Hard Work Finals: Saturday PM Special
Bloomington, MN – I was watching 16U games at Jefferson High School in the Activities Center during the afternoon and evening on Saturday. All 5 courts had talented players going up and down. The Hard Work Region Finals is stocked…
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Continue ReadingBloomington, MN – I was watching 16U games at Jefferson High School in the Activities Center during the afternoon and evening on Saturday. All 5 courts had talented players going up and down. The Hard Work Region Finals is stocked full of talent 16U talent. I saw special players from Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.
Read below to see the breakdown on why these players made the Saturday PM Special list…
Alphabetically, here are the special players from Saturday afternoon/evening in the 2023 Class.
6’4 AJ Akot || O’gorman || Sacred Hoops ||
He is easily a next-level athlete. AJ is long, quick, and explosive. His handles are silky smooth. On defense his timing and patience are amazing. He doesn’t go for fakes and he waits until the last minute to go up and block a shot. Akot has a very high ceiling for where his game could go. I was impressed with his finishing and feel for the game. The Knight from O’gorman is a great one!
6’4 Buay Koak || Lyle-Pacelli || MN Lightning Ellerbusch ||
His handles and his Allen Iverson look-alike crossover impressed me. Buay is a top-notch athlete with hops. In the first game of the day he was slamming the rock like he was mad at it. His best dunk was a windmill in transition. Buay jumps so well it looked as if his head was at the same level as the rim! He can get up and he is also a very quick jumper. This was evident on offensive rebounds. He would stick the ball back in before the D could react. He has a long wingspan that makes his life easier and his opponents miserable. Koak is a very good baller that deserves some serious attention.
6’0 Dylan Omweno || Apple Valley || Gain Elite Minnesota ||
He was one of the best athletes I watched today. Dylan moves and jumps at a different level compared to other players. He is extra bouncy with supreme hops. Omweno is ultra-smooth with everything that he does. He can shake the defense with the blink of an eye and finish with power of finesse. His game will translate into college ball with ease.
6’1 Jake Thompsen || Waukesha West || National Basketball Academy ||
A cold-blooded shooter from downtown. Jake is a great in-rhythm 3-point shooter. He works hard to get open and find his shot. His motor is always running. Thompsen sets up his cuts and comes off screens fast to create separation. His shot is true and to the mark. Every shot looks like it is going in when Thompsen shoots it. Besides from being a knock-down shooter, jake fights for rebounds and plays hard.
6’0 Kodiak Miller || West Salem || Coulee Country ||
He is a nice guard from Wisconsin that does not back down from bigger forwards. Miller is slick, sly, and smooth. I liked how he snaked his way through traffic a found a way to the basket. Kodiak can lull the defense to sleep and turn on the jets to blow by them. He showed crafty and soft finishes when at the cup. A cool customer to say the least.
6’2 Logan Arndt || Oconomowoc || ABC Young Lions Black ||
He is an opportunistic scoring machine. I watched him single handly get his team back in a game this afternoon. Logan can score from all 3-levels. I like that he uses his body well and gets to the line often. Arndt can drill the triple and hit the mid-range jumper. I liked how he elevated on his jumper above the D for a clean look. Logan is very efficient in transition and he does not cut any corners. He goes straight to the cup and finishes or gets fouled. This scorer can put up points in bunches.
6’0 Matt Eng || O’gorman || Sacred Hoops ||
This PG from Sioux Falls is a do-it-all player. He is a team player and a stellar shooter. Matt shoots it with great feet and quick release. His handles are as good as I saw today. He has complete control of the ball at all times. I liked that he can deliver 1-handed passes from off the dribble. Eng is a scrappy defender and he goes hard for O-boards. He represented SD well today by being one of the best PG’s in the gym.
6’2 Nathan Fenske || Lakeview || SW MN Stars ||
This is the second time I have watched him this summer and in that short time, I believe that Fenske is more athletic. While watching him today, I noticed how fast, quick, and twitchy he was. Nathan’s strength is also impressive. For such a strong kid he is also very smooth and fluid. He is the master of the reverse layup. You think he is cut off, nope! he finds an angle and finishes on the other side. Fenske can flat out ball. He is also an amazing hustler, defender, and hard worker. Nathan is absolutely a player that you want on your team.
6’5 Pal Wal || Albert Lea || MN Lightning Ellerbusch ||
He was nothing but impressive! Pal was explosive to the rim and he was great at finishing. At one point he made a spectacular spin move to lose his defender. He was immediately picked by another defender and Pal drifted away from the basket while using his body to shield the ball and flip in an eye-popping left-handed finger roll. This kid has game. He is very very creative. His long arms give him an advantage at finishing around the basket and he is a great leaper. Wal can also hit the outside jumper. When he is going to the rim it seems like he is gliding instead of jumping like everyone else. On defense, Pal is a disruptor. He plays the top of the zone press and he does a superb job of deflecting passes and corralling ballhandlers into corners from traps. An overall stud to say the least. I would imagine quite a few colleges are interested in this baller.
6’5 Prince Adams || Evantson || Illinois Hoops Stars Gardner ||
This big man is a beast that you do not want to run into! He blocked shots in the paint and at the 3-point arc. Prince scores around the basket and he can attack off the bounce from the perimeter. He is a bull if you are in his way. Adams showed an ankle-braking crossover as well. He also can lead the break with his speed and handles. Prince is super-strong and a stout defender. He can board up with the best of them. Check out this powerful player from the Chicago area.
6’5 Tate VanOtterloo || Beresford || Sacred Hoops ||
This big man can get up and down the court like a quick guard. Tate had an eye-opening athletic finish in transition that caught my attention. He also had a great left-handed drive across the lane that he finished with a lefty finger roll. Tate has length and averticle that are impressive. VanOtterloo is a player you should keep your tabs on.
6’6 Will Opsahl || Goodhue || MN Lightning Ellerbusch ||
He is a nimble big man. His best move of the day involved an aggressive spin move that was followed up with a step-through and a head fake. That move shows me that his game is developed and his smart with patience. Will’s height and long arms are a coach’s dream. He can block, protect, disrupt, rebound, and dunk with those long arms. I like his anticipation on defense. His soft touch around the basket was evident today. He had multiple AND-1 finishes today. Opsahl can also drain the 3-ball. This afternoon he hit an in-rhythm trail 3 that was impressive. Will has a great well-rounded and versatile game.