Hard Work Region Finals: Max’s Minnesota Standouts (Guards)
The Hard Work region of the Prep Hoops Circuit concluded this past weekend in Minneapolis, as teams from across the Midwest competed to take home the title. The field was loaded with strong Minnesota squads, and leading those teams were…
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Continue ReadingThe Hard Work region of the Prep Hoops Circuit concluded this past weekend in Minneapolis, as teams from across the Midwest competed to take home the title. The field was loaded with strong Minnesota squads, and leading those teams were a large amount of high level guard prospects. From household names to guys looking to boost their stock, these are the top guards I saw over the weekend.
Eddie Beeninga (6’1 2021 G, MN Fury 16u)- I had the chance to see Eddie play in a Saturday morning game against a scrappy BC Swag team, and his mature feel for the game was instantly noticeable. Eddie ran the point with constant control, and he controlled the flow of the game rather than letting the flow of the game control him. He pushed the tempo when the opportunity arose, but slowed the game down when necessary. Defensively he was jumping passing lanes to create turnovers, a few of which he finished off at the other end. Scoring-wise there isn’t much he can’t do, as he showed off a smooth stroke from deep, a quick pull-up from mid-range, and the ability to finish through contact at the rim. Wayzata will need him to take on a bigger role as a junior, and he looks ready to make that leap.
Ryan Dufault (6′ 2021 G, MN Heat-Tauer 16u)- Ryan James described him as a general leading his Heat squad into battle, and in the 16u title game that’s exactly what he was. Though the Heat would lose that game to a loaded Team Factory squad, Ryan excelled against a nationally ranked point guard. He was aggressive to start the game, and had a variety of crafty finishes around the rim to get his team rolling. Ryan would also go on to knock down a some outside shots to keep the defense honest. His left hand is so automatic around the rim, that if he turns the corner on you he’s already scored. Teams knew that they had to force Ryan right, but despite that emphasis he’s just too quick and deceptive for guards to keep in front of. One of the top floor generals in Minnesota’s 2021 class.
Agwa Nywesh (6’2 2020 G, MN Heat-West 17u)- The main ball handler for a Heat-West squad that advanced to the semi-finals, Agwa had a very strong tournament run. He’s a long and agile guard that gave opposing defenders headaches with his quickness and handles. Agwa is a reliable shooter from distance, while also being able to take his man off the dribble and finish at the rim. The Heat went into three straight overtime games, and Agwa was more than comfortable having the ball in his hands during those few pressure filled minutes. After a strong performance over the weekend, Agwa looks ready to take over the reigns as the next star guard at Austin.
Dan McCarrell (6’2 2020 G, MN Fury-Kallman 17u)- Dan absolutely shot lights out from deep in a matchup against Jerry Gamble FAB. Facing a defense that played quick and aggressive, Dan looked unfazed when launching from distance. Trailing in the second half, Dan went on a run nailing three or four 3’s in a row that helped temporarily claw his Fury squad back into the game. His quick release made him a threat to shoot at all times, and he kept the lengthy, athletic FAB defenders on their toes at all times.
Drake Dobbs (6’1 2020 G, MN Fury-Zurn 17u)- Usually running with national powerhouse D1 Minnesota, Dobbs suited up with Minnesota Fury for the Prep Hoops Circuit. The Liberty signed point guard is tough as nails, and will go toe-to-toe with any player in the country. Dobbs proved to be arguably the most efficient scorer of the tournament in the two games I watched, as he led Fury to a big win over a Young & Reckless squad that features some of the top players in Illinois. He had 16 points while shooting 6-8. In the quarterfinals against MN Heat-West, Dobbs was again dominant, scoring 20 while shooting 8-9 including some clutch shots late in the game. Drake has always been a great shooter, but has added a quickness and aggression to get to the rim and finish even with length looming nearby. Most big named players struggle to fit in when they suit up with a new team for one tournament, but Dobbs looked right at home when competing with one of the state’s most balanced 17u teams.
Eli King (6’3 2022 G, MN Comets Elite 17u)- Despite playing two years up, Eli King’s confidence and calm demeanor never faded, as he constantly looked like one of the best players on the floor. This was my first time seeing Eli play during this AAU season, but his growth as a player since last summer has been ridiculous. Not only is he a freak athlete, but he has an uncanny ability to contort his body into finishes around the rim, and is fearless going into size (as evident by a crazy scooping layup around Dain Dainja). Eli looked the part of a solid shooter from beyond the arc, and crashed the boards with an intensity not often seen by guards, especially at this young age. He played a key role in the Comets’ run to a second place finish, and scored 15 points with 6 assists in the title game.