MBCA Camp – The Major Stock Jumpers
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Who from Minnesota took their recruiting stock and pushed it to an even higher level this weekend at MBCA? Here is my list. First of all, Kendall Blue Kendall Blue 6'6" | SG East Ridge | 2022 State #242 Nation…
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Continue ReadingWho from Minnesota took their recruiting stock and pushed it to an even higher level this weekend at MBCA? Here is my list.
First of all, Kendall Blue Kendall Blue 6'6" | SG East Ridge | 2022 State #242 Nation MN and Joshua Ola-Joseph Joshua Ola-Joseph 6'6" | SF Osseo | 2022 State #166 Nation MN were in the Five Best article but they deserve mention here as well. Kendall Blue Kendall Blue 6'6" | SG East Ridge | 2022 State #242 Nation MN played well enough that schools are talking about him in meetings right now that may not have before while Joshua Ola-Joseph Joshua Ola-Joseph 6'6" | SF Osseo | 2022 State #166 Nation MN certified himself as a high major player this weekend (IMO). In addition to those two…..
Braeden Carrington Braeden Carrington 6'4" | SG Park Center | 2022 State #141 Nation MN of Park Center (2022). In watching Braeden play consistently in the UAA event as well as other Sizzle events, and seeing him this weekend, I think Braeden’s ability to consistently hit shots and consistently score on the move has him in the range of a top 150 recruit in the nation. Carrington playing lead guard for the Pirates seems to have greatly expanded his game. Watched him shoot 11 of 17 in the two games I saw mixing in four threes with high percentage rim finishes.
Mitchell January Mitchell January 6'1" | SG Richfield | 2022 State MN of Richfield (2022). We’ve seen January play that supporting role well for Richfield. This weekend I watched January take on the main scoring role for his team and play at a really high level against a high major player. The ability looks to be there and next it will be fun to see how efficient he is mixing his scoring abilities with creating opportunities for others as a combo guard.
Elvis Nnaji Elvis Nnaji 6'8" | C Hopkins | 2022 State #215 Nation MN of Hopkins (2022). Physically Nnaji already looks like a college big. Strongest post around here. Energy and effort wise, Nnaji is there, I don’t think I’ve seen a big create more 1 on 0 chances they other way for himself like I’ve seen from Elvis the past six months. Bouncing off two feet to finish, rebound, and contest, he’s exactly what you look for in a high major big defending. To me this is a high major big with a motor and physical gifts, and the coach willing to work with that will have a high effort player early in the career with a potential double-double averaging big late in his career.
Chiddi Obiazor Chiddi Obiazor 6'5" | PF Eden Prairie | 2023 MN of Eden Prairie (2023). I’m convinced that Chiddi is a top 3-5 prospect in the Minnesota class of talent. The 6’5/6’5 forward is much better at creating space with a dribble than I was aware of and he explosively gets to places before the help defenders can. He has David Roddy like height and David Roddy like forward skill albeit not as strong physically (and not the jumpshooter David was/is) but athletically he’s to a higher level and his handles may be better than David at this age. There will be a football/basketball decision here someday but when it comes to hoops, Chiddi not only has division one ability, he has high major potential.
Pharrel Payne Pharrel Payne 6'9" | C Park Of Cottage Grove | 2022 State #84 Nation MN of Park of Cottage Grove (2022). We’ve been screaming it for months now but finally Pharrel Payne Pharrel Payne 6'9" | C Park Of Cottage Grove | 2022 State #84 Nation MN has the offer to show what we’ve believed, that he is a high major player. Not only is Payne a high major player, I think he’s a top 100/top 125 level player nationally. His motor is so far ahead of other bigs and he’s not even 17 yet! What’s crazy is that Payne showed what he can do to coaches and that was with guards barely passing him the ball! Minnesota offered Payne this weekend.
Samuel Rensch Samuel Rensch 6'6" | SF Hutchinson | 2022 State MN of Hutchinson (2022). The Northern Sun coaches have been watching Sam for a long time and their thought process was to either offer him and hope for the best, or simply hope that the Summit league learns what they already know and that’s the fact that Sam has division one ability. This weekend Samuel Rensch Samuel Rensch 6'6" | SF Hutchinson | 2022 State MN showed that he is a Summit League caliber player. It’s that all around skill in a big agile frame that made us think Sam has some similarities to Cody Schilling before, and we still think that at this time.
Kenji Scales Kenji Scales 6'0" | PG Eastview | 2022 State MN of Eastview (2022). Injuries cut his time down to a day but a day was all Kenji needed to show the crowd that he can confidently score against just about anybody he faces. Feet set, using the pull-up, or attacking and hitting that one-hander, Scales has a confidence/toughness mentally that is unflappable.
Nolan Winter Nolan Winter 7'0" | PF Lakeville North | 2023 State #98 Nation MN of Lakeville North (2023). I’m not saying Nolan is going to play in the NBA for ten years, but his skill level in a 6’9 and growing frame has me thinking back to Jon Leuer years back (not saying he is the next Jon Leuer, just a high school comparison). A lot of 2023s had trouble scoring against the 2022s in this setting, but Winter seemed to thrive. Open jumpers were made but even more impressive was how Winter scored on balance after using a dribble. Also mixed in a few active buckets each game which is crucial to scoring numbers. Winter moves so well without the basketball, well educated player.