Cobber Fall League: Top Forwards
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Moorhead, MN– Today was the first day and first year of Concordia Cobber’s Fall Development League. I was at Olson Forum this afternoon for the high school session with 10th-12 graders, there were players from North Dakota and Minnesota in…
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Continue ReadingMoorhead, MN– Today was the first day and first year of Concordia Cobber’s Fall Development League. I was at Olson Forum this afternoon for the high school session with 10th-12 graders, there were players from North Dakota and Minnesota in attendance. They worked on skill development and played two games. In this article, we are looking at the Top Forwards from Sunday afternoon. It was great to be back in the gym watching high-quality hoops! Concordia does a great job of hosting basketball events. Now, let’s take a look at the players…
TOP FORWARDS
(Listed alphabetically)
Adam Jenkins Adam Jenkins 6'9" | C Moorhead | 2023 State MN (2023) |6-8 PF| Moorhead/ECI
He looks bigger, thicker, and stronger since I watched him play live back in May. Jenkins is just as athletic and bouncy. He was dunking with ease. I was impressed with one in particular powerful 2-handed slam. He looked like a man amongst boys when he was attacking the basket. I saw Jenkins step outside and nail a smooth wing 3-pointer. That was eye-opening. I did not know that was part of his game and he looked good shooting it. Jenkins is primed for a major junior year.
Cole Holzer Cole Holzer 6'7" | PF Central Cass | 2024 State ND (2024) |6-5 F| Central Cass/Master Basketball Academy
In the skill drills, Cole showed that he can handle the ball like a guard. When dribbling full court, Cole can cover a ton of ground and he is more athletic than people think. His 3-point shooting stroke looked high-quality, like always. On defense, he had active hands that were disruptive. He also altered many shots. Holzer will be one of the best sophomores in Class-B.
Conner Kraft Conner Kraft 6'5" | PF Shanley | 2023 State ND (2023) |6-7 PF| Shanley/Howard Pulley
While watching the skill drills it was easy to see that he moves like a Division-1 athlete. There is a reason he has had contact from so many D-1 schools. In the games, he owned the offensive glass today. His handles looked impressive in the drills and they translated to the games on the perimeter. His slashing and finishing were excellent. Kraft showed off his 3-point shooting. I knew he improved his shooting and it looked good today. I watched him go between the legs twice and pull up for a triple swish today. On that play, he looked more like a SG instead of a 6’7″ PF. This kid from Shanley is a legitimate STAR.
Jaiden Peraza Jaiden Peraza 6'5" | SF Kindred | 2022 State ND (2022) |6-6 PF| Kindred
He is a physical beast and he is super strong. Much like last season, Jaiden was dominating on the O-glass. I liked how hard he ran the court. I was very impressed with how he attacked and slashed from the perimeter. Peraza showed a long and athletic first step. He is a physical and powerful finisher. I expect Jaiden and Kindred to be one of the best in Class-B ND.
Nick Carlson Nick Carlson 6'4" | SF West Fargo | 2022 State ND (2022) |6-5 F| West Fargo/ECI
In the skills drills, Carlson impressed me with his ability to use both hands and finish off either foot or both. In the games, Nick played SO hard. He had many physical finishes, showed a great spin move, and looked great in the screen-and-roll game. Carlson showed off his athleticism and ball-handling when he went coast to coast with a rebound on one end and a layup on the other. He also had many blocked shots. I knew he was a good shot-blocker, today I figured out why. Nick has amazing timing, patience, and long arms. He is also always hustling, which leads to many blocks from behind or from help-side. Nick will be a beast this winter.
Presley Peraza Presley Peraza 6'6" | PF Kindred | 2025 State ND (2025) |6-4 F| Kindred/ECI
This was my first time watching him play live, and WOW! He dominated the first game in the afternoon and he was the best player on the court. That was an impressive performance for a freshman. Presley was flying all over the court. I saw him dunk multiple times in traffic. His first step and slashing were beyond impressive. I also watched him hit multiple 3-pointers. He will be very scary with his length, athleticism, and play-making ability. Presley was also a willing passer, he did not force anything. The young Peraza makes Kindred a frightening team.