Week 9 Mid-Week Standouts
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In the last full week of the regular season, I take a look back at some of the top performers I’ve seen from Monday-Thursday! The games I’ve watched are White Bear Lake vs Stillwater, Rosemount vs Eagan, Minnehaha Academy vs…
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Continue ReadingIn the last full week of the regular season, I take a look back at some of the top performers I’ve seen from Monday-Thursday! The games I’ve watched are White Bear Lake vs Stillwater, Rosemount vs Eagan, Minnehaha Academy vs Minneapolis North, and Champlin Park vs Park Center. These are seven prospects who stood out!
Max Shikenjanski Max Shikenjanski 6'2" | PG Stillwater | 2023 State #288 Nation MN (6’2 2023 G, Stillwater)- An obvious choice here, as Max was simply on another level Monday. His quick release from three made defenders pay for going under screens, but he was so good at blowing by the weak closeout to get to the rim as well. Max showcased a variety of ways to get off a look over or under size around the basket, and made some difficult passes look routine off penetration. Max has been scoring at a high volume over the past couple of weeks, and doing so with impressive efficiency as he’s able to constantly get clean looks. His movement without the ball makes him extremely difficult to cover, as he runs off screens hard and makes quick cuts to the basket leading to solid looks. Finished with 37 points and a win.
Francis Nwaokorie Francis Nwaokorie 6'7" | C Champlin Park | 2021 State MN (6’7 2021 PF/C, Champlin Park)- Champlin Park finished their regular season with a flawless record, and it was Francis Nwaokorie Francis Nwaokorie 6'7" | C Champlin Park | 2021 State MN who stepped up last night with 25 points in the win over Park Center. He was facing physical defense and constant double teams, and it paid off as he was able to earn a handful of trips to the foul line in the second half. Francis made the most of those opportunities as he knocked down clutch free throws to help seal the game. He looked improved as a pick-and-pop shooter, and still had the quick shoulder turn leading to multiple looks at the basket. His ability to establish winning position on the block led to clean looks at the rim, and he was able to power through contact on multiple occasions. I also liked how he was able to switch off onto guards and move his feet to defend smaller/quicker players.
Caleb Siwek Caleb Siwek 6'1" | SG Rosemount | 2022 State MN (6’2 2022 G, Rosemount)- Having earned his first offer from Minnesota-Duluth just a day after Tuesday’s win, Caleb has some nice momentum rolling into the playoffs. Against Eagan he had a slower start being face guarded, but steadily adjusted on his way to 25 points. His quick release both off the catch or dribble forces defenders to guard him tightly, and even well beyond the high school arc as he has deep range. Caleb utilizes a nice head fake/hesitation move that he can use for a quick blow by, and then he showed the ability to pull-up off two feet or go off one foot for a soft floater. His sharpshooting ability garners him notable attention, but he’s a more than capable scorer in other ways as well.
Chet Holmgren Chet Holmgren 7'0" | C Minnehaha Academy | 2021 State #1 Nation MN (7’ 2021 F/C, Minnehaha Academy)- No surprise here as Chet put together another dominant performance, this one a 22 point triple-double fresh off of being awarded the Naismith National Player of the Year. When Chet touches the ball, good things seem to happen as he’s been an impressive passer all year, and is extremely efficient when looking to score. Against North he put multiple players into foul trouble early, and then posted up for some easy scores at the rim. Chet also stretched the floor for a pair of threes and a mid-range jumper. Defensively he did well to slide into position and time his jumps perfectly for double-digit blocks, while also discouraging opponents from even taking shots in the paint at times. A generational defensive talent at the high school level, who could not take a single shot and still have a big impact on the outcome of a game.
Emmett Gustafson (6’1 2021 G, Eagan)- Emmett scored a game high 18 points for Eagan, and did so in impressive fashion. His quick release allowed him to step into some shots and fire off before the chasing defender could get to him. Emmett’s range extended well beyond the arc, and his ability to run off screens and move without the ball created some clean looks from deep. He also had the added threat of being able to curl off a screen tightly and then attack off one or two dribbles before putting up a soft floater in the lane.
Ayouba Berthe Ayouba Berthe 6'4" | SF Park Center | 2022 State MN (6’5 2022 W, Park Center)- What stood out immediately was Ayouba’s defensive effort. He was tasked with guarding one of the top senior point guards in the state, and held him to just 12 points as his length and effort limited the amount of clean looks he was able to get. Berthe shadowed him the length of the floor, and the effort never warried as he continuosly prevented him from touching the ball or having a moment of peace. On the offensive end he knocked down two corners threes and also got the the rim for a handful of finishes. Ayouba finished with 16 points on the night.
Jacob Butler Jacob Butler 6'3" | SF Minneapolis North | 2022 State MN (6’4 2022 SG, Minneapolis North)- It wasn’t a big night statistically for anyone on North, as they struggled to get their offense going against Minnehaha, but I thought Jacob Butler Jacob Butler 6'3" | SF Minneapolis North | 2022 State MN showed a lot of positives. Not sure what to list him at as the roster says 6’2 but he definitely looks closer to the 6’4-6’5 range in person, as an extremely long wing-guard. Defensively he used that length to disrupt opposing ball handlers and get up into passing lanes, and the effort was there constantly. On the offensive end he made some nice passes and decisions in transition, and although he hasn’t been getting as many shots this year due to North’s increased depth/balance, he’s a trusted shooter with range beyond the arc. An intriguing prospect to watch over the next year.