NHR State: Saturday Morning 16u Standouts
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The NHR State Tournament participants were up early getting after it. Here is the best of the best from Saturday morning. Parker Dunham of Minnesota Lightning Dunham (6’1, Forward, Rochester Lourdes). We’ve seen a lot of workers this weekend and…
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Continue ReadingThe NHR State Tournament participants were up early getting after it. Here is the best of the best from Saturday morning.
Parker Dunham of Minnesota Lightning Dunham (6’1, Forward, Rochester Lourdes). We’ve seen a lot of workers this weekend and Parker ranks with the best of them. What he gives up in size around the basket he makes up for in constant effort and court IQ. His releasing points as well as Parker’s effort to get ahead of defenders to space is why he put a game high eight boards in the books with seven baskets. Does a lot of work around the basket but is agile enough and skilled enough to of course defend wings and play a wing on offense.
Nathan Fenske Nathan Fenske 6'2" | SG Lakeview | 2023 State MN of Southwest Minnesota Stars (6’2, Guard, Lakeview). Fenske was one of the most physically impressive players I saw Saturday morning. The first play of the game Fenske picked off a pass and flew the other direction for a high flying dunk with two hands. It was the first of four steals he had jumping passing lanes hard, and one of three very explosive dunks. The second was over the top of a guy for an And1 finish. It wasn’t just explosive plays though, Fenske is a really good passer (five assists) and was able to beat smaller, quicker guys off the dribble often.
Ryan Heise of Minnesota Select Emge (6’6, Wing, Lake City). It’s very possible that Ryan Heise is the next 2023 scholarship potential talent that we start to hear about. He’s a long player that defends very well with great lateral steps and good teaching. Heise is a skilled wing that has complete comfort handling, moving the ball, and knocking down shots. His three late in the Select win over the Magic was the final dagger. At 6’6, with skills, agility, and court IQ, I feel Ryan is a player that could make a prospect jump at some point. He’s a potential scholarship player to me.
Buay Koak Buay Koak 6'4" | SG Lyle-Pacelli | 2023 State MN of Minnesota Lightning Ellerbusch (6’4, Wing, Lyle-Pacelli). Koak’s 16 point, 11 rebound double-double was simple: he was physically quicker, stronger, and more agile than all of his opponents and he used that for constant production. Koak had 11 boards and most of them were defensive grabs that he pushed the other way, or they were put-backs vaulting over others. The touch on the move impressed mid-lane making two and everything else was at the rim. It was a story of physical dominance.
Vito Marchese of WOTN (6’6, Forward, Lakeville North). Strong and steady won the race this morning and that was Vito in the paint. Vito’s defensive positioning took away everything from the opposing big and when that big tried to face up Marchese defensive steps left a hand in the face resulting in zero jumpers made. Vito grabbed six boards, scored four times at the rim on five shots, and made key foul shots. Steady player that the Panthers can use in a deep frontcourt this winter.
Cham Okey Cham Okey 6'3" | SG Austin | 2023 MN of Minnesota Lightning Dunham (6’2, Guard, Austin). The Lightning faced an uphill challenge trying to beat a good WOTN team but Okey had his team in the game at the end. Okey’s five threes were the big headliner quick releasing over his man to build numbers. Okey was also strong handling for his team, and creating for others. There is certain talent there that will fit right in with Austin’s balanced uptempo approach.
Anish Ramlall Anish Ramlall 6'2" | PG Rosemount | 2023 State MN of WOTN (6’2, Guard, Rosemount). Anish Ramlall Anish Ramlall 6'2" | PG Rosemount | 2023 State MN has a better understanding of this game than 99 out of 100 guys you will see. The way he passes the basketball is high level. Baseline in-bounds play, Anish gets the ball and quickly zips the lob to a high point, way too quick and high for the D to react, assist to teammate. His leads seeing where his man will be and where the defense can’t get to, are outstanding. The deep crossover that a defender simply can’t bend to followed by the right attacking angle. His help defense and his digs in the post, type of hindering activity that stops a play. Then late in the game, Anish stopped a player that was red hot plus scored three times late after he’d had a bad shooting day. Does so much possession by possession.
Jacob Rothman of Minnesota Select Emge (5’8, Guard, Hopkins). Rothman played with good defenders like a yo-yo. They couldn’t figure out what way he was going and when they thought they could, he attacked them in a different way. He used screens like a magician but would then go away from it when the defender overcompensated. Rothman used fakes to shift guys and then pounced to the space to score. He would beat his first man and then dropped shots over the top or extensive finger roll the ball to the rim before help arrived. Rothman’s 33 points against the Magic was brilliant and it will be tough for anybody to top today.
Blake Schoolmeester Blake Schoolmeester 6'6" | SF Willmar | 2023 State MN of Southwest Minnesota Stars (6’5, PF, Willmar). Blake scored his 20 on 8 of 10 shooting including two early three pointers that the Grizzlies weren’t prepared to defend. His range led to the few bigs the opposing team had hesitantly stepping away from their help, and having to defend away from the up. From that point Blake was able to cut past those bigs to score or run past them for putbacks. He scored a couple on the block, and Blake ran the floor to finish. A 20 point showing on 8 of 10 shooting.
Pal Wal Pal Wal 6'5" | PF Albert Lea | 2023 State MN of Minnesota Lightning Ellerbusch (6’5, Forward, Albert Lea). I find Pal Wal Pal Wal 6'5" | PF Albert Lea | 2023 State MN ’s prospect potential interesting. As he physically matures – gets taller, adds strength – his game will become even tougher. Wal moves very well and has skills to be a face-up forward plus the agility to use those skills to make plays going at the rim. Wal will also physically dominate opponents at this level because he is so much stronger, but’s also agile with the finishes above the rim. We saw Wal score 18 points with seven boards this morning.
Keegon Wicht of Southwest MN Stars (5’11, Guard, Dawson-Boyd). The Grizzlies and Stars were going at it in a two score game and then Keegon Wicht changed all the momentum. Wicht attacked the basket and completed an And1 and then went back the other way and forced a player into a really tough shot attempt. Wicht pushed the other direction, moved the ball, got it back and hit a three. That sequence took a close game and made it a double figure point spread the rest of the way. Wicht put the ball on the hands of players going at the rim and he also rebounded in traffic pulling ball away from hands that didn’t attack as aggressively. He scored 15 points with seven boards and five assists.