalen Treml of Hopkins. Treml is the Hopkins 7th man giving the team a steady, tough player who can be trusted to make the right pass and be a solid defender. Today in 13 minutes Treml used his 6-foot-3 agile size to guard several spots and grab three boards.
Justin Wohlers of Lake City. Just is a 6-foot-3 freshman guard that Lake City uses at a few different positions. Justin’s role increased all season to the point of him making 47 percent of his shots for the year and producing 11 points and six boards in the state tournament.