Quick View: Minnesota Rise
D1 Minnesota Rise from southern Minnesota has a new name and a lot of new talent that should make them a tough out every weekend.
Roster
Michael Coble of Byron (6-3 shooting guard, 15pg)
Isaac Fink of Springfield (6-3 shooting guard, 23.3pg, 8.9rb)
Damani Hayes of Mankato East (6-4 small forward, 19.5pg)
Tate Hebrink of Austin (5-10 point guard, 9.9pg)
Jake Kettner of MN Valley Lutheran (6-2 shooting guard, 14pg).
Bjorn Knutson of Byron (6-2 shooting guard, 12pg)
Uhana Ochan of Mankato East (6-6 power forward, 9.8pg)
Eddie Oyet of Mankato East (6-3 small forward, 5.8pg)
Alex Raichle of Owatonna (6-0 point guard, 6.5pg).
Mitchell Weber of St. Clair (6-6 power forward, 19.5pg)
Austin Weckwerth of Sibley East (6-2 small forward, 13.6pg)
Five Points Made
- I strongly believe that this team has the potential to work it’s way deeper into tournament than in past years. Like all spring and summer clubs, it just depends on how they play together. But if they play well together a line-up of Coble, Hayes, and Fink on the wing with one of the bigs (Weber and/or Ochan) can play with just about anyone. Hebrink is a solid PG and Knutson is another strong scorer who you can include with that other wing group.
- Isaac Fink. What level of player is Isaac Fink? That is exactly what we aim to find out this spring. Fink and Kettner are the 2019s playing up for the Rise and it’s Fink that will make a huge impact. We’ve been impressed with everything he’s done to this point in his career, now it’s time to see if Isaac can have the same playmaking results against some of the state’s best game in and game out.
- Strong PFs playing in the middle. If you aren’t familiar with Mitch Weber, he’s one of the greatest track and field athletes in Minnesota right now and will likely rank with the best ever. Weber is 6-foot-6 and very strong with agility. When you add Ochan next to him, a raw but physically gifted big with the physique that many college football players want.
- The Byron pair of Coble and Knutson. Both of these kids were at the NHR Stock Up Showcase and they played extremely well and have us excited for what they can do with the Rise and Byron going forward. Also, Damani of Kato East is a guy that will be underneath the microscope. He got his 19 a game this year but now we need to learn what level of prospect he is.
- The unknowns. Hebrink isn’t an unknown, he was the PG of Austin who is tough as he is consistent. We know this team will be six or seven deep every weekend (Weber will have track and Fink will have baseball) but what will some of the others provide? Weckwerth, Rachile, Ovet, and Kettner all had nice years and know they need to give this team the depth it needs to be a top team.