Breakdown Summer Showcase: STMA Team Impressions
The Breakdown Summer Showcases are some of my favorite basketball of the year. We are all out of school (kids and teachers) relaxed getting a look at the future of teams. These are the squads that left a good impression. …
Access all of Prep Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingThe Breakdown Summer Showcases are some of my favorite basketball of the year. We are all out of school (kids and teachers) relaxed getting a look at the future of teams. These are the squads that left a good impression.
Colton RoderickAlexandria: Another squad that looks certain for the top ten in Class AAA next year. They have a star to build around in likely 23pt/12rb/4bl per game Treyton Thompson but also players around him that are going to have big years. Colton Roderick will score 1,000 points in his career plus Carrson Jones, Kristen Hoskins, and Cody Branson are also experienced and ready to help this team push forward.
Annandale: The Cards had a down season last year but some young players grabbed some experience that looks to have helped. Annandale knocked off Apollo and Orono and the 18-19 leading scorers Paul Meyer and Logan Purcell look like they will take steps forward towards a good year. Meyer will be a senior next season after leading the team as a junior while Purcell is 6-foot-7 and entering his upperclassmen years.
Delano: The Tigers are going to be huge. And that huge, will be hugely productive. I’m all in on Trey Longstreet being the next 20 point per game guy for Delano but he’s the type of player that could give Delano the type of numbers Draymond Green gives. Boards, assists, points, size on the ball, etc. He may play some PG as well. Keagan Smith, Terron O’Neill, and Max Otto are all 6-foot-5 to 6-foot-7 and will be good for the Tigers too.
Eden Valley/Watkins: A .500 team last year that should make a huge jump. Why? Josh Streit is a top ten player in the 2021 class who is a jack of all trades type, with superior agility, size, and athletic ability against who he will play. Also, Luke Jansen is a veteran that can handle, shoot, and lead ready to score a ton for EVW. I had a hard time figuring out if I was watching Kobe Beattie or Adam Stommes (both returning after good junior years) but one of them is long with some explosive steps and bounce going at the rim.
Yahya BlackMarshall: I’m fully convinced right now that Marshall is a top five team in Class AAA because they have pieces all over. PG? Yes Bryce Lance has that position taken care off. He’s a future scholarship guard. Center? That’s Yahya Black all the way. Now healthy he’s a hard working double-double certainty. Leading scorer with size? That’s Noah Puetz, a great passer and likely 18/19 point per game scorer on a balanced team. Wings? Josh Baker, Trey Steinbach, and Matt Hmielewski will be solid. The depth, talent, and balance is there.
Osseo: 20 wins next year? I think so. Maybe a top ten team? I think they will spend time there. State tournament? Never put anything past a Tim Theisen coached team. These kids defend hard and play team basketball year after year. Love their mix of veteran guards – Tariq Henry and Cornell Richardson – with likely the best group of 2022s at one school in the state of Minnesota. The group of playmaker Bernard Omooria, worker wing Owen Dukowitz, flame thrower Don Ferguson, wing Josh Ola-Joseph, and big Blessed Barhayiga is way past baby steps, they are taking baby giant steps.
St. Cloud Apollo: Look, the talent is there. The athletic ability, agility, length, and depth at each spot could make St. Cloud Apollo similar to what Austin and Mankato East are doing outside of the metro in Class AAA. There is size in Thomas Diew and Pouch Doboul, the wings are there in Chang Hoth and Jalyn Williams, the worker is there in Logan Johnson, and the PG is there in Michael Gravelle. They are not far off from being a top five team but this group has not figured out how to play consistently as a unit like Austin and Mankato East do. Coach Jason Allen is giving these kids the right message for success and we’ve seen visions of what that success could be as Apollo won the Lakeville Summer Showcase. To take the next step the unit has to gel as a group, and if that happens success will be enjoyed.
Waconia: Watch out for this crew. Wally Wisniewski did a nice job handling the ball this weekend and the sophomore could join with others in handling the ball. This would take pressure off of PJ Hayes: who will still handle some but at 6-foot-5 and with a scoring touch that will rank high in the metro, you want him scoring on the wing. Hayes and Connor Schwob will handle those scoring duties plus we feel like Spencer Swanson is about to help this team up front. Soft touch, big screens, good feel for the game, tough, etc. Carter Kienholtz, Ryne Anderson, and others will help as well. Top ten for certain in Class AAA and if the pieces fall right they will battle for top five level in Class AAA.