Minnesota Open Period – 2022 Stock Raisers
Last weekend we evaluated players from 26 different teams. Which sophomores saw their stock jump the most in those 13 games? We break it down now! [player_tooltip player_id="850729" first="Muja" last="Burton"] Muja Burton Muja Burton 6'4" | SF Columbia Heights…
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Continue ReadingLast weekend we evaluated players from 26 different teams. Which sophomores saw their stock jump the most in those 13 games? We break it down now!
[player_tooltip player_id="850729" first="Muja" last="Burton"]
Muja Burton Muja Burton 6'4" | SF Columbia Heights | 2022 State MN of Columbia Heights (6’4 SF). If you liked Courtney Brown Jr you will like Burton (by the way, the Brown jumper translated at the next level as Courtney hit just over a third of his three three-point attempts a game). Muja knocked down shots vs Stewartville and he always plays hard defensively.
Tanner Campos of East Grand Forks (6’1 SG). Love his demeanor. Open shots? Tanner knocks them down. Bigger/Faster opponent? Tanner takes on all comers with the same approach. Relentless on defense, great recognition.
Jon Haakenson Jon Haakenson 6'2" | SG Maple Grove | 2022 State MN of Maple Grove (6’1 SG). Jon started for Maple Grove because he isa really good passer, a constant worker, and reliant all around competitor. A good dribble attack because he will fight to win the angle. Haakenson uses fakes heading into his attack and that attack led to one of the more aggressive first dribbles you will see.
Ryan Harvey Ryan Harvey 6'3" | SG Wayzata | 2022 State MN of Wayzata (6’3 SG). Encouraging moments were seen from Ryan as he had a 7-0 run of his own late against STMA. Knocked out a three and that set up his next two attack scores. Crafty.
Brady Helgren Brady Helgren 6'8" | C Edina | 2022 State MN of Edina (6’7 Forward). Has the agility and intelligence at 6-foot-7 to guard some wings but the size and low post game to move to the block to produce on both ends as well. Relentless rebounder from what we can see and a growing comfort facing up.
Avery Mast Avery Mast 6'5" | PF Lakeville South | 2022 State MN of Lakeville South (6’5 SF). First there is the obvious: Avery is a solid perimeter shooter, Avery has good size and agility at his size for a sophomore, and Avery is a hard worker. So what sets him apart? Two things that I have noticed: 1) Avery finishes with either hand comfortably and that is huge when it comes to his ability to finish against positioned defenders/contact, and 2) Avery is rare defender in that he buys into all the teachings of help position, communication, and fight to spots.
Elvis Nnaji Elvis Nnaji 6'8" | C Hopkins | 2022 State #215 Nation MN of Hopkins (6’8 PF). Because of quick foul trouble Elvis only played a bit but in that time we saw his fantastic floor run into a dunk and a great rebounding display. Elvis seeks out his opponent to delay/stop their momentum and he does a great job vaulting to collect.
Mario SandersSammy Presthus of Edina (6’2 PG). After watching Sammy play Hopkins I think he has a chance to be a scholarship guard. Love the way he mixed a pace push with the patient halfcourt approach and all the deliveries we watched in this game were precise and quick followed by Sammy’s quick cut to his next spot. Good shooter with the ability to have a special junior year.
Mario Sanders of Minneapolis North (5’10 PG). Excellent transition decisions, very good leads as his team quickly moved up the floor, the ball pressure defense is good, and Mario seems to have bought in and handled his man to man responsibilities with consistency.
Caleb Siwek Caleb Siwek 6'1" | SG Rosemount | 2022 State MN of Rosemount (6’1 SG). Everybody knows that Siwek has a great shooting touch and uses it to score in bunches. What really grabbed my attention was how he worked his way to space in terms of squeezing defenders off moving around screens and how he was able to hip pocket defenders at his mercy before moving to the release.
Johnny Tennyson Johnny Tennyson 6'3" | SG STMA | 2022 State MN of STMA (6’3 PG). I’m just waiting for Johnny to explode as a combo guard. He can hit threes in bunches but also plays with the patience and comfort of a decision maker. His threes forced the game with Wayzata into overtime.
[player_tooltip player_id="796956" first="Justin" last="Wohlers"]Willie Wilson Willie Wilson 6'2" | CG Minneapolis North | 2022 State MN of Minneapolis North (6’2 SG). When Willie is coming downhill at people you may as well get the pen in hand and ready the paper for a score. The only pause is, will it be a two or And1 three points? Love watching Willie finish on the opposite side of the rim or lead teammates for assists in transition.
Justin Wohlers Justin Wohlers 6'6" | PF Lake City | 2022 State MN of Lake City (6’5 SF). Strong frame of a future college QB, the shooting touch of a wing shooter that scored 11 a game for a top Class AA team. Wohlers seems on that Reid Gastner Reid Gastner 6'4" | SF Lake City | 2020 State MN path of a dependable shooter but also tough and strong.