Midwest Showdown: Minnesota Standouts
In this article:
Appleton was home to the Midwest Showdown. This event showcased some of Minnesota’s most intriguing under-the-radar prospects. Here were the seven that really stood out to me! Anish Ramlall Anish Ramlall 6'2" | PG Rosemount | 2023 State MN of…
Access all of Prep Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingAppleton was home to the Midwest Showdown. This event showcased some of Minnesota’s most intriguing under-the-radar prospects. Here were the seven that really stood out to me!
Anish Ramlall Anish Ramlall 6'2" | PG Rosemount | 2023 State MN of WOTN 17U/Rosemount (6’3” Guard – 2023)
Anish was a key factor in WOTN’s win over Minnesota Chill on Saturday. He did a fantastic job creating shots for himself, as well as finding teammates for open looks. He has a very smooth stroke, knocking down four three-pointers on his way to a game-high 23 points. Ramlall has continued to impress me more and more with each time I have seen him play. I am expecting a breakout season for the 6’3” combo guard. Anish averaged 14.6 PPG last season for a solid Rosemount squad. He currently holds a D2 offer from St. Leo University in Florida.
Khalif Bettis Khalif Bettis 6'6" | SF Burnsville | 2023 State MN of Minnesota Chill 17U/Burnsville (6’5” Wing – 2023)
Khalif showed out this past weekend in Appleton! The junior wing was a scoring machine, knocking down tough shots in all the games I saw. He was connecting from deep, as well as working in the post and paint area. He is a true three level scorer who can hit shots off balance and with a hand in his face. He also showed off his bounce and athleticism with several thunderous one hand dunks, some coming through traffic. Bettis looks like he could be one of the state’s leading scorers next season. Don’t be surprised if he is in the mid twenties for points per game. He currently holds an offer from Waldorf University, a D2 program in Iowa.
Soren Richardson of WOTN 17U/Northfield (6’3” Wing – 2023)
Soren caught fire in Saturday’s matchup with MN Chill. The Northfield junior hit his shots early and never looked back. He finished the win with 19 points with the majority of those points coming from beyond the arc. Richardson knocked down five three-pointers, four in the first half alone. He has such a quick release on his shot, making it almost impossible to get a good contest when in the catch-and-shoot. Most of his open looks are also coming off of off-ball screens, making it very difficult for the defense to get to their man. He led Northfield to a winning season last winter as he averaged a team-high 20.9 points per game.
Jaden Neish Jaden Neish 5'9" | PG St. Croix Lutheran | 2024 MN of Crossfire 16U/St. Croix Lutheran (5’10” Guard – 2024)
There was no answer for Jaden in his matchup with MN Chill. He is so shifty and always seems to be in control of the game. He is a very smart player who always knows where his teammates are and where they are going to be. Neish has an incredibly quick first step and was leaving defenders in the dust all game. He did a great job getting to the rim, finishing through larger defenders and constantly being fouled and getting to the free throw line. He can also make defenses pay for leaving him open with his limitless range. Jaden is an all-around point guard who is always affecting the game in a positive way. He averaged 12.5 points for St. Croix Lutheran this past season as a sophomore.
Demetrius Weems of Minnesota Chill 16U/Tartan (6’3” Wing – 2024)
Demetrius is a very intriguing prospect in Minnesota’s 2024 class. He is an extremely long prospect who can score in a variety of ways. He is able to knock down shots from the perimeter as well as being able to get to the rim and finish through traffic. He has the potential to be an elite defender as well with his frame. He did not see many varsity minutes in his sophomore season, but look for that to change as he heads into his junior year. I am excited to see how Demetrius develops as a player in the upcoming seasons.
Chet Kloss Chet Kloss 6'6" | PF Eastview | 2023 State MN of Minnesota Chill 17U/Eastview (6’6” Forward – 2023)
Chet had yet another dominant weekend, taking over when his team needed it. He is always a great scorer around the rim, but really showed off his range in Appleton. He has a very smooth stroke and can knock down the three ball out of the catch-and-shoot with a hand in his face. He was very effective using ball fakes and misdirection to get past defenders. When he gets to the rim, he can finish with either hand and does a great job drawing fouls and getting to the free throw line. Kloss is also a great leader and very vocal on both ends of the floor. He has an offer from Sioux Falls, but look for that list to grow by the end of the AAU season.
Kaden Braxton Kaden Braxton 6'2" | CG Shakopee | 2024 State MN of Crossfire 16U/Shakopee (6’0” Guard – 2024)
Kaden is a strong and physical guard who can attack the rim at will. He is very quick, blowing by defenders and getting to the rim with ease. Braxton could not be stopped out of the pick and roll, dishing it off to his teammates or taking it all the way himself. He was constantly making the extra pass to make a good shot a great shot. He is also capable of turning long rebounds or steals into one man fast breaks using his speed and finishing ability. The sophomore is also a threat to score from the outside, showing that he could connect from deep. Kaden should be in for a productive junior season next winter.