Prep Hoops Live – Top Minnesota Bigs
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What bigs had an excellent weekend in Kansas City? Prep Hoops Live was filled with excellent performances from Minnesota size. Here are some samples. Carter Bjerke Carter Bjerke 6'9" | C Wayzata | 2022 State MN of D1 Minnesota Prospects…
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Continue ReadingWhat bigs had an excellent weekend in Kansas City? Prep Hoops Live was filled with excellent performances from Minnesota size. Here are some samples.
Carter Bjerke Carter Bjerke 6'9" | C Wayzata | 2022 State MN of D1 Minnesota Prospects (6’8, Wayzata, 2022). Carter is your pick and pop four. He’s your high percentage stretch big that forces a player of size to step out and guard him, or allow a player like Bjerke to sink threes in a 50 percent plus comfortable way. I thought Carter did a much better job rebounding the ball this weekend as well. Had a strong 13 points and nine rebounds in a good win over the Tulsa Hawks. A division one player for sure, especially for a team that wants their bigs to clear space and then stretch the court.
Matthew Bothun Matthew Bothun 6'9" | PF St. Francis | 2023 State MN of D1 Minnesota 16s (6’8 St. Francis, 2023). Bothun has a baby face to him and he still looks like he’s growing into that long 6-foot-8 frame. When you consider that and realize that he averaged 18-19 a game this winter with still so much maturity to come, you realize the ceiling is high. He is already a relied on shooter with range and when he adds core strength his game the numbers could explode.
Molley Kamara of Minnesota Chill (6’8, Park Center, 2023). The activity of Kamara is the perfect piece to have next to Khalif Bettis Khalif Bettis 6'6" | SF Burnsville | 2023 State MN at forward. Kamara is active, he plays hard, and he can produce four or five buckets without needing the ball to create. Plays hard, has a good little touch around the bucket, and should have a nice role for the Pirates next year.
Boden Kapke Boden Kapke 6'11" | C Holy Family | 2023 State #153 Nation MN of D1 Minnesota 16s (6’10, Holy Family, 2023). This weekend gave me a firm feeling that Boden is a top 5-6 prospect in this sophomore class of Minnesota players. He’s got the size but the skill is there too. I don’t just mean the touch, Boden has had that from several vantage points. What I saw this weekend with his passing out of the post and his footwork really has me thinking his ceiling is higher. Add in the way Boden uses his body in the post and I think he’s on the verge of some big things. His ability to stun his man and then make the next play while the defender tried to recover really caught my attention.
Sam Kuseske Sam Kuseske 6'6" | PF Rosemount | 2022 State MN of Minnesota Select Mantey (6’6, Rosemount, 2022). One of the reasons I think Rosemount is in for a big 2021-22 season is a guy like Sam Kuseke. Rosemount is full of skill and the size is coming along as well. Sam is a great example. He’s 6-foot-6, is skilled out to the arc, can touch in shots in the paint, and is finding consistency playing for Coach Mantey. He’s had a great two weeks and is one to watch emerge.
Ahjany Lee Ahjany Lee 6'9" | C Byron | 2022 State #145 Nation MN of D1 Minnesota Prospects (6’10, Byron, 2022). The Prospects lost a couple games early but then bounced back with three wins in five games. Any idea why? I’ll give you a big reason why. The activity of Ahjany picked up collecting 15 points and 15 boards in one game, another 17 and 11 in a game that followed, and then 8 and 9 in the last contest being the Tulsa Hawks. Lee runs as well as just about any big he gets that extreme length in the way of players he’s helping to, as well as on to the ball. Ahjany scored actively at the rim and his back to the basket game was excellent. He scored with the left shoulder turn into a one hand hook or he fell away and showed a great touch on a nearly impossible to stop fade out of the post. Excellent end to the weekend for one of the event’s top prospects.
Jackson Loge Jackson Loge 6'7" | C Morris Area | 2022 State MN of Minnesota Fury (6’8, Morris Area, 2022). It will be hard for you to find another player that uses the pivot as well as Jackson. His up fakes with the pivot, the up and under, and the touch out of the post move are all outstanding. Loge can use either hand to finish and he turns over both shoulders very well. Also an excellent face-up touch with a good feel for passing out of the post. Had a pair of 16 points games beating good teams and the way Fury shares the ball that’s a big total. A certain D1 talent, I think Loge will start attracting a ton of mid-major interest plus, the way Loge uses that pivot and is comfortable away from the bucket, could a high major group start sniffing around? Possible.
Brandon Melchior Brandon Melchior 6'10" | C Elk River | 2022 State MN of Minnesota Heat MacDonald (6’10, Elk River, 2022). Some of the moves that Brandon made when we were watching were stunning. It was as if he took the Kevin McHale tape, watched it close, copied the moves, and then put them to use in KC. His up and under move against the Louisiana kids was a think of beauty and the pump finish into a quick touch in shot before the defender could get to the second jump was awesome. I think Brandon is better than people realize.
Brady Nicholson Brady Nicholson 6'9" | C Chaska | 2022 State MN of Northstar Titans (6’9, Chaska, 2022). Brady Nicholson Brady Nicholson 6'9" | C Chaska | 2022 State MN has had a fantastic start to the 17u season. He’s played in two events already and had some big performances in several games. We watched Nicholson knock out three triples, push guys around in the paint for scores, and grab nine boards in one half. It was a great sample of the touch that Nicholson has as well as his ability to use his frame and move others.
Pharrel Payne Pharrel Payne 6'9" | C Park Of Cottage Grove | 2022 State #84 Nation MN of Minnesota Select (6’9, Park of Cottage Grove, 2022). Payne had the best weekend of any of the bigs that I saw in Kansas City. He led his team to a 4-0 record (Select won the Comets Shootout last weekend as well so they are 8-0) through two weekends of play. Payne runs ahead of the pack including the guards, he’s so quick off his feet to use his length and meet the ball after it comes off his man’s hand or he smashes shots in help defense when he’s the player stepping over. Usually hits a three a game and around the basket his shoulder turn continues to be balanced into a nice touch completion. Payne is 100 percent a future high major basketball player and he saved his best performance for last scoring 24 of his team’s 48 in a three point win over Oklahoma Chaos. One of the hottest recruiting names in the Midwest.