Jammin in July Showcase – The Top Performers
Here are The Top Performers from the Jammin in July Showcase from Ames, Iowa. Yesterday we named the Five Best from Minnesota, here is a group of the top performers from the five state area (in addition to what was…
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Continue ReadingHere are The Top Performers from the Jammin in July Showcase from Ames, Iowa. Yesterday we named the Five Best from Minnesota, here is a group of the top performers from the five state area (in addition to what was named yesterday).
Paul Bruns of South Dakota Attack (6’4, Dakota Valley, 2021, SG). Bruns is the second ranked 2021 in South Dakota following Wisconsin committed Matthew Mors in Ames this weekend because of injury) and we thought he could of possibly earned double digit D1 offers this spring/summer but Paul liked what he had in a North Dakota offer so he accepted it. This weekend Bruns was often guarded by Tre Holloman Tre Holloman 6'2" | PG Cretin-Derham Hall | 2022 State #57 Nation MN of Howard Pulley and Chucky Hepburn Chucky Hepburn 6'1" | PG Bellevue West | 2021 State #77 Nation NE of Team Factory, and managed to lead his team to wins over both teams from the point guard position (the Attack went 3-1 overall). This weekend Paul once again showed why I commonly state he is one of the best rebounding guards I have ever seen. He pulled down 14 boards against Pulley, dished out five assists, and scored seven of his 16 in a late second half run that helped push his team to a one score victory. Paul will play a lot of shooting guard in college scoring with his high percentage shooting but this weekend he showed that if needed, he can take care of the ball at times against good players too. And by the way, after returning home to Dakota Valley after a weekend of basketball, Bruns then went and hit a three run home run for his baseball team Monday night winning that game as well.
Muja Burton Muja Burton 6'4" | SF Columbia Heights | 2022 State MN of Howard Pulley (6’4, Columbia Heights, 2022, SF). Both times I watched Howard Pulley play this weekend Muja Burton Muja Burton 6'4" | SF Columbia Heights | 2022 State MN came off the bench and supplied key contributions. He was often the third scoring piece of the Panthers helping them win three of four games in Ames. Both games I saw Burton play he knocked out a pair of perimeter jumpers leading to double figure scoring and rarely was anything ever forced from his hand (to be honest it was rare that any Pulley player forced their own offense which is why they played so well). Once again Muja reminds me of a shorter version of Courtney Brown Jr in a low of ways.
Taison Chatman Taison Chatman 6'4" | PG Totino Grace | 2023 State #35 Nation MN of D1 Minnesota 15U (6’3, Totino-Grace, 2023, SG). This weekend the D1 Minnesota 15u squad completely dominated their opponents including a pair of 15u shoe teams (Meanstreets and Team Factory) as well as a respected Lincoln Supreme program. D1 Minnesota won games by margins of 44, 24, and 28 points and this was with Taison Chatman Taison Chatman 6'4" | PG Totino Grace | 2023 State #35 Nation MN leading the way as the smooth scoring threat that’s earned him offers from Minnesota and Marquette. Chatman has that “passing lane demon” in him where he senses a floating pass come into his lane and he uses that length to extend at full speed heading the other way for highlight finishes. Taison is also one of the best players at getting his feet set in space recognizing his spot on the floor in relative to his closest defender and knowing that the incoming pass is an outgoing make. His understanding of positioning is one of the reasons he separates himself for other top guys at his position. And I love his ball fake moving the defender followed by a sharp one-dribble pull-up the other way, it’s one of my favorite plays he makes.
Ryan Dufault Ryan Dufault 5'11" | PG Waseca | 2021 State MN of Minnesota Heat Tauer (6’0, Waseca, 2021, PG). People can knock his size all they want to, Ryan is still attacking big bodies on talented teams and getting to that left hand finish in traffic despite a small window to complete the play. Dufault has a reputation as a late game magician and there was some of that this weekend as Ryan made key plays with the ball to help the Heat (who went undefeated) win close games against Team Factory and Minnesota Crossfire. The two biggest things I took this week from Ryan was his the way he calmed his team and directed players for key baskets at key times. It wasn’t always the final pass or the flashy pass, it was the right pass leading to a score. He totaled eight assists to beat Team Factory and shot perfectly from the field in that game as well. He can set the table but don’t fall off too far or Ryan will hit that three as he makes more than half of his triples when defenders are a step off or more.
Frankie Fidler Frankie Fidler 6'6" | SF Bellevue West | 2021 State NE of Team Factory (6’7, Bellevue West, 2021, SF). Frankie looks a lot bigger than 6-foot-7 and coming off an injury I felt that Frankie looked pretty good considering the circumstances. He played about half of each game and at times you could tell he was still trying to get comfortable in a lot of ways, but he still scored 15 against a full group of D1 Minnesota offered wings and forwards. The touch at the arc is why people will love him because Frankie can extend defenses while being defended by bigger players but I also really like his play with or without the ball in transition. Also, he has one of the biggest sweeping first step dribbles you will see covering so much ground as defenders need to take two lateral steps to keep up.
Conner Geddes of South Dakota Network (6’2, Harrisburg, 2021, SG). Conner is a top 15 level talent in South Dakota’s senior class and a big part of that is his ability to make shots behind the arc or moving off screens to space in that 16, 17 foot area. There is a lot to like about Conner as he is one of these guys that doesn’t seem to force his offense on you but he will dagger a team if they get stuck on a screen. Like Conner did to Minnesota Rise at the end of their game when Geddes curled a screen tight while having his right arm grabbed followed by a game tying three that also included an And1 whistle. Only this was a 4-point play, game winning whistle and Conner sunk the shot with all the pressure on his shoulders giving his team the win. The Network went 2-2 beating the Rise, beating Lincoln Supreme plus they gave a good Minnesota Select team a one score fight (lost 56-54).
Cole Glasgow Cole Glasgow 6'2" | SG Dallas Center- Grimes | 2022 State IA of All Iowa Attack 16u (6’2, Dallas Center-Grimes Community, 2022, CG). Cole is a 2022 guard that packs a lot into his 6-foot-2 frame. He is listed as a combo guard and for good reason. We’ve seen Cole play against some of the best teams in the Midwest in the last two weekends and the division one offered guards that were in a stance working against Cole, saw Glasgow knock down multiple threes over the top of them. Cole has great lift on his jumper and because of that he can get to a balance over a position defender and comfortably release. But you can not just label him as a shooter. Going at the rim Cole attempts to finish everything with two hands on the rim. And as a lead guard his ability to change directions with a deep dribble clearing his man is more than I expected. I also liked how Cole balanced out his playmaking for his own offense, and that of others. Cole had 16 points, four boards, and four assists against D1 Minnesota. Cole will be playing in some events with the D1 Minnesota 16s in coming weekends.
Chucky Hepburn Chucky Hepburn 6'1" | PG Bellevue West | 2021 State #77 Nation NE of Team Factory (6’1, Bellevue West, 2021, PG). Despite having a leg injury and his team having a weekend struggle, the talent of Chucky Hepburn Chucky Hepburn 6'1" | PG Bellevue West | 2021 State #77 Nation NE was once again clear. There are two things that grabbed my attention this weekend (in addition to what I have seen the past 12 months): 1) Chucky has some of the quickest hands I have seen. Not only is he quick, but Chucky is also strong. Those hands are so quick to sharply disrupt a dribble that Chucky can attack like a shark and his team is flying the other way. And 2), Hepburn’s ability to create space in clever ways ranks with the best. He uses fakes to shift players as well anybody and then his immediate strike equals points. Then you have the hesitation dribble and that quick spin that so often freezes players. Add in that he can take a hit and complete and you have a PG all schools would love to have.
Caden Hinker of South Dakota Attack 16s (6’6, Mitchell, 2022, SF). What I saw from Caden reinforced my thoughts that he is the top prospect in South Dakota’s 2022 class. Seeing it live, I like his shooting form even more as it’s a high release that is snapped quick with comfort. We saw Hinker lead his team over the All Iowa Attack Black and it wasn’t just his shot at the arc, the transition score, or the putback that really got me, it was his fine touches off the window on the move that grabbed my attention. And then, the feisty play battling another forward. Caden is not afraid to mix things up and while the coach likely wanted him to hold back a bit with the battle after the whistle, I know coaches were at how watching that tape saying “this guy will battle every day”.
Cale Jacobsen Cale Jacobsen 6'3" | CG Ashland Greenwood | 2022 State NE of Lincoln Supreme (6’4, Ashland-Greenwood, 2022, SG). Cale is the third ranked junior-to-be in the state of Nebraska and he’s already picked up some division two offers. Next for Cale is the division one interest and ultimately scholarship opportunity. When colleges could start contacting 2022s Cale heard from Boise State, Colorado State, North Dakota State, North Dakota, Northern Colorado, Omaha, Oral Roberts, South Dakota State, and UT Arlington he told reporters. After being covered by multiple defenders this winter, Cale was happy to be in Ames facing only one guy and facing that one guy he flourished busting his tail on the wing to score on all three levels. Cale has range, he has a fierce motor that leads to aggressive attacks, he rebounds, and overall Cale loves to compete.
Malcolm Jones Malcolm Jones 6'9" | C Prior Lake | 2022 State MN of D1 Minnesota 16s (6’8, Prior Lake, 2022, C). This will be quick and quite simple, but I love the way Malcolm Jones Malcolm Jones 6'9" | C Prior Lake | 2022 State MN always gets to a good spot on the block and quickly gets shots up softly finished. It’s not always flashy for a camera but it’s high percentage and consistent game to game in numbers. His soft touch and intelligence in position on the block is going to lead to quality college opportunities.
David Joplin of D1 Minnesota (6’8, Brookfield Central, 2021, SF). Is he a four or a three people keep asking? I say, he will beat threes and fours whenever David gets on a basketball court. There are three things I did not really understand about David when I studied up on him before seeing him live: 1) he’s quicker off of his feet to throw down than I was aware of, 2) his determination to beat his man every possession is relentless desire that some don’t have, and 3) he’s got a first step that nobody was able to keep in front of last weekend. The 13 of 14 shooting scoring 29 in the opener was memorable but I liked how he touched in shots over contesting arms on the attack, fade, and the straight up pull-up jumper. A strong frame that also has skills and more agility than I think people have given him credit for nationally.
Ahjany Lee Ahjany Lee 6'9" | C Byron | 2022 State #145 Nation MN of D1 Minnesota Prospects (6’9, Byron, 2022, PF). We’ve heard a lot about the drive way shooting drills that Lee has been doing daily for hours at a time and this weekend it showed late in the game with Minnesota Select. Ahjany knocked out a pair of threes in the final minutes of the game closing the gap to a one score game. The shot is getting better, his body has grown to 6-foot-9, and Lee’s length and agility allows him to rebound in bulk. Not local grocery store bulk, Costco bulk. He used his length and quick feet to snare 17 rebounds against Minnesota Select and continued to rebound like that all weekend playing up a level.
Rowan Nelson Rowan Nelson 6'6" | PF Melrose | 2021 State MN of Minnesota Crossfire (6’5, Melrose, 2021, PF). Rowan Nelson Rowan Nelson 6'6" | PF Melrose | 2021 State MN and his “I will attack a smaller player inside and then take a bigger player away from the basket” game is back! And it helped the Crossfire go 4-1 this weekend earning impressive wins over Team Factory (UAA shoe squad) and South Dakota Attack. Nelson has some of the most refined moves in the paint that you will see leading to his 12 of 15 shooting for the weekend in the paint. Also knocked out four triples showing the range. A versatile talent that helped Crossfire continue their streak of success.
BJ Omot BJ Omot 6'8" | PF Mankato East | 2022 State #231 Nation MN of D1 Minnesota 16s (6’6, Mankato East, 2022, SF). There is going to be a day that high majors don’t just call to check in, they call with heavy interest and say “come play for us” (Butler and Providence already have). Omot just has a skilled glide to his game that is so rare. Picture Both Gach with more of a wing’s game but that same soft touch on the move is there. Omot mixes a smooth attacking approach leading to his regular double figure scoring – even playing with the balanced group he’s on with D1 Minnesota – but he can also hit that next gear and complete with aggression. Omot is so good at getting a player leaning with a fake and then he takes that bigger wing off the bounce and either glides to the extension or he touches in shots over the top. A budding talent with so much potential.
Brayden Phipps of South Dakota Network (6’5, Harrisburg, 2021, PF). I loved the way Brayden Phipps played in the win over the Rise. He set the game winning screen for the Rise and he carried the team offensively for a long period of time. His physical shoulder turns and powerful drop step finishes led to 23 points on just 7 of 9 shooting! Makes free throws, rebounding physically, and loves to grind in the post on both ends. He is about to have a big year at Harrisburg.
Tanner Te Slaa Tanner Te Slaa 6'5" | SF Boyden-Hull | 2022 State IA of South Dakota Attack (6’4, Boyden-Hull, 2022, Wing). There was a play this weekend where Tanner shook one of the best Howard Pulley defenders with his dribble attack only to be picked up by a second athletic Pulley top defender. Tanner dribbled back a step, then crossed over that player attacking the rim. Both players raced to contest his shot but all they did was foul Tanner who lifted to complete the play. He also made the game winning foul shots to beat Howard Pulley. Tanner is listed as a small forward but he has the handles and attacking intelligence to play a lot at the two and some at the one if needed. Think of a taller AJ Plitzuweit that is working to try and be as explosive of a scorer.
Will Tschetter Will Tschetter 6'8" | PF Stewartville | 2021 State #96 Nation MN of Minnesota Heat Tauer (6’8, Stewartville, 2021, PF). Today a wise man told me that Will is the Christian Laettner of Minnesota high school basketball and I think I am buying it. This weekend Will gave us a lot of the former Duke star by getting feisty on the block with opponents and then taking those players in the post with quick spins, pretty pivots, and shoulder work to clear for his touch makes. Will also made that face-up jumper and some shots at the arc but made sure to rebound in bulk as well. Will’s pump fake moves players in waves and the quick feet to move inside for the up and under or the sudden shoulder spin to score are A+ plus level. Had a bad first half of the weekend but was then the double-double level Will Tschetter Will Tschetter 6'8" | PF Stewartville | 2021 State #96 Nation MN we all know and appreciate the rest of the weekend.
Kyreese Willingham Kyreese Willingham 6'5" | SF Waseca | 2021 State MN of Minnesota Heat Tauer (6’5, Waseca, 2021, SF). I’m telling this young lefty makes multiple threes every game. At least every game I have ever seen. It’s like you can book it. He’s also put on a lot of strength since the winter so he was able to body with some bigger wings plus boarded and finished in the paint a bit more than in the past.