Midwest Collision – The Minnesota Standouts
Minnesota programs were spread across the country this past weekend, and a handful of teams made their way over to Appleton, Wisconsin for the Prep Hoops Midwest Collision! I was in attendance to take in the action, and these are…
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Continue ReadingMinnesota programs were spread across the country this past weekend, and a handful of teams made their way over to Appleton, Wisconsin for the Prep Hoops Midwest Collision! I was in attendance to take in the action, and these are seven of the top performers I saw.
Jobe Juenemann Jobe Juenemann 6'2" | SG Duluth East | 2023 State MN (6′ 2023 G, Starks Elite )- Perhaps the biggest stock booster at the event from Minnesota, Jobe was a walking bucket in all three games I saw. At 6′ he may not be the biggest player on the floor, but has explosive athleticism that allows him to finish above the rim while also guarding bigger players on the other end. Offensively he showed some sharp shooting ability, knocking down multiple threes each game, and catching fire at moments to put up points in a hurry. He was dangerous shooting off the catch, but was even better getting to his spots off one/two dribbles and knocking down shots off the bounce.
Raoul Vaidya Raoul Vaidya 6'0" | PG Maple Grove | 2023 State MN (5’11 2023 PG, MN Bounce)- Raoul proved he can run a team at a high level last weekend as he helped lead MN Bounce to a 4-0 record against some talented programs. The floor general proved to be one of the top facilitators at the event, as he could get into gaps and draw over help defenders before quickly locating the open man. There were times he seemed to have eyes in the back of his head as he was able to locate trailing teammates and set them up for open threes with an accurate pass. When looking to score he has a quick pull-up jumper, and can also use his quickness to get to the rim.
Tre Holmes Tre Holmes 6'2" | SG Hibbing | 2021 State MN (6’2 2022 SG, Playmakers North Showcase)- The Playmakers put in a balanced performance in their game that I watched, and Tre managed to stand out with his versatility on both ends. He’s an athletic guard who handled the ball at times but can also play on the wing. At 6’2 with strength and athleticism, Tre is able to guard the 1-3 defensively, and excels both on the ball and with his off-ball positioning putting himself in good spots to make plays. On the offensive end he plays with patience and unselfishness, willing to pass up a good shot to get his teammate a great shot. Defenders can’t afford to leave him open though as he’s a solid outside shooter, but is also capable of reading a bad closeout and putting the ball on the floor to attack the basket.
Sawyer Blasktvedt (6’3 2023 W, MN Crossfire Kahl)- Sawyer showed some nice flashes as a floor stretcher on Saturday against a tough Starks Elite team. The 6’3 wing has plenty of length on the wing, and the confidence to throw up shots from well beyond the high school line. Whether it was curling off a screen or floating around the arc to get into open space, Sawyer just found ways to get into openings and he’s able to quickly catch and get into his shooting motion. Caught fire towards the end of the game I watched, hitting a handful of threes in just a few minutes.
Isaac Nyakundi Isaac Nyakundi 6'9" | C MacDuffie | 2024 State NLG (6’8 2023 C, Starks Elite )- A high potential prospect who just continues to improve, Isaac showed some new components to his game from when I had last seen him in fall league play. What immediately stood out was his confidence and improved handle that allowed him to push the ball in the open floor without needing to wait and locate an outlet pass after a rebound. When he’s in the paint he’s tough to keep off the glass, as he swallowed up plenty of rebounds both offensively and defensively, and has the quick burst to go right back up to finish off second chance opportunities. Isaac is a solid athlete for his size which allows him to finish above the rim and block shots, and he also has a smooth looking stroke from deep which saw him knock down three deep jumpers in one game.
Jasper Timm Jasper Timm 6'3" | SG Duluth Marshall | 2022 State MN (6’3 2022 W, Starks Elite )- Was impressed by the versatility that Jasper showed offensively, as he did a bit of everything on Saturday morning. Knocking down multiple threes? Check. Finishing tough looks around the rim? Check. Creating opportunities for his teammates with accurate passes? Check. Jasper was a constant mismatch because he was able to take advantage of just about every opportunity the defense gave him. On the other end of the floor Jasper often had the task of guarding the other team’s tallest player, but is also more than comfortable having to guard on the perimeter against players his size or smaller.
Trey Smith Trey Smith 6'7" | SF Osseo | 2023 State MN (6’6 2023 SF, MN Bounce)- An extremely high potential player in the 2023 class, Trey played JV this past winter for a loaded Osseo program. Now with more eyes on him this summer with MN Bounce, Trey has been impressive in a variety of ways. The long frame is immediately noticeable, as well as his quickness and explosive athleticism at that size. He has some shiftiness with the ball in his hands, allowing him to make plays attacking the basket or creating separation to get off a jumper. Trey looks comfortable and fluid stepping into his jumper, and showed a smooth release from three and mid-range. He also threw down a pair of explosive dunks during Friday night’s game. The production was still a bit inconsistent, but the potential was obvious as he showed just how dangerous of a player he can be when he’s at his best.