Initial 2022 Rankings: Thoughts And Impressions
Northstar Hoops recently released our initial class of 2022 rankings featuring 50 of the top young talents the state has to offer. From an early impression this class is loaded with talent, including a handful of players already holding high…
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Continue ReadingNorthstar Hoops recently released our initial class of 2022 rankings featuring 50 of the top young talents the state has to offer. From an early impression this class is loaded with talent, including a handful of players already holding high major offers. After having some time to go through the rankings, these are some of my first impressions.
Most Intriguing Prospects? Elvis Nnaji (4) and Kendall Blue (9) are two top-ten players who haven’t gotten much time at the varsity level yet, but absolutely scream potential. Elvis is the younger cousin of recent Hopkins graduate Zeke Nnaji who was a late bloomer himself. Elvis is already starting to grow into that length that made Zeke so scary, and is already a great athlete in his own right. The post touch is starting to form, and with a dangerous combination of length and raw athleticism he is one to watch going forward. Kendall Blue is a long and wiry 6’5 point guard who will likely receive more opportunity to shine this year after East Ridge lost both of the Brown brothers. He’s a solid athlete who can distribute the ball or get his own shot when needed. His length at the point will be interesting to watch develop.
Most Potential To Rise In Next Update? A player who could see his name rise when these rankings next get updated is Donovan Smith (25). One of the most skilled players and arguably the top shooter in the class, Donovan is currently ranked 25th. Playing alongside so much talent at Minnehaha Academy he doesn’t get as much of an opportunity to shine as an individual, but it is clear that Donovan is one of the top point guards in the class. He already holds a Division One offer from Hampton, and could take a big leap if he has a solid start to his sophomore year.
Potential Snubs? With such a talented class, these rankings could change quite a bit over time. Who are a few guys who could see their names added to this list in a few months? Hassan Kamara, Jimmy Koch, and Alonzo Dodd are a few names who come to mind. Hassan is a 6’4 wing from Fridley who used his length and shooting touch to average 15.8 ppg as a freshman. He could put up some big scoring numbers this year as a sophomore. Jimmy Koch was a key role player for a David Roddy dominated Breck team last year, and with Roddy gone he could step into a more productive role. The young PG averaged 6.9 ppg as a freshman. Alonzo Dodd is an electric scoring guard from South St. Paul. A 6’1 guard, Alonzo led his team in scoring by averaging 14.3 ppg against a solid schedule, and scored double figures in all but one game. Demarion Watson-Saulsberry from Minnehaha Academy is another name to watch moving forward.
Next In Line For A D1 Offer? Tre Holloman (1), Prince Aligbe (2), Camden Heide (3), Chase Carter (8), Willie Wilson (10), Braeden Carrington (11), and Donovan Smith (25) already hold at least one Division One offer before stepping foot in school as a sophomore. Who might be the next to snag an offer? Eli King (5) from Caledonia has a good of a shot as anyone to be next up. A 6’3 guard with springs and skills to match, Eli is a nationally ranked talent who started on one of the top 17u teams in the state. As just a sophomore Eli will be one of the most exciting players to watch in the state, as he makes acrobatic finishes look routine, and can bring the crowd to its feet when he gets out in transition. The interest and offers should start coming in soon for the youngest King brother.
Depth In The Post- Though the top 3 players are all found bringing up the ball or on the wing, this class has some nice depth inside. 7 of the top 15 players in the 2022 class are post prospects who all have plenty of room to grow as players. 6’9 Elvis Nnaji (4), 6’9 Blessed Barhayiga (6), 6’7 Jackson Loge (7), 6’6 Chase Carter (8), 6’7 Malcolm Jones (13), 6’8 Carter Bjerke (14), and 6’8 Brady Nicholson (15) are all high level talents to keep an eye on. Loge and Chase Carter are likely the most polished at this point, but there’s a lot of intrigue surrounding some of these names. Blessed Barhayiga is part of a loaded 2022 class and Osseo, and could see a lot of isolation time in the post due to having so many dangerous guards around him. Malcolm Jones got the chance to study under Denver recruit Robert Jones, and will have one more year alongside Dawson Garcia to develop his game as a power forward.
Which School Has The Best Group? This one is tough to say as both Minnehaha Academy and Osseo feature loaded groups of 2022 prospects. With the new addition of Chase Carter (8), Minnehaha may have the edge at this point. Throw in Prince Aligbe (2), Donovan Smith (25), and Demarion Watson-Saulsberry (UR), and the Redhawks will be set for the next three seasons. Osseo is absolutely loaded in their own right however with Blessed Barhayiga (6), Joshua Ola-Joseph (12), Don Ferguson (21), Bernard Omooria (22), and Owen Dukowitz (46). This group has a chance to be special at Osseo. Minnehaha’s core has more varsity experience at this point, but it will be fun to follow both of these groups of prospects over the next three seasons.
Dynamic Duos- A few schools pop up multiple times in the top 50 list, with a pair of young prospects who could have great success over the next few years. Wayzata’s Camden Heide (3) and Carter Bjerke (14) are a talented duo who both saw varsity time last season. Camden is one of the nation’s elite talents and is a star in the making for Wayzata. Bjerke used his size and touch to average 3.7 ppg last season. Minneapolis North will look to continue their success out of the city conference as they feature a talented duo in Willie Wilson (10) and Mario Sanders (41). Willie is a big time scoring threat who averaged 9.2 ppg last season and had a big time showing at the state tournament. Rio was a standout on the JV team. Sticking with the Metro area schools, Columbia Heights features two high potential prospects. Spencer Alvarez (20) is a 6’6 post prospect who has looked dominant at times for Howard Pulley 15u’s this spring/summer after averaging 4.4 ppg and 1.9 bpg as a freshman. Muja Burton (30) was one of the most prolific scorers in the class last year, scoring 12.3 ppg while shooting over 40% from beyond the arc.