Midwest Showdown: Saturday Morning’s Best
Many of the top 17u teams in Appleton played two games in the morning. Who stood out the most and what players caught the attention of Prep Hoops? Here is our group. Dajuan Bates Dajuan Bates 6'1" | PG De…
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Continue ReadingMany of the top 17u teams in Appleton played two games in the morning. Who stood out the most and what players caught the attention of Prep Hoops? Here is our group.
Dajuan Bates Dajuan Bates 6'1" | PG De La Salle | 2022 State IL of RISE (6’2, 2022, Guard, DeLaSalle HS, IL). Let’s put this out there instantly, the Minnesota Heat didn’t have an individual player that could guard Bates. The individual defender had next to no chance as Bates is much to quick with the ball for most players at this age. Bates forced the second and third help defender to be in position at all times and at times even that wasn’t enough. Bates scored a day high 38 points. The volume of shots was massive (32) but Bates was two makes off (had 12) of a solid percentage shooting day from the field and he made up for that with his 8 of 9 foul shooting. His ability to bring the second defender out and foul or get scored over the top of was impressive.
Drew Burau of Crossfire Pederson (6’4, 2022, PF, HLWW, MN). Drew kept it simple and to the point, so we will as well. The grown man rebounds and the smart position finishes were regular and it helped the Crossfire beat 920 Elite. Burau is willing to mix it up and has a great feel for where to step to for a board after contact as well as the likelihood of winning that board with two strong hands. Had 14 points and nine rebounds in the win we saw taking what shots came to him, moving the ball for others to score on the wing and high post, and setting screens top open others up. Steady game, steady player.
Jacob Butler Jacob Butler 6'3" | SF Minneapolis North | 2022 State MN of Heat Grow (6’5, 2022, Wing, Minneapolis North, MN). A triple double on the Prep Hoops Circuit! That’s Jacob Butler Jacob Butler 6'3" | SF Minneapolis North | 2022 State MN ! Butler’s signature play was the defensive rebound, push, transition feed for two. You could make a highlight reel off that play alone. But there was more. He played some point guard starting the offense and then went back to become shot contester/shot blocker (blocked three shots, contested many of the Bates misses). Jacob hit two deep, and I mean volley ball line area deep threes but made sure his team took a good shot on every possession.
Marcellus Cohen of RISE (6’8, 2022, PF, DeLaSalle HS, IL). I would have loved to see what Cohen could of done with more touches because I think if the ball would of moved to him when he was cutting to the rim he could of had a big game. Cohen only took three shots (a jumper make, a And 1 finish, and one contested miss) but there was another there to see that he has the potential to make an impact on the game. Heat Grow won the interior battle as RISE didn’t box out well as a team but Heat Grow shot poorly around the basket because they couldn’t make shots over the Cohen reach. Offensively the few chances he had to touch the ball he did well with them.
Koen Derry Koen Derry 6'7" | PF Galesburg | 2022 State IL of Archangels (6’7, 2022, Forward, Galesburg, IL). Derry is a prospect that grabbed my attention. While it may be a first time impression, I was really impressed how comfortable Koen was facing the cup as a 6’6/6’7 four man who also played the big man role really well. Came up with big offensive rebounds, contested shots of a smaller team regularly, and Derry finished moving off the ball for a group of guards that found him. Add in the open floor runs ahead of guards and a couple good looking shots facing the rim and he’s a guy I have my eye on.
Alexavier Egipciaco Alexavier Egipciaco 6'1" | SG Galesburg | 2022 State IL of Archangels (6’1, 2022, Guard, Galesburg, IL). Egipciaco was about 30 pounds stronger than the Playmakers guards trying to defend him and he used that to his advantage. He was like an angry lion attacking scared animals in the field constantly feasting. The scariest part was that Alexavier was the more aggressive and quicker guard so he won the angle and then punished people with strong finishes. Archangels are 3-0 in Appleton so far and this player is a big part of it.
Leroy Fairbanks IV Leroy Fairbanks IV 6'4" | SF Cass Lake-Bena | 2022 State MN of Playmakers North (6’4, 2022 Forward, Cass-Lake Bena, MN). Fairbanks is one of the more interesting players I’ve seen this month. With his team he has to play the four or the five and that’s because he’s one of their bigger players and more importantly, one of the smarter Playmaker players. He sets a great ball screen and more importantly knows how to move off the ball screen. He’s a great passer and shot creator with is back to the basket as Leroy knows how to use his body to get leverage and the touch allows him finishes from many angles. Comfortable facing as well.
Hakeem Ford Hakeem Ford 6'5" | PF Minneapolis Southwest | 2022 State MN of Minnesota Heat Grow (6’5, Forward, Minneapolis Southwest, MN). The Heat had their big man back and it made a massive impact with two big margin victories. Ford was tasked with protecting the rim and he did his job with more shot contests for misses in the paint than one will ever see. With RISE not using the posts much it allowed Ford to help over strong and he did just that keeping the RISE from anything high percentage near the cup. He contested many shots, scored 13 points in the paint, and grabbed six boards.
Tre Holmes Tre Holmes 6'2" | SG Hibbing | 2021 State MN of Playmakers North (6’2, 2022 Guard, Virginia HS MN). So far this weekend the Playmakers are 2-1 and the shooting of Tre Holmes Tre Holmes 6'2" | SG Hibbing | 2021 State MN has been a big part of the success. Holmes has been one of the most talked about players on the Prep Hoops Circuit the past six weeks and that has everything to do with consistency. Shot 41 percent from the arc this winter scoring 16 a game and the percentages have held tight on the Circuit.
Luke Kottom Luke Kottom 6'8" | PF Rochester Century | 2022 State MN of Minnesota Lightning (6’8, 2022 PF, Rochester Century MN). What was asked of Luke was to board, contest shots, finish off possessions at the cup, and be big on attacks. Kottom did all of that scoring 13 points on 5 of 9 shooting with eight rebounds. The Crusaders were held to seven scores in the paint and their bigs were held to two scores or less each. That’s the impact that Luke and his teammate Jaden Wysocki Jaden Wysocki 6'6" | PF Rochester Century | 2022 State MN had defensively. Kottom passed the ball out of the post well and had three dunks.
Matthew Moline of Crossfire Pederson (6’1 2022 SG, Maple Grove MN). It’s that time of year where we find/see Maple Grove JV guys that could potentially have a big role for the varsity next year (and likely play college hoops some place). Last year it was Morgan Moore, Terrance Anthony-Larmouth, and Jordan Boltz Jordan Boltz 6'6" | SF Annandale | 2021 State MN (moved to Annandale) and this year I can see it being Matthew Moline. Moline is an agile guard that really moved his feet well with his man winning the battle to spots and forcing a lot of possessions to reset. He was also one of the few players on his team that went at a shot blocker and used his touch and body control to find ways to score. The hard charging scores beating the big to the angle as well as the reverse lay-up (in a one on one in transition) are what stick in my mind. Moline moves well and has a chance for a great 17u season and a big senior year.
Shawn West-Zimpel Shawn West-Zimpel 6'2" | SG South St. Paul | 2022 State MN of Heat Grow (6’2, 2022 Wing, South St. Paul, MN). I feel like every game I watch Shawn play, he scores in the supporting role in a big way. That was the case last weekend both times I watched Heat Grown and that was the case this morning when he used his lefty stroke to hit three threes, two of which were big in the Heat opening their initial lead. He’s a lefty shooter that catches players by surprise often, and West-Zimpel can also use the dribble two-three times with quickness to get into an attempt.
Eli Wolff of Minnesota Lightning (6’2 Wing, Southland, MN). Wolff was a ball of energy all morning beating everybody to a loose ball. If you totaled the amount of longer boards and loose balls up for everybody else, and then matched it against Wolff, Eli won in a landslide. He out-worked and out-sprinted the field to 15 rebounds often just wrestling the ball out of the pack. Wolff then has the skills to push the other way and run an offense, as well as the jumper to make three threes. Throw in the attack game that put him on the foul line and you have a 17 point, 15 rebound double-double. I imagine Wolff is going to have a lot of monster nights for Southland next year.
Jaden Wysocki Jaden Wysocki 6'6" | PF Rochester Century | 2022 State MN of Minnesota Lightning (6’6, 2022 Forward, Rochester Century, MN). The biggest prospect revelation of the day is that Jaden Wysocki Jaden Wysocki 6'6" | PF Rochester Century | 2022 State MN has a chance to be a scholarship player and he had the numbers versus the Wisconsin Crusaders (22 points on 9 of 12 shooting) to back it up. Let’s get the physical make-up out of the way: Jaden is quicker than most forwards you will see, is long, Wysocki gets off his feet quickly, and he runs very well. At his size and agility, Jaden started the game with makes on five early possessions and the Crusaders big was helpless because Jaden was quicker and bigger. Just went you got excited about Jaden finishing on the move (scoring off ball and using a dribble) he then stretched the floor making a three and two jumpers that were nearly three pointers. All the tools are there for Wysocki to become a scholarship level player.
Sam Zilmer Sam Zilmer 6'4" | PF Rockford | 2022 State MN of Heat Grow (6’4, 2022 Forward, Rockford, MN). I would count Zilmer as a combo forward for his team with the ability to knock down the open jumper after ball movement, but also the strength to finish/rebound around the cup. He’s been a four or five basket a game guy every time I watch Heat Grow and he does it all with a steadiness his coaches can count on. I really enjoy the comfort of which he gives the coach that Sam will take a good shot, and odds on make the open jumper, but also competes with a toughness.