Quick View: Powerhouse Minnesota
Powerhouse Minnesota finished 2016 as one of the top few teams in 16U last year and preseason enters the season with expectations of being one of the top 17U teams.
Roster
Beau Bailey of Lakeville South (6-4 small forward).
Colton Codute of Orono (5-11 point guard).
Jarius Cook of Park Center (6-3 shooting guard).
Anthony Davis Jr of Hopkins (6-2 shooting guard).
Deng Deang of Sauk Rapids-Rice (6-6 forward).
Nathan Hendler of Holy Family (6-5 power forward).
Carlston McKenzie of Champlin Park (6-8 center).
Jake Prince of Cretin-Derham Hall (6-4 small forward).
Michael Schaefer of St. Cloud Cathedral (6-6 small forward).
Josiah Strong of Champlin Park (6-2 shooting guard).
Five Points
- I don’t recall if Powerhouse MN finished second or third last year but it was high after they grabbed a lot of good locals wins especially at NHR State last June. Much of the main pieces return including Codute at point, Cook scoring on the wing, Schaefer has been the leading scorer, Strong the gun slinger, and others.
- Anthony Davis Jr and Jake Prince are huge additions. Davis has taken a big step forward skill wise plus he is an excellent defender and a good athlete. Prince is that jack of all trades. Prince is a very good shooter but he boards, moves as well as anyone of the ball, defends, and does some of everything.
- They also got bigger with McKenzie inside and I think Deang was added this year as well. He led the Storm in scoring this year. Add them to skilled and physical Hendler as well as Schaefer and this is a frontcourt that has a lot of differing pieces that all are needed.
- Jarius Cook is likely the guy I am most interested to see. With good size, good work ethic, and an intelligent in skill application type game, Jarius has D1 schools calling and I think even more will do so after he is seen with this crew. Jarius and Anthony Davis on opposite wings will make this team very dangerous. D1 programs will sit down and watch this club to seem them, and to see where Schaefer is at against 17U competition.
- What do I expect this weekend? Without looking at the brackets to see who is where I would guess they are a final four team in the Comets Shootout with a decent shot at the title game. I liked how this team played last year and expect them to have a good 17U year after some quality additions.