Top 250 Expo: Top 15 Stock Risers
The Stock Raisers. These are the players that coming into the event were either unknowns that made a name for themselves or guys that have greatly improved their play. Here are our 15 from last weekend.
Matt Baisch (6-1, Burnsville, 2017). One of the standouts from the skill drills, Baisch is a guard that scored 7-8 points a game last year and by the looks of this weekend he could have a huge senior year. And look at college hoops.
Max Bjorklund (6-1, Orono, 2018). Orono looks like it’s going to be a top five team this year and not just because of returning guards and Jarvis Thomas. Bjorklund has shown this off-season that he will be a guy that can consistently score for the team at the wing. We are looking at a 2018 who is making a big name for himself.
Adam Busch (6-1, New Life, 2017). Skilled guard who scored ten points per game as a junior and is likely to be leading NLA to another strong year. Adam grabbed our attention both during the skill drills and playing both guard spots in open play.
Cooper Conklin (6-5, Chanhassen, 2017). Cooper was a junior varsity guy last year who only played in some varsity games but this weekend his skill work around the basket, his defense, and his consistent active play really caught us by surprise. Based on this weekend Cooper has a chance to have a really nice senior year.
Albert Demmings (6-3, Mpls Washburn, 2017). Demmings didn’t play at Washburn last year and then showed up at the Combine and was throwing down at the rim like he was one of the state’s most explosive finisher. Albert is a strong, 6-foot-3 small forward that could greatly help the Millers.
Valentino Grasiuso (5-8, Alexandria, 2017). Valentino is a foreign exchange student who was at Alexandria three years ago as a freshman and is now back again after spending time with the Uruguay 17U junior national team. The kid can play and wants to play local college basketball but unfortunately the state said he won’t be allowed to play high school basketball as it’s his second time here which I’m told isn’t something that’s allowed. Too bad. He’s a nice player.
DJ Hunter (6-2, Champlin Park, 2017). DJ got hurt in April playing with Howard Pulley but is back healthy now and moved pretty well this weekend in his first public appearance on the court since being hurt. Has a ways to go of course as he just got back playing again but he looks good enough to be back to his regular self when the season starts.
Eli Lunde (6-4, Wabasso, 2017). A strong, well built 6-foot-4 athlete with agility and strength. Lunde is somewhat raw as a player and has been taught as a post his entire career it looks like but it looks like he can do some other things on the court as well. Should be able to physically control games at times as a senior.
RayQuawndis Mitchell (6-1, Blaine, 2018). A guy that many players were talking about was Mitchell. His playmaking ability in the open runs helped his team win about every game. A player to watch.
Kaleb Nelson (6-3, Waseca, 2017). Nelson was a role player who did his job last year hitting some shots, scoring on the move, running the floor, and defending actively. But this summer he looked outstanding playing in the up and down Select Ellis system and this weekend he looked like a go to scorer.
Andrew Niebuhr (6-9, Jordan, 2018). Jordan keeps producing size and Andrew is one of the most interesting because he is all of 6-foot-9, seems even longer than that, is more skilled than expected and without a doubt more agile than he was before.
Kevin Totusek (6-8, Apple Valley, 2017). A wide shouldered big that looks to be a true 6-foot-8 and we were most impressed with what he did defensive sliding in the halfcourt drills. Kevin’s footwork and quick bounce caught our attention and the attention of many of the MIAC and NAIA coaches there.
Lionel Warner (6-4, Coon Rapids, 2017). Warner wasn’t on the Coon Rapids team last year but if everything is in order he could really help them. Warner was outstanding as a face-up forward making plays from mid-range and attacking the rim. He also played with a big motor and was maybe the mist impressive guy in the first hour of the Expo.
Mac Wilner (6-3, Maple Grove, 2018). Who was the hardest working player for much of the Expo? That could have been Wilner who seemingly did some of everything on the glass, defending, moving off the ball, setting screens, and finishing in space. Has the making of an excellent role player.
Lamar Wood (6-7, Mpls Henry, 2017). Lamar gets better every time I see him. He’s finishing not just explosively but he’s physically going at the rim using his gifts of a quick bounce and excellent first step against other bigs. Wood has gone from a guy that we wondered about to a guy with scholarship talent and an upside improving by the day.