Minnesota Open Period – 2022’s Five Best
What five sophomores stood out the most during last weekend’s Minnesota Open Period? We run you through those names and why they stood out. Prince Aligbe Prince Aligbe 6'6" | SF Minnehaha Academy | 2022 State #167 Nation MN…
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Continue ReadingWhat five sophomores stood out the most during last weekend’s Minnesota Open Period? We run you through those names and why they stood out.
Prince Aligbe Prince Aligbe 6'6" | SF Minnehaha Academy | 2022 State #167 Nation MN of Minnehaha Academy (6’6 SF). In the Minnehaha Academy win over DeLaSalle it was their sophomore worker that put the game away. Not the 5-star superstars, the worker wearing number 10. Prince put together clutch foul shots, a key putback, and a defensive stop to help his team win the game. Aligbe of course had a couple of his signature high percentage finishes but it was his vocal leadership and late game clutch plays that caught my eye.
Drew Berkland Drew Berkland 5'11" | PG Wayzata | 2022 State MN of Wayzata (5’11 PG). Drew is coming off a double figure averaging sophomore year on the court. Defensively some of the things Drew was doing immediately rank him with one of the better defenders I’ve seen. His ability to fight to space laterally not getting screened was eye opening. Drew also made three clutch shots down the stretch (two threes and contested attack finish). We have to see how he handles the ball going forward but as far a two-way combo guard we love the way he plays.
Carter Bjerke Carter Bjerke 6'9" | C Wayzata | 2022 State MN of Wayzata (6’8 PF). There is so much to like about Carter as a prospect. The first things to know are his size at 6-foot-8 and strong, and the shooting touch. Bjerke is a high percentage jumpshooter with range and he opened the game scoring on three threes. But I was also impressed with how he used his body knocking players off their base with a shoulder allowing Carter to touch in shots. He also used the jumpshot very well with a left hand face-up baseline drive from the wing and the lefty dribble from the elbow into the lane. Division one talent.
Jacob Butler Jacob Butler 6'3" | SF Minneapolis North | 2022 State MN of Minneapolis North (6’2 SG). Butler is fantastic in ball pressure and his ability to fight to get into passing lanes and force the ball to bad spots is more than I expected for a young player. Butler also has a pretty left handed stroke that connected on more than 40 percent of his threes this year plus his lefty tear drop is a thing of beauty. Add in the crafty playmaking in transition and you have a top guard prospect in this class. An excellent showing against EGF that caught our attention.
Camden Heide Camden Heide 6'7" | SF Wasatch Academy | 2022 State #129 Nation UT of Wayzata (6’6 SF). Camden Heide Camden Heide 6'7" | SF Wasatch Academy | 2022 State #129 Nation UT can shoot at a 38-40 percent rate at the arc, we know that. Camden Heide Camden Heide 6'7" | SF Wasatch Academy | 2022 State #129 Nation UT can finish high above the rim in explosive ways, we know that too. What I picked up about Camden this past weekend was an increased comfort as a wing. His first step with the dribble is quicker than I thought, his cuts are sharper and more precise than I’ve seen in the past, and his timing with the pass is excellent. I was very impressed with his footwork as well getting into shots off a dribble or moving around screens. This game against STMA from late February definitely took my appreciation of his game to a higher level and it was all about maturity in the ways he went about things offensively.
Trejuan Holloman of Cretin Derham Hall (6’3 PG). The last day of the season Holloman led the Raiders to a win in maybe the game of the 2019-20 season. And Tre Holloman Tre Holloman 6'2" | PG Cretin-Derham Hall | 2022 State #57 Nation MN made the plays down the stretch for his team to win. Holloman had a hand in the last four baskets down the stretch (two scores, two assists) making needed plays to win the game. His recognition with the ball in transition has always been top notch but with three years varsity experience his ability to read good veteran defenses has caught his transition abilities. The way Holloman was able to move past the help defender on the ball screen plus his physical ability to get to the rim ahead of the held defense really caught my eye. Tre’s ability to attack space with a quick burst will be unmatched the next two years in the state.