Mid-Week Prospect Standouts (Week 3)
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Seven of the top performers that I’ve watched play through three games this week! I’ve watched Columbia Heights defeat Maranatha, Eastview take down Minnehaha Academy, and Minneapolis South beat Hiawatha. Kenji Scales Kenji Scales 6'0" | PG Eastview | 2022…
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Continue ReadingSeven of the top performers that I’ve watched play through three games this week! I’ve watched Columbia Heights defeat Maranatha, Eastview take down Minnehaha Academy, and Minneapolis South beat Hiawatha.
Kenji Scales Kenji Scales 6'0" | PG Eastview | 2022 State MN (6’1 2022 G, Eastview)- The senior leader for Eastview took over in the second half to help his team pull away late in the game over Minnehaha. He showed his toughness on the ball as he just found ways to get to the rim and convert on some difficult finishes. Also showcased his shooting touch from beyond the arc. Does a really nice job of utilizing a shot fake to send defenders flying by, and then just taking one dribble to the side to have a wide open look. When he caught a defensive board or received an outlet pass, Kenji could take off like a speeding bullet and lead the break going the opposite direction. Finished with a game high 22 points in the win.
Muja Burton Muja Burton 6'4" | SF Columbia Heights | 2022 State MN (6’4 2022 W, Columbia Heights)- Had the game been a bit closer, it’s likely that Muja would have eclipsed 40 points, as he checked out of the game with 7 minutes to play with 36 points to his name. It just seemed to be one of those games where he couldn’t miss from beyond the arc, as he mixed in a few catch-and-shoot threes with some shots he created off of some creative combo moves. To get things started he showed off his work rate on the glass, as he seemed to be all over the place collecting offensive rebounds and putting them right back up for a quick two points.
Poet Davis (5’11 2024 G, Minneapolis South)- With the way I saw Poet shoot last night, as well as in some fall league games, he looks to be putting his name in the conversation for best shooter in the 2024 class. The release has all the confidence in the world, and last night he showcased that his range extends to 4+ feet beyond the high school line. Against Hiawatha it got to a point where everyone knew he was going to shoot the three when he got the ball, but no one could seem to stop him. Even with a hand in his face Poet was able to drain three after three. He’s also a little more athletic than I knew, as the 5’11 sophomore added some finishes in transition on his way to 25 points.
Chet Kloss Chet Kloss 6'6" | PF Eastview | 2023 State MN (6’6 2023 F, Eastview)- Really liked the contributions that Chet made on the defensive end on Tuesday night. He was tasked with guarding a handful of different spots, and he was working hard to move his feet no matter who he was defending. In the paint he does a great job of walling up to contest shots, and on multiple occasions he went straight up to block/alter multiple shots in a single possession. Even when he wasn’t able to get a hand on the ball, his presence just made things difficult and would usually force a miss. Liked the competitive edge he showed on that end. Offensively he finished with 11 points chipping in a few tough finishes around the rim.
Bailey McDonald Bailey McDonald 6'0" | PG Maranatha Christian | 2023 State MN (6’2 2023 G, Maranatha)- The junior guard showcased a dangerous pull-up jumper against Columbia Heights on Monday night. His team was ultimately overpowered, but I liked how he fought to keep things as close as he could. Bailey was getting to his spots off the dribble, and was able to stop on a dime to create a bit of separation to score from mid-range or three. One of those players who just seems to shoot at a high percentage off the dribble. McDonald showed some three level scoring ability as he was also getting to the basket to finish through traffic. He finished with a team high 26 points, and has been averaging 18.2 ppg through the first five games of his junior season.
Chiang Ring Chiang Ring 6'8" | C Park Center | 2024 State #276 Nation MN (6’8 2024 PF, Minneapolis South)- Hiawatha just didn’t have the size to slow down Chiang, as he dominated around the rim throughout the game. Just a sophomore, Chiang showed why he’s one of the best shot blockers in the state, as his long arms combined with excellent timing and quickness off the floor saw him swatting shots all over the place. Offensively I’d like to see him get a bit more aggressive with his back to the basket, but he did show some potential in that aspect with a quick spin towards the baseline leading to a finish. Really like his patience to regain his balance after grabbing offensive boards, so that he’s able to explode off the floor to finish. Threw down four dunks on his way to 19 points.
Jessye Lewis Jr Jessye Lewis Jr 6'1" | PG Hiawatha Collegiate | 2023 State MN . (6’1 2023 PG, Hiawatha)- One of the better scorers in the 2023 class, Jessye showed he can still put up numbers against tough competition like Minneapolis South. Jessye finished with 25 points, mixing in some tough pull-up jumpers with a few finishes inside. He plays with nice change of pace, and his feel for the game allows him to decide on the fly whether he has the space to hit the pull-up jumper, or if he can get an angle to blow by his defender and get into the paint. Even under pressure, Jessye Lewis Jr Jessye Lewis Jr 6'1" | PG Hiawatha Collegiate | 2023 State MN . has such a calm feel on the ball, and can make plays happen when it seems like nothing was there. Had only seen him play against smaller schools in the past, so it was exciting to see him produce against the challenge of a tough AAAA school.