Hard Work Region Finals: Day 2 Sleeper Standouts
Seven under-the-radar prospects who impressed on day two of the Hard Work Region Finals! Ian Fahje Ian Fahje 6'8" | C Pelican Rapids | 2023 State MN (6’7 2023 PF, West Central Wildcats)- Was my first viewing of Ian and I…
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Continue ReadingSeven under-the-radar prospects who impressed on day two of the Hard Work Region Finals!
Ian Fahje Ian Fahje 6'8" | C Pelican Rapids | 2023 State MN (6’7 2023 PF, West Central Wildcats)- Was my first viewing of Ian and I came away impressed with the various ways he can contribute on the court. Defensively he was matched up with a physical 6’7 post, and did a good job of preventing low post touches by fighting for position to prevent angles for an entry pass. Not the most explosive athlete but works hard running rim to rim to try to beat his man up the floor. On the offensive end he showed he can step out and knock down threes as a pick & pop threat while also having some touch around the basket. Could be an intriguing prospect for a school looking for a stretch big.
Ben Raymond Ben Raymond 6'3" | SG Concordia Academy | 2023 State MN (6’4 2023 F, Minnesota Grizzlies)- After breaking out last month with his high school team, Ben continued his solid play on Saturday. He’s a strong 6’4 forward with some explosive burst that allows him to rebound well. Has good hands to secure the ball in traffic and works to grip it hard and prevent opposing players from poking the ball free. You can tell he takes pride in being one of the hardest workers on the floor, and it showed during a loose ball scenario in which he beat multiple players (both closer to the ball than he was) to the floor to secure possession. Doesn’t need to be on the ball much offensively but does a nice job making some quick cuts or pulling in offensive rebounds to get his finishing opportunities.
Deven Jiles (6’6 2023 SF, World Hoops Elite )- Deven will be heading to a prep school for the upcoming season, and has the type of frame and athleticism that will have college programs intrigued. Jiles came off the bench in the first half for WHE and immediately sparked the offense as he threw down a pair of explosive dunks. Then he showed he can step out and knock down outside jumpers as he hit two threes. He finished off the first half pulling up on the baseline for a mid-range jumper. Defensively he’s a versatile player who can defend on the wing but also in the post against smaller teams, and provides an additional shot blocking threat due to his length and bounce. Runs the floor hard looking to earn transition scoring opportunities.
Xavier Dubois (6′ 2023 G, The National Basketball Academy)- The up-and-coming program out of the Milwaukee area put a lot of people on notice yesterday with an impressive win over Minnesota Heat-MacDonald. Xavier was one of the players spearheading that win with a big time shooting performance. He showed a ton of confidence in his ability to knock down big shots off both the catch and dribble, making defenders pay for leaving him any space beyond the arc. Was an 11 ppg scorer last winter at West Bend East and could see that number grow as a senior.
Kaden Cook Kaden Cook 6'4" | PF Park Center | 2023 State MN (6’4 2023 F, Minnesota Select)- Not many players at the high school level are strong enough to contain Kaden Cook Kaden Cook 6'4" | PF Park Center | 2023 State MN when he gets the ball in the paint, and it showed last night. Whether he was driving himself, catching dump off passes, or securing offensive rebounds, Kaden found ways to get paint touches in the second half of the game I saw. He excels at bumping defenders off of him to create space without fouling, and then exploding off the floor for the finish. May not have the height of a typical frontcourt player, but plays bigger than his size due to his strength and gritty playstyle. Runs the floor really hard for transition buckets.
Will Gardner Will Gardner 6'2" | CG Franklin | 2023 State WI (6’1 2023 G, ABC Young Lions)- Will put together an impressive first half in a win over Illinois Elite yesterday. That half included three makes from beyond the arc, making the opposing team pay for losing track of him off the ball. He followed that up by blowing by a poor closeout and getting all the way to the rim for his 11 first half points. It wasn’t just offensive production though as Will showed awareness and toughness to step into the lane and draw a charge late in the first half to give his team the last possession of the half and take them into the break with some momentum. In multiple settings Will has shown he can play as an on-ball guard, but also off the ball as more of a 3&D type of player.
Kaleb Shannon Kaleb Shannon 6'0" | CG The Prairie | 2023 WI (6′ 2023 G, World Hoops Elite )- A tough all-around athlete, Kaleb gets after it on both ends of the floor. Defensively he’s going to sit deep in a stance and pressure the ball, and has the strength to fight over the top of screens on the perimeter. Offensively once he turns the corner and gets his man on his hip, it’s pretty much over as he has a quick burst to get to the basket and finish. Earlier in his career most of his scoring would come from getting to the rim, but yesterday he showcased an expanded perimeter game and the ability to pull-up off the dribble and knock down some outside jumpers.