Chet Holmgren – Best Shot Blocker in the Last 20 Years
To find a player that has blocked shots and changed the games the way Chet Holmgren has so far in his career you may have to go back to the days of Joel Przybilla. The Redhawks are 12-2 on the season…
Access all of Prep Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingTo find a player that has blocked shots and changed the games the way Chet Holmgren has so far in his career you may have to go back to the days of Joel Przybilla.
The Redhawks are 12-2 on the season with Holmgren scoring 18 points a game grabbing double figure boards on average and blocking several shots a contest. Minnehaha Academy has won the previous two Class AA championships but this year’s team is different with Holmgren defending behind their defense.
“Chet is a true rim protector,” 5-star Minnehaha Academy guard Jalen Suggs said. “When you got a guy that is seven feet back there and is great at blocking shots – he’s blocking about seven or eight a game right now – it gives you a lot of confidence and it allows us to play in the passing lanes more and get up on guys to cause havoc. His defense behind us allows us to force turnovers. Chet’s been a big part of our defense.”
As a shot blocker in Minnesota Chet is being talked about as the best since 1998 McDonald’s All-American Joel Przybilla of Monticello. About the only guy between Chet and Joel that can be brought in the top shot blocker conversation is Reggie Lynch from Edina.
“We always knew that Chet could ball handle, we always knew that Chet could shoot,” Minnehaha Academy coach Lance Johnson said. “At the end of last year when he was about 6-foot-9 – Chet literally started his freshman year at 6-foot-6 – and by the end of last year he became an elite shot blocker.
“Now Chet is up to seven feet in his stocking feet. I have not seen a shot blocker like Chet since Przybilla. And Chet doesn’t get in foul trouble! He blocks shots and doesn’t body so because of that he’s become an elite defender.”
“When I’m blocking shots, it’s kind of natural,” Chet Holmgren said. “Most guards, when they penetrate the try and go into your body so I try and back up and then just use my length to contest shots. And if there is a player already on them and they get to the basket and that defender has already bodied them up, that’s when I go really aggressive to the block.
“Most of the time I wait until they release the ball to block it with arms up and space to come down. Also, I make sure to move my feet so I can say down, stay on balance.”
At the moment Chet is on a short list for Minnesota Defensive Player of the Year candidates. Holmgren has experienced immense growth in the last twelve months which has led to scholarship offers and Chet being in the conversation of the nation’s elite frontcourt players.
“I’ve stayed in the gym and am trying to do the little things to set me apart,” Chet said. “Doing anything I can to help the team. I guess it’s starting to show.”
So what does Chet feel he needs to do going forward to be even better?
“I need to put on about 20 pounds,” Chet said with a smile. “I know that won’t happen in about six months but it’s a goal as I definitely need to put on weight. I also want to get in the weight room and get stronger in my core and my back which will help my jumping ability and my strength.
“I also want to help my foot speed, quickness by doing a lot of jump rope. I mostly want to do some physical stuff to help me get better as well as working on my skills.”
This weekend Minnehaha Academy plays Austin in Minneapolis. It’s another quality program on a schedule that has 14 ranked teams (14 of the 26 schools the Redhawks have faced are ranked and of those 14, eight are big schools while six are ranked in Class AA). The Redhawks are working to earn a third straight state title.
“Our age and our depth are different this year than last year,” Chet explained. “Even though we only had two seniors they were really good leaders. Last year our defense was crazy the way we moved together. Everybody knew when to rotate.
“This year our new leaders are Jalen, me, the other older guys, it’s on us to pass on what we learned to the younger guys.”
Chet’s father David played for the University of Minnesota in the 80s meaning he was at the school for two years of the Jim Dutcher era and two years during the Clem Haskins era. Holmgren appeared in 57 games for the Gophers overall.
“My dad tells me a lot of the little things about the game,” Chet explained. “When I was young I would always jump into guys and get fouls. But my dad explained ways how to position and not to foul, and that’s starting to show as I get older.
“Offensively he tells me some of the little things he used. He wasn’t a guy who put the ball on the ground but he was a good shooter. He has helped me with that.”
Holmgren has earned offers from Minnesota, Texas A&M, Texas, Purdue, and Western Kentucky so far.