Grassroots Preview: 17U Heat Vang

Matt Bigelow

April 20, 2019 @ 06:00 PM

Grassroots season is underway and the talent pool in the state of Minnesota is incredibly spread out, meaning there should be a lot of really good, competitive clubs. Minnesota Heat always churns out quality teams and this year, they’ll have their share of solid ones. Heat Vang is arguably the best one and it’s got a really nice mix. Here’s a quick look: Guards: Tait Nelson, Jared Walter, TJ Moberg, Micah Ladd, Daydor Phillips Walter and Moberg are both looking to gain some valuable playing experience and make names for themselves after taking back seats to really good seniors last year at Champlin Park. Moberg was really solid in the team’s first tournament and has a chance to be a breakout player this spring/summer. Nelson is one of the more dynamic scorers in the metro area and while he’s just 5-foot-10, his ability to pile up points in a hurry is going to get him noticed. Ladd is another smallish guard but he’s got a really solid floor game, can score effectively from deep and in the paint and guards hard on the perimeter. Phillips is a strong athlete who excels off the ball on offense as a cutter, spot up guy and in transition while also playing quality defense up and down the lineup. Forwards: Jacob Doffing, Josh Brown, Ignatius Ejiofor Brown is one of the best shooters in the state from Park Center. And his defensive ability will always make him valuable. If he continues to add to his game as a shot creator, he’ll be another guy to watch over the summer. Ejiofor is one of the bigger guys on the team and despite being undersized on the interior, he’s a strong rebounder and active in the paint. His athleticism and motor are big assets. Doffing was a productive force for Prescott, Wisconsin as a junior, emerging as a consistent double-double threat inside. He’s a solid athlete at 6-foot-7 and has a soft shooting touch, a strong frame and an activity level that allows him to produce consistently.