MBCA Showcase: Max’s Day 1 Standouts
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The MBCA Showcase is taking place at East Ridge HS this weekend, with many of Minnesota’s top prospects competing in one building in front of plenty of college coaches. I was in attendance for night one of the action, and…
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Continue ReadingThe MBCA Showcase is taking place at East Ridge HS this weekend, with many of Minnesota’s top prospects competing in one building in front of plenty of college coaches. I was in attendance for night one of the action, and these are seven of the players who stood out the most.
Tre Holloman Tre Holloman 6'2" | PG Cretin-Derham Hall | 2022 State #57 Nation MN (6’2 2022 PG, Cretin-Derham Hall)- Tre Holloman Tre Holloman 6'2" | PG Cretin-Derham Hall | 2022 State #57 Nation MN showed why he’s one of the top 2022 point guards in the country by leading his team to a 2-0 record. His effort defensively immediately stands out as he’s constantly picking up full court against some of the quickest guards in the state. He used that pressure to not only create a few loose balls, but to also disrupt the other teams’ attempts to set up their offense. On the offensive end he showed off his range beyond the arc, knocking down four 3’s while shooting a high percentage in game one, and in game two knocking down an impressive stepback three with a hand in his face. As always, he was the player getting everyone involved, and really pushing the tempo in transition. Teammate’s love to play with Tre because he gets everyone open looks, and he does whatever it takes to win games.
Demarion Watson Demarion Watson 6'8" | SF Totino-Grace | 2022 State #150 Nation MN (6’8 2022 SF, Totino-Grace)- Demarion had a fast start in his first game last night, flexing his scary potential in front of the Division One coaches in attendance. The 6’8 wing is dangerous off the dribble, and he showcased his pull-up jumper that is so difficult for opponents to contest due to his length and release point. That jumper hits at both the mid-range and three point levels, as 9 of his 17 points came from beyond the arc. Defensively he’s versatile enough to guard most spots on the floor at the high school level, and his length is a factor when defending the rim. Demarion added in 6 rebounds in a solid night one performance.
Nolan Winter Nolan Winter 7'0" | PF Lakeville North | 2023 State #98 Nation MN (6’9 2023 F, Lakeville North)- It was my first time watching Nolan play in person in about half a year, and I was impressed not only by his growth in height, but by the strides his game took. Nolan competed on the defensive end guarding a strong 6’6 forward on the block, and when his man tried to bully him down low, Nolan was able to use his length to either block or disrupt every shot he attempted. One play that stood out started with a block that Nolan was then able to secure, dribble through 2-3 players up the court, and then deliver an accurate pass to an open shooter in the corner. Nolan looked improved off the dribble, and was also his usual threat from beyond the arc knocking down multiple threes.
Nasir Whitlock Nasir Whitlock 6'2" | PG Delasalle | 2023 State MN (6’1 2023 PG, DeLaSalle)- It seems that no matter where Nas plays or who he plays against, he just knows how to put points on the board. Nasir is one of the best scorers in the 2023 class regardless of position, as his quickness and versatile scoring ability allow him to put points on the board in a variety of ways. He was hitting from beyond the arc off the bounce, or getting an angle on his man to attack the basket, pinning his defender on his hip and extending to the rim. Nas also leaked out in transition and got a dunk to add to his total. Despite his scoring ability, he doesn’t force much offensively and does a good job of picking and choosing when to shoot. He adds in quickness on the defensive end that allows him to apply ball pressure and make things difficult for opposing ball handlers.
Samuel Rensch Samuel Rensch 6'6" | SF Hutchinson | 2022 State MN (6’6 2022 SF, Hutchinson)- One of the top two sport athletes in the state (D1 offered football player), Sam showed why he also holds D2 offers already for basketball as well. At 6’6 he has the size to compete at either spot on the wing, and he adds in one of the best mid-range games in the 2022 class. Able to get to his spot off one or two dribbles and elevate for a smooth release, defenders had a hard time stopping on a dime to contest his jumper, and that led to a lot of clean looks and high percentage shooting for Sam. Ryan James talked about his 26 point performance in his first game of the day, and Sam followed that up with another strong shooting performance in the game I watched. He’s more than just a scorer though as he fought hard on the glass, and showed a high IQ with his decision making and passing vision that led to plenty of clean looks for his team.
Jamal Ambrose Jamal Ambrose 6'10" | C East View | 2022 State MN (6’10 2022 C, Eastview)- Showcase events can often be dominated by guards and athletic transition scorers, so Jamal wasn’t always getting a high number of touches in the post, but he made the most of his chances. A strong 6’10 player, not many could match that combination of size and physical abilities in the post, allowing Jamal to score with a strong drop step, or show off his touch with a baby hook or fadeaway. Jamal also stretched the floor with his three point shot, and it seemed like every missed shot that came in his area ended up in his hands despite consistently going up against 6’8+ opponents. One of the positives about Jamal’s game is that he’s able to quickly get off the floor to finish, a trait that led to two dunks in game one as he was cutting towards the basket on the baseline.
Joshua Ola-Joseph Joshua Ola-Joseph 6'6" | SF Osseo | 2022 State #166 Nation MN (6’6 2022 SF, Osseo)- One thing that I’ve noticed over the past few years is that Josh Ola-Joseph always finds ways to produce. Whether it be as his team’s go-to scorer or as a roll player, he finds ways to be productive. That showed last night as he was able to find ways to move without the ball to lead to some explosive dunks at the rim, including a poster that is a candidate for dunk of the summer. He’s more than just a dunker as his high arcing jumper forces defenders to guard him beyond the arc, and he knocked down multiple threes in the game I watched. On the defensive end he can high point rebounds, contest shots, and use his length and long stride to guard on the perimeter or defender 6’8 guys with ease on the block. A prospect who should see his stock continue to rise this summer.