#TheStage - Minnesota Post Standouts

Prep Hoops' #TheStage took place over the weekend in Indianapolis, with a handful of Minnesota teams squaring off with talent from across the country! I was in the gym watching games from Friday-Sunday, and these are some of the post prospects who stood out most. [player_tooltip player_id="1221112" first="Isaac" last="Nyakundi"] (6'9 2023 C, [program_tooltip program_id='2078859' first='Starks' last='Elite'])- It was a big weekend for the rising post prospect out of Duluth, as Isaac put together a strong showing in the 8am time slot on Saturday. Against a really talented 6'8/6'9 big for Mid Mo Elite, Isaac contributed in a variety of ways. He put in two right handed hook shots early in the game, and followed those up with a three from the top of the key. Throughout the game he showed he can score with power or skill on the block, as well as stretch the floor with his shooting tough. Isaac has the lateral mobility defensively that scholarship level schools will be looking for, as that allows him to get into spots to contest/block shots as well as rebound the ball at a high level. [player_tooltip player_id="962233" first="Matthew" last="Bothun"] (6'8 2023 PF, Minnesota Fury)- [player_tooltip player_id="962233" first="Matthew" last="Bothun"] looks ready to thrive with this Fury squad. In every game I saw Bothun was a major threat offensively because not a lot of teams have size that can move with him on the perimeter. He was consistently getting good looks from deep and hitting those shots at a high rate. I liked how he began to use a shot fake to open up some dribble penetration, and even when going up against bigger opponents around the rim, he wasn't afraid to play with some physicality and more than held his own against talented opponents. [player_tooltip player_id="962204" first="Lincoln" last="Palbicki"] (6'10 2023 C, Minnesota Select)- Palbicki was one of the most dominant rebounders I saw over the weekend, as he does a great job of securing every missed shot he can get his finger tips on. And one thing that's consistent? Once he gets the rebound he's not losing that ball as he chins the ball with two hands and can rip it away from anyone who tries to poke it free. Really liked how he scanned the floor after getting a rebound and was often able to get his team into a transition opportunity with his ability to throw deep and accurate outlet passes. In the half-court offense he has a nice hook shot, showed he can hit mid-range and three point shots when given space, and even added a two hand dunk in the first game I watched. I also really liked how he communicated defensively as he was usually the loudest player on the floor. Patrick Smith (6'8 2023 C, [program_tooltip program_id='2078859' first='Starks' last='Elite'])- Patrick was one of the big stock risers at the local level this past weekend. With [player_tooltip player_id="1221112" first="Isaac" last="Nyakundi"] missing some time with foul trouble on Saturday, Patrick showed off his offensive arsenal with a nice looking floater, a strong finish at the rim, and he stepped out to hit a three all within a couple of minutes. Even when he wasn't getting a lot of touches offensively, he's someone that just goes out and competes, and isn't afraid to get physical down low. Did a nice job of limiting his matchups touches in the post with his ability to defend the entry pass and box out to avoid giving up any offensive rebounds. [player_tooltip player_id="1140498" first="Chet" last="Kloss"] (6'6 2023 PF, Minnesota Chill)- When it comes to physical, hard-working forwards, you won't find many better than [player_tooltip player_id="1140498" first="Chet" last="Kloss"]. He just goes out there and tires his opponents out with his constant work ethic. He's someone you love playing with, but hate to play against because he's not going to give up an inch of space on either end. Chet showed he's skilled enough to handle the ball on the perimeter, but can also go on the block and turn over either shoulder and finish through contact. Because of this he's a difficult matchup as most forwards with enough strength can't move with him on the perimeter, while quicker forwards typically can't contain him in the paint. Collin Mulholland (6'10 2023 C, Minnesota Heat MacDonald)- Collin is a 6'10 big man competing with Minnesota Heat this spring, and he showed some nice flashes in the game I caught on Saturday. He has solid mobility at 6'10 to get up and down the floor, as well as the coordination to catch a pass and quickly gather his balance before going up to finish with touch at the rim. Showed good hands to catch the ball in traffic, and really nice touch converting with outstretched hands around him. Also looked comfortable stepping out beyond the arc where he showcased a smooth shooting stroke. One to keep an eye on this spring/summer. Molley Komara (6'7 2023 F/C, Minnesota Chill)- Molley continues to show some intriguing flashes of potential, so his progress over the next few months will be fun to watch as he looks to turn that potential into production. Really like how aggressive he is when he gets a touch on the block, as he embraces playing through contact and also has a quick spin move to open up scoring opportunities inside. Runs the floor as well as any big you'll find, and has athleticism/length that allows him to make big plays as a shot blocker. Competed against physical bigs on the block while also being able to switch off and defend smaller players on the perimeter when needed.