Class of 2022 Stock Risers Pt. 1
The 2022 class looks loaded with talent all over the board, and there’s a lot to be excited about when it comes to watching this sophomore group develop. With the latest update of our 2022 class rankings having dropped recently,…
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Continue ReadingThe 2022 class looks loaded with talent all over the board, and there’s a lot to be excited about when it comes to watching this sophomore group develop. With the latest update of our 2022 class rankings having dropped recently, we take a look at which prospects bumped up their stock over the high school season!
Ahjany Lee Ahjany Lee 6'9" | C Byron | 2022 State #145 Nation MN (6’8 2022 F, Byron)- Skyrocketing into the top-20 of our rankings, Ahjany Lee Ahjany Lee 6'9" | C Byron | 2022 State #145 Nation MN screams potential. At 6’8 with an impressive wingspan, Ahjany is explosive and can run the floor like a deer. He’s a major shot blocking threat defensively who crashes the glass hard on both ends. Though he wasn’t a dominant scorer this year averaging 8 ppg, he moves well off the ball to find himself in space to receive dump off passes. He has the touch to finish contested lay-ups, and the power to throw down dunks when given a little space. It’s rare to see a young player with this size who is as mobile at Ahjany, and as the skill continues to develop, he’ll be an exciting player to watch.
Yarin Alexander (6’4 2022 W, Burnsville)- Burnsville didn’t have the greatest season as a team, but with a few young talents including Yarin Alexander, they have a lot to be hopeful about moving forward. Yarin is a physically strong wing with a long wingspan who excels at working his way into the paint off the dribble. He can beat his man with power or finesse, and has a soft touch with the left hand to finish. While most of his points come attacking the basket, he’ll make you pay if you leave him open on the perimeter. He averaged 13 ppg over the year with game highs of 33 and 25.
Kenji Scales Kenji Scales 6'0" | PG Eastview | 2022 State MN (6’ 2022 PG, Eastview)- I’ve been really high on Kenji Scales Kenji Scales 6'0" | PG Eastview | 2022 State MN since seeing him in action over the fall, and he made the most of his time off the bench for Eastview this past winter. Playing behind a loaded group of seniors he didn’t receive huge minutes, but made an impact with his outside shot and distribution. Able to do a little bit of everything, Kenji knocked down his open shots, found open teammates off of penetration, limited his turnovers, and played hard on the defensive end. He found his way into the top 80 of our 2022 rankings, and it will be fun to watch him run the point for Eastview next season.
Thomas Diew Thomas Diew 6'7" | C St. Cloud Apollo | 2022 State MN (6’7 2022 C, St. Cloud Apollo)- Of all the bigs in the 2022 class, Thomas Diew Thomas Diew 6'7" | C St. Cloud Apollo | 2022 State MN just may have the best post footwork of them all. I’ve seen him embarrass defenders with an array of up-and-unders, post spins, and simple baby hooks giving Apollo a major scoring threat in the paint. His skillset on the block allowed him to average 13.3 ppg, but he’s also extended his range out to the arc where he’s able to knock down open jumpers. Though not an eye-catching athlete, Thomas works hard to run the floor and has long arms that allow him to finish above the rim. He made his way up to #37 in the 2022 rankings update.
Demarion Watson Demarion Watson 6'8" | SF Totino-Grace | 2022 State #150 Nation MN (6’6 2022 W, Minnehaha Academy)- Demarion was a standout on the Minnehaha JV team as a freshman, and this year was able to bring value off the bench at the varsity level, though with all the talent in front of him it was hard to find minutes in bulk. However, the flashes that Demarion showed were enough to bump him up into the top 15 of our rankings. He’s grown a few inches over the last year, has arms that extend for days, is one of the most explosive athletes in the class, and has a smooth pull-up jumper from three or mid-range. His physical attributes allow him to guard just about anywhere on the floor, and his jumper continues to improve over time. He added a pair of D1 offers to cap off his sophomore year.
Camden Holter Camden Holter 6'3" | SG Minneapolis Southwest | 2022 State MN (6’3 2022 G, Minneapolis Southwest)- A top contributor for Southwest in the City Conference, Camden Holter Camden Holter 6'3" | SG Minneapolis Southwest | 2022 State MN put up 13.1 ppg during an impressive sophomore campaign. Holter was a three point shooting threat all season long, but is also so smooth attacking the basket off the dribble. Holter is a real fluid athlete who can lull a defender to sleep before exploding by with a quick burst before gliding in the air to the rim. Part of a strong core of young players at Minneapolis Southwest.
James Spencer James Spencer 6'6" | PF Park Center | 2022 State MN (6’5 2022 F, Osseo)- James Spencer James Spencer 6'6" | PF Park Center | 2022 State MN didn’t put up huge scoring numbers as Osseo was a team that went deep into their bench with a lot of players who contributed at an even level, but he still managed to make a name for himself as a prospect. Averaging 4.8 ppg, James impressed with his strong build and explosive athleticism. Opposing teams had a hard time keeping him off the glass as he’s such an aggressive player, and he used his strength to power through contact for paint finishes on the offensive end. He worked his way into a top-60 ranking in the latest 2022 update.