Minnesota Open Period – 2021’s Five Best

<p>What five juniors stood out the most during last weekend's Minnesota Open Period? We run you through those names and why they stood out now!</p> <p>At first I was going to limit things to five, but I couldn't (Five Best sounds good though so I kept it). Then I was going to have a “6^th Man” on the list until I realized this is my damn story and I will put six names on here and roll with it!</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> [caption id="attachment_780763" align="alignright" width="150"] [player_tooltip player_id="774736" first="Cade" last="Haskins"][/caption] <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="774736" first="Cade" last="Haskins"]</strong> of DeLaSalle (6'6 SF).  What Haskins did against the talent of Minnehaha Academy reminded me a lot of the way Ethan Wragge used to move around the court within the EP framework. Haskins is a big wing (like Wragge was) and he uses that high release and confident stroke to build numbers for his team. But before the shot is taken Cade's ability to walk his man down and release, his cut off screens, and his steps moving to space setting up that jumpshot are all next level items that help Cade release quality shots in small windows of time. Haskins knocked out five threes and scored 23 against the Hawks before fouling out.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="774748" first="Broden" last="Lien"]</strong> of NCE/U-H (6'8 PF). Everybody is well aware of Broden's agility at 6-foot-8 plus it's well known that Lien is an aggressive competitor that greatly enjoys dunking with some extra pop. What schools really want to know is how Broden defends other players his size and how well he shoots the ball. Based on what we have heard and what we saw Sunday morning, he shots the ball in a way that college coaches will like. With feet set Broden knocked down three long shots and he used the one dribble face-up attack to score three times as well (one fall away, one pull-up, one time at the rim with a dunk). Scored on 13 of 16 shots (including all free throws) for 32 points.</p> <p><strong>Francis Nwaokorie</strong> of Champlin Park (6'7 PF).  We continue to love the way that Francis uses his body to create space around the basket. Francis loved to use the shoulder with the dribble allowing him back his man up while he is on balance. This often leads to a defender knocked off balance and Nwaokorie making his soft touching move to complete the play. Francis also does a great job using his hips without the ball getting his knees bent and powering into players for low position or board position. Add in the excellent passing out of the low post and you have a scholarship prospect. Nwaokorie scored 22.</p> [caption id="attachment_940655" align="alignright" width="150"] [player_tooltip player_id="774734" first="Reid" last="Patterson"][/caption] <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="774734" first="Reid" last="Patterson"]</strong> of Lakeville South (6'2 SG).  To be an elite shooter at the college level you need to have the basic groundwork of a few things: you consistently make threes game to game, you do it with a strong percentage, and that shot needs to be made in small windows against good defenders. Reid certainly qualifies there. What then puts a player into the elite category is the ability to make those shots in small frames of time at steady rate. [player_tooltip player_id="774734" first="Reid" last="Patterson"]'s combination of quick release at the top of his jump as well as maybe the softest touch out there ranks with the best. He's also the lead guard of his team so he's able to get the offense started for a top AAAA team. Scored 27 against Rosemount and did it with hands in his face. Impressive showing.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="567035" first="Will" last="Tschetter"]</strong> of Stewartville (6'8 PF). When I see [player_tooltip player_id="567035" first="Will" last="Tschetter"] I think about [player_tooltip player_id="846105" first="Ben" last="Carlson"]. I think about their similarities as 6-foot-8/6-foot-9 power forwards and I consider their differences. When all is said in done I think Will should be in a very similar spot as the future Badger recruiting wise. However, Will is from outstate Minnesota and he hasn't had a 17u season for schools to watch him play, and I think those are the reasons he is still waiting on high major offer number one. Let's be certain, [player_tooltip player_id="567035" first="Will" last="Tschetter"] is a top 100 level recruit and a high major player. In watching him score 50 against Columbia Heights there was a lot on display. Will took 5-6 threes a game this year and made 45 percent of them. When he had his back to the basket Tschetter showed one of the quickest spin moves you will ever see from a post. Even when the defense sees it coming the physical nature of Tschetter clears them with the shoulder/elbow. The Hylanders didn't have a player that could guard Will so all we saw was the incredible quickness with the spin move and some outstanding Kevin McHale moves with the pivot.   Add in that floating two hand dunk in transition and you had an incredible performance.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="567041" first="Kyreese" last="Willingham"]</strong> of Waseca (6'5 Wing). There is so much raw potential to Kyreese that I think it's time he start taking those D1 calls. In fact I know at least two D1 schools looked at the film this weekend and wanted to get in touch. Why? Kyreese has rare gifts physically and he has a fight to him that schools will appreciate. I have seen Waseca play at least four games this year and his role seems to change every game based on the opponent. We've seen Kyreese play lead guard with positive results and we've seen him play the role of acrobatic wing making acrobatic contested shots. At this point we don't know if he is a strong three-point shooter but in all the games I saw him play Kyreese made at least half his triples (three vs Lake City). Defensively he's been asked to defend the ball, Mr Basketball finalists on the wing, and in this game, both. Willingham has the agility and length to bother players plus he's one of the better perimeter shot blockers/contesters I have seen. As he continues to improve his defensive footwork Kyreese will move into the category of elite defender.</p>