Mid-Season JV Standouts
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Whenever the I have the time, I try to get to some games early to catch the JV action. Especially at some of the bigger schools with deep varsity teams, there’s plenty of talent to be found at the 5:30…
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Continue ReadingWhenever the I have the time, I try to get to some games early to catch the JV action. Especially at some of the bigger schools with deep varsity teams, there’s plenty of talent to be found at the 5:30 time slot. Here are seven prospects I’ve seen at the JV level this winter who should be catching the eyes of college coaches in the near future!
Jonathan Mekonnen Jonathan Mekonnen 6'8" | PF Eastview | 2024 State #201 Nation MN (6’6 2024 SF, Eastview)- At almost any other school in the state, Jonathan would likely be having a strong season at the varsity level. But with how deep Eastview is at the forward spot, there just aren’t enough minutes to go around. I caught him playing against Minnehaha, and he simply dominated the game. He’s an explosive athlete who showed he can finish above the rim on multiple occasions throughout the game, with plenty of bounce off two feet. He’s not just an athlete though, as he has solid post footwork, can get to his spots off the dribble, and the lefty hit a few outside shots as well. Tons of potential in this 2024 prospect.
Kaden Cook Kaden Cook 6'4" | PF Park Center | 2023 State MN (6’4 2023 W, Park Center)- Another name that would be getting big minutes on varsity at most schools, Kaden is a strong and physical presence for Park Center. He’s a scrappy player who can out-muscle opposing wings for rebounds, and is able to power up through contact to convert on some tough looks offensively. Cook runs the floor really hard and is often able to pick up a few transition buckets each game because of that effort. He’s an explosive athlete who’s a solid shot blocker for his size, and his strength allows him to defend bigger players inside or he can use his agility to defend on the wing. Should be a solid player for the Pirates next season.
Darius Irvin (5’10 2025 PG, DeLaSalle)- When it comes to schools producing defenders at the next level, it doesn’t get much better than DeLaSalle. Darius Irvin could be next in line of the scrappy guards this school has produced, as he simply gets after it defensively. His on-ball defense is more than impressive, as he’s constantly working and is so quick to cut his man off and force him to change directions. In the game I watched he was moving his feet to draw charges, and showed quick hands to poke the ball free on multiple occasions. And this wasn’t against just any JV team, it was against a Park Center team loaded with talented upperclassmen players. Offensively he has a shifty handle and can get into the lane at will. Despite his size he’s a tough finisher at the rim and has the vision to dish it off at the last second to an open teammate.
Molley Komara (6’6 2023 PF/C, Park Center)- Molley is as long as they come and is an impressive athlete at 6’6-6’7. He doesn’t just rely on that athleticism though as he’s consistently improved on the block. Molley possesses a quick spin move to get defenders going one way while he spins back in the other direction to finish at the rim. He has the coordination to catch his balance and go up to finish with either hand, and his quick second bounce allows him to grab his own rebound and put it right back up if he misses. Molley is the type of player who can play a lot bigger than his size, dominating on the glass or swatting shots like he’s 6’8-6’9. He runs rim to rim to make plays on both ends of the floor, and has a ton of defensive potential. Still a bit raw but he continues to get better each time I see him play.
Mateo Cortes-Weiss (6’4 2024 W, Minnehaha Academy)- Really intriguing wing prospect for Minnehaha coming up, as Mateo is long, athletic, and gritty. In the game I saw he was switched on to a 6’6 forward who had been giving his team problems, and made things difficult with his scrappy defense down low. Also had the mobility to guard on the perimeter, using his length to get up in passing lanes. Offensively he has range beyond the arc with a smooth looking jumper, while also having the fluid athleticism to cut to the basket for some quality looks inside. Possesses above the rim athleticism, and if he can continue to find ways to utilize it during games, he has some nice potential moving forward.
Tyler Wagner Tyler Wagner 6'6" | SF Totino Grace | 2025 State #366 Nation MN (6’3 2025 SG, Totino-Grace)- Occasionally receiving varsity minutes for a loaded team, Tyler has put in some strong performances at the JV level as well. He has a nice frame as a freshman guard, standing at roughly 6’3 with excellent body control. That control allows him to finish inside off the dribble. At this point he’s most known as a shooter, as he gets to his spots off the ball and has a quick release that is unfazed by a closing out defender. It’s rare to see a freshman with that type of confidence to get off a shot with a defender coming at you full speed. From an early standpoint he’s one of the better freshmen I’ve seen this winter.
Jackson Fowlkes (6’3 2024 SG, Park Center)- The sophomore guard has a nice feel for the game, and is a really versatile player. He’s long with a solid handle that allows him to play some point at times, while also providing size on the wing. Jackson has shown he can hit the open three, finish in transition, or get into the lane to create for his teammates. His length allows him to switch on to multiple spots defensively, and he works to fight through screens when he’s defending on the ball. Won’t always put up huge scoring numbers, but will stuff the box score with a little bit of everything for Park Center’s JV team.