NHR State Tournament: Top Shooters
The Northstar Hoops State Tournament took over the metro area this past weekend with practically all the top players from all corners of the state on hand to compete. Shooting is always going to be at a premium nowadays and…
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Continue ReadingThe Northstar Hoops State Tournament took over the metro area this past weekend with practically all the top players from all corners of the state on hand to compete.
Shooting is always going to be at a premium nowadays and with the way teams aim to spread the floor and create 3-pointers. That trend won’t be slowing down anytime soon.
Here were some of the top shooters from the weekend:
Cooper Vaughn, SE Minnesota Lightning 16U
Vaughn made his mark in the southern Minnesota sports scene thanks in large part to his shooting ability. The St. Charles combo guard is a terrific shooter, possessing picturesque mechanics and a release that requires very little time and space. He’s not shy about looking for his shot and when he has an open look, he’s going to bury more than he misses.
Elijah Morris, WC United Select 16U
Morris knocks down triples with absurd efficiency and he’s much more than simply a spot-up shooter. When he gets kick out 3-pointers, he’s money. But he also showed the ability to probe and knock down long-range shots off the dribble. Morris has an effortless release and does a great job finding soft spots in the defense both in the halfcourt off the ball and in transition.
Brady Mettel, Heat Fleury 16U
Mettel is undersized but he’s tough on both ends of the court. He looked good as a slasher and distributor but he’s at his best when he was loading up shots from the perimeter. Off the ball, he does a good job using screens or spacing to stay available for kick outs and he showed he can create enough separation to get jumpers off against primary defenders.
Jake Wohlers, SE Minnesota Lightning Schwartzoff 17U
Wohlers is a sniper through-and-through. The Lake City guard does it well for his high school team, perfectly complementing that team’s two stars and he does it equally as effectively for MN Lightning. Wohlers isn’t going to create his own shot a whole lot but he’s really good off the ball, playing with a good understanding of how to maintain good spacing. That usually means he’s on the end of a kickout and when he can set his feet and line up a shot, he’s as good as anybody.
Jacob Stoltzenberg, MN Matrix 17U
Stoltzenberg is by no means a one-trick-pony, but his greatest strength is his shooting ability. The St. Cloud Cathedral guard has good size and he uses it to create shots for himself off the dribble. Off the catch, he’s lethal and few players have the ability to pour in as many points without dribbling in a small amount of time as he does.
Drew Sagedahl, SW MN Stars 16U
Sagedahl does a lot of good things for his high school team as a slasher, rebounder and defender but his best strength is his shooting. The BOLD guard is on the smaller side but he forces defenders into uncomfortable spots because of his range. He’s got a quick release, runs to the 3-point line and can just as easily knock down a one-dribble pull up if someone closes irresponsibly.