Minnesota Select Classic: 17U Saturday Standouts
Lakeville South was the site for the 17U Division in the Minnesota Select Classic Saturday.
Here were some guys that played well:
Rip City had to grind out a win to get past Select Leafblad and the guy who really drove the team’s success was Woodbury point guard DJ Fleming. Offensively he was in attack mode throughout the day and did a great job facilitating in the first game and taking over the scoring in the second. He clearly likes using middle ball screen actions and did a great job getting the mid-range area of the floor where he was money. He got a little dribble happy at times but I think that is more on the team’s lack of chemistry and offensive structure at this point in the season.
Select Leafblad had several guys flash throughout the day. The guy that impressed me the most was Waseca guard Adam Schumacher. Schumacher might’ve been the slowest perimeter player on the floor in the game against Rip City but he was also might’ve been the smartest. He understands angles and did a great job cutting off penetration with anticipation and his ability to fight though ball screens was a plus. He had an excellent offensive game as well, using a variety of finishes inside including floaters, leaners or up-and-unders to score over/around length. His outside shot looked decent and he did a great job facilitating the team’s offense.
Comets Little and Hancock combo guard Noah Kannegiesser got loose a little bit Saturday for Comets, showing off his excellent offensive repertoire. Kannegiesser has range out past the 3-point line and he knocked down several long shots from what I saw. That range also opens things up for him because defenders have to close so hard to him and because of that, he was able to find his way into the teeth of the defense more often and make plays well. Kannegiesser is on the smaller side, so he’ll have to continue to develop the point guard part of his game but he looked good Saturday.
His teammate Phillip Dromgoole from St. Cloud Apollo has the point guard parts of his game down. At 6-foot-1, Dromgoole has long arms and extremely quick hands. He was impressive in both of the games Saturday on both ends. He doesn’t look for his own shot a whole lot but he’s capable of scoring when he wants to but he did a great job running the team from what I saw. I love his energy on the defensive end and his hustle on both ends. I think he’s a guy DIII coaches should be checking out.
Kobey Woolhouse is another combo guard with that Comets Little team who can really fill it up if he gets hot. Woolhouse missed a couple of key free throws late in the game that could’ve put the team up in overtime but he had an otherwise solid day. When he gets to his spots in the midrange, he’s near automatic. He’s also a pesky defender who gets his hands on passes and can really pressure people out on the perimeter.
The team that beat Comets Little had several standouts as well. Chris Karels was the hero of the game knocking down what amounted to the game-winning 3-pointer and he was outstanding throughout the day. He’s got an excellent 3-point stroke and a quick release which allows him to get off shots even when teams are keying on him. His defensive intensity was excellent especially in the win over Comets and he did a good job handling the ball against a bevy of guards that like to apply pressure.
Southeast Minnesota looked cooked early in its game with Select Ellis but Marc Kjos and Dakota Matthees picked up the slack in a big way to help the Lightning get a 17-point win. Kjos, a point guard from Lake City can do it all. His shooting range extends well beyond the 3-point line and he’s got a strong frame that allows him to get where he wants on drives. He’s a terrific defender, again where he can use his strength and leverage against opposing ball handlers. He looked to facilitate a lot early in the games I saw, looking to get the ball up to other guys in the offense and if he’s going to maximize his college potential, he’ll have to be a full-time point guard. There’s a lot to like with that kid.
Matthees is another one who does a lot. At 6-foot-5, Matthees is more of a wing than a big man though he can certainly mix it up inside when he wants. The Winona product knocked down multiple 3-pointers in both of the games they played Saturday and showcased solid ballhandling and playmaking ability as well.
Tytist Dean of North St. Paul was one of the best players on the floor for Select Ellis and did a great job making plays for teammates early in the game. He looked to tire out as the game went on but he knocked down a couple of triples early in the game and did a great job setting up his teammates for easy scores throughout the game.
Kingston Myles and Andre Jenkins took over the game late for MN Knights in their win over TC Finest. Myles is a 2017 prospect who possesses a strong frame and solid athleticism. He was a nightmare for TC Finest to try to keep out of the paint. Jenkins, a 2018 Tartan guard was terrific too. He knocked down at least two 3-pointers in the second half and had a key three-point play to stem the tide in the second half. His energy on the defensive end was a big key in slowing down TC Finest and he did a great job helping control the tempo against a team that wanted to try to press and trap throughout the afternoon.
I didn’t catch a lot of MN Heat Inniger as they lost their first game to MN Knights early in the day before beating Air Force One but a guy that stood out when I did see them was Anoka’s Dupree Hamilton. Hamilton’s got decent size at 6-foot-1 and has a solid frame and he used it to bully his way into the lane throughout the game against Air Force One. He did a good job finishing in traffic or passing to shooters or bigs inside on drives. He could be a guy to watch as the spring/summer goes along.
Comets Thuok and Detroit Lakes big man Logan Pratt continues to impress when I watch him play. At 6-foot-7, Pratt is an excellent defensive presence and his offensive game is coming along. He doesn’t have a great feel when he gets the ball on the post but he showed off a nice drop step turnaround jump shot on a number of occasions Saturday. His activity level and defensive impact is what stands out still but if he can get to a point where he can consistently score inside, his game could really take off.