MBCA Showcase: 2020 Top Five Performers
There were 60-65 of the best seniors-to-be in the state of Minnesota at the MBCA Showcase. Who were the best of the best? Connor Christensen Top 5 Performers Connor Christensen of Eden Prairie. Connor does what it takes to…
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Continue ReadingThere were 60-65 of the best seniors-to-be in the state of Minnesota at the MBCA Showcase. Who were the best of the best?
Connor Christensen
Top 5 Performers
Connor Christensen of Eden Prairie. Connor does what it takes to win. How many wings would have zero problem at a camp going inside and calling for the ball over and over to score on smaller guards? Connor had no issues with it. In fact he craved it overpowering players to catch and complete. No player was more vocal on defense and no player out-performed Christensen defensively. At 6-foot-6 Connor is one of the best high school defenders I’ve ever seen. I know many coaches value that at the college level so step forward!
Dain Dainja of Park Center. Dain missed a game to play in the Pro Am but he did enough in his three performances to step into this list. Dainja – now a Baylor commit – wasn’t just scoring with his normal skill but never have I seen him use his strength with such a purpose. The 6-foot-8 Park Center big aggressively used a dribble to get to the edge exploding through defenders and finishing in a rare way. When Dain Dainja is aggressive to score on the block nobody can deal with him and that was proved this weekend once again. And again, Dain has the most skilled hands, feet, shoulders, and hips we’ve seen in these parts since Royce White was playing.
Dawson Garcia of Prior Lake. The five star big kicked off his weekend scoring 24 points on 9 of 15 shooting in a display of perimeter shooting and high effort put-backs in front of Roy Williams of UNC and Norm Roberts of KU. Kansas offered today and we are hearing that North Carolina is not too far behind. His weekend finished with a match-up again Dain Dainja highlighted by a gorgeous kiss off the glass and more effort put-back plays. This weekend Garcia once again showed his skills inside-out coupled with high effort off-ball activity that always gives him three-four baskets even on a bad shooting day. Teams can’t guard Dawson with a center, it has to be a forward, and most forwards are too slow or too short.
Mason Madsen of Rochester Mayo. Mason has grown a beard and I swear that beard has also brought Mason an extra fight to his game. Mason defended opposing guards with lateral burst and a physical shoulder whenever somebody tried to get around him. His transition push was rapid and Mason made his shot in high percentage numbers. Madsen created several shots for others and overall played at a high level level for four games in front of double figure college coaches that have offered him.
Kerwin Walton of Hopkins. I’ve spoke a lot about defense this weekend and that shall continue. There was one player that read screens nearly perfectly this weekend, and that was Kerwin Walton. There was one player this weekend who defended some D1 bigs limiting their quality touches and then moved over to guard a D1 point guard and limited the amount of shots created, that was Kerwin. Walton does it with effort and positioning making him a defender that continues to improve at 6-foot-6. Also, Walton was once again a 40 plus percent three-point shooter.
Will Cordes
Five More
Will Cordes of Shakopee. I’ve seen Shakopee and the Matrix play a number of games this year and no matter win, lose, close game or blowout, Cordes always seems to play at a high level. Jumper is pure but what’s more is Will’s ability to lead his team with his poise and determination.
Joich Gong of Mankato East. Greatly impressed with the way Joich played on and off the ball. When it comes to off-ball movement Joich ranked with the best but I also looked his short jumper and the way he created perimeter attempts for several teammates.
Jacob Hutson of Edina. When people ask about Jake I say “do you want a tough, skilled, and high intelligence block position player?” Hutson again moved guys off the block one way, scored on it the other way. Four division one offers in the past couple months, and building.
Agwa Nywesh of Austin. Played point guard and made sure the wing entry was quick and in the right spot. Defended well turning quality lead guards away from their comfort. And Nywesh went at the rim with an aggressive burst that put him in space consistently. How good? Like his brother Aj Nywesh was, Agwa is division good.
Brady Williams of Dover-Eyota. Brady has played in that defender, rebounder, quick reversal, make open shots consistently role for the Fury all spring and he did that once again at the MBCA Showcase. But Williams had to score for his team this weekend and Brady did that with good percentages.
Andrew Bergan
South Dakota
Andrew Bergan of Aberdeen Central. When college coaches were taking notes of players this weekend they were impressed with a 6-foot-8 forward that moved his feet with a number of scholarship offered forwards that couldn’t turn on Bergan. They saw a comfortable perimeter player that showed he could be a stretch four, but also a talent that can play in the high post, and on the block. Versatile, agile, and skilled at 6-foot-8. Rare combination.
Jack Cartwright of SF O’Gorman. One of the most impressive parts of the weekend was how Jack Cartwright fit in with a talented group of players and made everybody around him better. Cartwright made the majority of his open shots with feet set but also scored moving off the ball. Most impressively, the way Jack defended and moved the basketball helped the players around him play a better game.
Kobe Busch of Huron. The players competing with Kobe, the coaches coaching Kobe, and those watching Kobe respected his efforts as much as anyone’s. Busch was obviously dealing with a back issue but stepped on the floor and competed anyway. In his final game Kobe knocked out five threes.