Summer’s Standout 2023 Shooters
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With summer basketball wrapping up and the school year getting started up shortly, I’ll be taking a look back at some of the top shooters in the 2023 class that I got see to play over the past few months!…
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Continue ReadingWith summer basketball wrapping up and the school year getting started up shortly, I’ll be taking a look back at some of the top shooters in the 2023 class that I got see to play over the past few months!
Jack Janicki Jack Janicki 6'4" | SG White Bear Lake | 2023 State #277 Nation MN (6’4 2023 SG, D1 Minnesota 16u)- You won’t find too many lists of shooters that don’t feature Jack Janicki Jack Janicki 6'4" | SG White Bear Lake | 2023 State #277 Nation MN , as he can simply light it up from three. Time after time teams knew that they couldn’t let the lefty guard out of their sight, but he just found ways to get off good looks from beyond the arc. What makes him even more dangerous is his utilization of pump fakes to send defenders flying on by him before taking on dribble forward or to the side and pulling up for an open jumper. Jack spent a bit of time running the point for D1 throughout the summer, while also guarding a variety of spots on the perimeter. He made big plays when they mattered down the stretch, and proved why he holds an early D1 offer from St. Thomas.
Isaiah Hanson Isaiah Hanson 6'4" | SG Rochester Mayo | 2023 State MN (6’3 2023 SG, Minnesota Heat Pratt)- One of the summer’s breakout players at the 16u level, Isaiah was a constant threat from three for his Minnesota Heat team. He didn’t have very many off games, and that’s something that’s rare for players who are known for their outside shooting. Outside of knocking down what seemed to be three triples each game, Isaiah showed he can put the ball on the floor and get into the paint where he has the footwork to stop on two feet and get some clean looks at the rim. He has the size to make an impact on the wing, the shooting touch that catches coaches’ eyes, and is also a very high academic student coming out of Rochester Mayo.
Jobe Juenemann Jobe Juenemann 6'2" | SG Duluth East | 2023 State MN (6’2 2023 G, Starks Elite)- This summer was my first time watching Jobe play, and I came away with his ability to put points on the board in a variety of ways. Most noticeable was the outside shot as he was hitting contested shots off the bounce, and moving hard without the ball to get clean catch-and-shoot looks. He also adds in some explosive athleticism that not only allowed him to elevate on his shot, but also attack the basket and finish against size. Really liked how he kept defenses honest with his ability to score at all three levels, and not really forcing anything offensively. Will be a player to watch moving forward for Duluth East.
Ben Kopetzki Ben Kopetzki 6'0" | PG Andover | 2023 State MN (5’11 2023 PG, Minnesota Fury)- Ben may not be the biggest or most explosive player on the floor, but his skill-set allows him to compete at a high level. We saw the Minnesota Fury beat or keep close with EYBL and Adidas teams down the stretch this summer, and Ben’s shooting touch kept them in a lot of those games. He plays with a high level of composure, and has a change of pace to his crossover that gives him some shiftiness off the dribble and allows him to create some space on the perimeter. Whether it was off the bounce or catch, he just kept hitting threes at a high percentage, and with his Fury team playing a guard-heavy lineup it helped stretch the defense and open up some driving lanes on the wings for his team’s slashers.
Nolan Winter Nolan Winter 7'0" | PF Lakeville North | 2023 State #98 Nation MN (6’9 2023 F, Howard Pulley)- Whether it was on the EYBL with Howard Pulley, the Wisconsin Advanced Camp, or at the MBCA Showcase event, Nolan was playing at a high level all summer long. He immediately catches your eye with his coordination at a long and lanky 6’9, and then impresses with a smooth shooting stroke immediately after the opening tip. When you watch Nolan play he never seems to rush anything, and remains calm no matter who you throw at him. He’s a high percentage catch-and-shoot guy from beyond the arc, and can put it on the floor a bit to get to the paint and finish with a soft floater. Defensively he’s able to stand his ground in the post and stay straight up to avoid fouling while blocking/contesting shots around the rim. Tons of two-way potential from the incoming junior.
Hudson Vaith Hudson Vaith 6'4" | SG Lakeville North | 2023 State MN (6’5 2023 SG, Minnesota Magic)- There’s not too much that Hudson couldn’t do on the floor this summer, and when the shot is connecting it makes him just that much more dangerous. He’s a bit of a streaky shooter, but I saw multiple times where he simply took over a game with his three point shooting. Hudson has plenty of confidence and that showed as he was pulling up for deep threes off the dribble, and that range eventually led to some opportunities to get to the rim where he’s a strong athlete who can get up and finish over size. At around 6’4-6’5 he’s a versatile player who can play anywhere on the perimeter because of his ability to handle, facilitate, and shoot, while also being able to guard on the perimeter or inside the post at the high school level.
Nasir Whitlock Nasir Whitlock 6'2" | PG Delasalle | 2023 State MN (6’1 2023 PG, Gain Elite 17u)- Even playing up a year, Nas was arguably the most dangerous scoring threat I saw in the 2023 class this year. He’s a fearless guard who has no shortage of confidence in taking shots from just about anywhere on the floor. Nas is so dangerous with the all in his hands because he excels at creating space and has quick feet to stop on a dime once he gets an inch of space to elevate and shoot. I like how Nas gets good elevation on his jumper and releases at the high point of his jump to help him get off shots against length. When he’s not knocking down jumpers, his ability to pin defenders on his shoulder gives him an edge when attacking the basket as he can extend with the outside hand to avoid having his shots blocked. Such a dangerous player who can put points on the board in a hurry.