Twin Cities Instant Impact Freshmen Pt. 1
There are a handful of freshmen who have been able to step in and make immediate impacts at the varsity level through the first month of the season. Some have been putting up big scoring numbers in a starting role, while others are acting as key role players off the bench. Northstar Hoops breaks down which 2023 prospects have been off to strong starts at the varsity level.
Taison Chatman Taison Chatman 6'4" | PG Totino Grace | 2023 State #35 Nation MN (6’3 2023 G, Totino-Grace)- Taison is a clear choice to be on this list. After seeing him dominate upperclassmen during some fall showcases and leagues, he has stepped into a key role for a state ranked team. Through eight games he leads Totino-Grace in scoring at 14.2 ppg, and he does his best work against tougher opponents. His games of 23 (twice) and 22 points have been against Benilde-St. Margaret’s, Spring Lake Park, and Champlin Park. Taison moves so freely with the ball in his hands both in transition and in the half-court set, where he has shown off good passing vision as a lead guard. He also creates for himself so easily off the dribble where he can finish with a jumper or get to the rim to score.
Maxsamus Wilson Maxsamus Wilson 6'3" | CG Hopkins | 2023 State MN (6’3 2023 G, South St. Paul)- Coming off an 8th grade year averaging double figures on Brooklyn Center’s varsity team, Maxsamus Wilson Maxsamus Wilson 6'3" | CG Hopkins | 2023 State MN is now attending high school at South St. Paul, a program on the rise due to him and some other talented players. Though he’s missed a few games, he’s averaging 15.2 points and 7 assists per contest, and his team is 5-0 when he has been healthy. Max has really impressive vision for a young point guard, and brings a unique flashiness to the floor. When looking for his own shot, Wilson has a nice floater to finish off drives to the hoop, and has deep shooting range beyond the arc.
Jack Janicki Jack Janicki 6'4" | SG White Bear Lake | 2023 State #277 Nation MN (6’2 2023 G, White Bear Lake)- Jack Janicki Jack Janicki 6'4" | SG White Bear Lake | 2023 State #277 Nation MN has been an absolute weapon beyond the arc for White Bear Lake. It’s no exaggeration to say that he will pull-up in a defender’s face from NBA range, because he does just that. The lefty guard does not lack confidence shooting the ball from deep, and he’s been making them at a high clip this year. In six games this year Janicki is averaging an impressive 14.7 ppg, the highest scoring average on his team. He scored a season-high 23 against Roseville, and also had an impressive 22 against state-ranked East Ridge. Janicki has already become the type of shooter that opposing coaches need to gameplan for.
Jessye Lewis Jr Jessye Lewis Jr 6'1" | PG Hiawatha Collegiate | 2023 State MN . (6’ 2023 G, Hiawatha Collegiate)- Jessye Lewis may be playing at a small school, but the numbers he’s been putting up as a freshman are ridiculous. In five games he boasts averages of 25.6 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 5.6 assists per game. Those stats would be impressive as a senior, let alone as a freshman. Like Janicki, Jessye Lewis is a three point threat who averages 4 makes a game from beyond the arc, accounting for nearly half of his scoring input. He’s also well-built physically, allowing him to take the ball to the rack to finish. After scoring 501 points on varsity as an eighth grader, Jessye is well on his way to eclipsing the 1,000 point milestone this season.
Ibo El-Amin (5’11 2023 G, Burnsvile)- Ibo El-Amin has stepped into Burnsville’s starting lineup as a freshman and is immediately making his presence felt as a dangerous scorer. Ibo is a stocky point guard who has a shifty handle to get into space, and gets great elevation on his pull-up jumper to get his shot off over defenders. He can pull-up from beyond the arc or from mid-range, and that shooting has allowed him to average 15.2 ppg to start the year, including games of 25 and 22 against Cooper and Eastview. Ibo is one of just a few freshmen putting up scoring numbers this good at the big school level.
Jalen Cain Jalen Cain 6'3" | SF Minnetonka | 2023 State MN (6’2 2023 G, Minnetonka)- Another name to know in the talented group of 2023 guards is Jalen Cain Jalen Cain 6'3" | SF Minnetonka | 2023 State MN . The young guard doesn’t have one thing that sticks out about his game, but rather is a well-rounded player who can do a little bit of everything. He has the length to defend both guard spots, moves the ball well on offense, can knock down threes, and can also attack the basket off the dribble. In seven games thus far Jalen is scoring 9.3 ppg, and coming off a 16 point outing against Northfield. Off to a solid start to his freshman year, it will be interesting to see how he performs in the gauntlet that is the Lake Conference.
Emmanuel Schmitter Emmanuel Schmitter 6'3" | SG Eagan | 2023 State MN (6’2 2023 G, Eagan)- Simply put, Emmanuel Schmitter Emmanuel Schmitter 6'3" | SG Eagan | 2023 State MN does not play like a freshman. He plays with a maturity well beyond his years, and rarely makes bad decisions with the ball. He’s already becoming recognized as a defensive stopper, as he held PJ Hayes PJ Hayes 6'6" | SF Waconia | 2020 State MN to 19 points when Eagan played Waconia. PJ went into that game averaging 27 ppg. Offensively he moves the ball well, and does a lot of his scoring shooting from beyond the arc. He also excels at crashing the glass, and averages an impressive 7 rebounds per game to go along with his 10.1 ppg. It’s also worth mentioning that he ran sprints on the varsity track team as just an eighth grader.