Jammin In July: Day 2 Standouts
A handful of Minnesota AAU programs traveled down to Ames, Iowa for Jammin In July, and today we detail seven of the top performers from day two of the event! Caleb Siwek Caleb Siwek 6'1" | SG Rosemount | 2022…
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Continue ReadingA handful of Minnesota AAU programs traveled down to Ames, Iowa for Jammin In July, and today we detail seven of the top performers from day two of the event!
Caleb Siwek Caleb Siwek 6'1" | SG Rosemount | 2022 State MN (6’1 2022 G, Howard Pulley 16u)- In the day’s marquee matchup against Team Factory 17u, Caleb Siwek Caleb Siwek 6'1" | SG Rosemount | 2022 State MN caught fire from deep early on. His deep range and quick release off the catch made him a key player for Howard Pulley in their win, and his quickness running off screens to get open frustrated opposing defenders. As the defense adjusted to his quick release, he adjusted as well by utilizing a pump-fake into a one dribble pull-up to get off his shot. Overall an impressive showing from one of the top 2022 shooters in the state.
CJ O’Hara CJ O’Hara 6'4" | SF Park Center | 2023 State #285 Nation MN (6’4 2023 W, Howard Pulley 15u)- For my last game of the day I caught Howard Pulley vs Lincoln Supreme in 15u play, and CJ O’Hara CJ O’Hara 6'4" | SF Park Center | 2023 State #285 Nation MN ended the game strong to help Howard Pulley win. His strong and athletic frame allowed him to drive by defenders and finish through contact around the rim all day long, and when he wasn’t able to finish, he was likely making a trip to the line for free throws. Add in a momentum swinging dunk in the second half and some big defensive plays, and it was a productive game out of the rising sophomore.
Jake Braaten (6’ 2021 G, MN Rise 17u)- In an early morning matchup against a Minnesota Select squad filled with talent, it was the tough play of Jake Braaten that caught my eye. A stocky 2021 point guard, Jake Braaten was scoring both inside and out. He has a nice stroke from deep, knocking down a handful of three pointers to open up his penetration off the dribble. When he was able to attack off the bounce, he had the strength to power through contact, and showed some finesse with a few flashy finishes around defenders.
Jackson Purcell Jackson Purcell 6'4" | SF Eastview | 2021 State MN (6’4 2021 G, MN Select Ohnstad 17u)- Purcell wasn’t putting up eye popping numbers, but I really liked his all-around contributions for Select. With his height, quickness, and explosiveness, Purcell has impressive physical attributes that he uses to his advantage. Defensively he was a versatile piece, guarding multiple positions all day long. On the offensive end he scored in a variety of ways, and had a clutch and-one in overtime in a win over Team Factory.
Tre Holloman Tre Holloman 6'2" | PG Cretin-Derham Hall | 2022 State #57 Nation MN (6’2 2022 PG, Howard Pulley 16u)- Tre is a returner from our day one standouts, and for good reason, as he put together a strong performance against a high major 2021 commit. Tre helped lead Howard Pulley 16’s to a win over Team Factory 17u using his energetic style of play to create turnovers, set up his teammates in good positions to score, and get to the rack at will. Tre was having a solid game throughout the first half, but there was a moment in the second when he flipped the switch and absolutely took over to help Pulley pull ahead and pick up the win.
Reid Patterson Reid Patterson 6'2" | SG Lakeville South | 2021 State MN (6’2 2021 G, MN Select Ohnstad 17u)- The always steady Reid Patterson Reid Patterson 6'2" | SG Lakeville South | 2021 State MN put together a pair of solid performances for Select on day two of Jammin In July, showcasing his versatility. Reid proved to be a tough-as-nails finisher around the rim, not afraid to absorb hard contact if it meant a chance at completing the attack. From outside he got good elevation on his pull-up jumper, which allowed him to get his shot off with a defender nearby. Reid scored from all three levels and gave consistent effort on the defensive end, earning him a spot on this list.
Nolan Winter Nolan Winter 7'0" | PF Lakeville North | 2023 State #98 Nation MN (6’5 2023 W, Howard Pulley 15u)- Like Caleb Siwek Caleb Siwek 6'1" | SG Rosemount | 2022 State MN for Howard Pulley’s 16u team, Nolan Winter Nolan Winter 7'0" | PF Lakeville North | 2023 State #98 Nation MN was lighting it up from beyond the arc in a win over Lincoln Supreme. At 6’5 he was a matchup nightmare with his ability to stretch the floor, as opposing guards were too short to contest, and he was too quick for length to keep up with. His movement off the ball coupled with his ability to set his hands and feet to shoot quickly off the catch made him an extremely difficult player for Lincoln Supreme to defend, and he was a big reason why Howard Pulley came away with the win.