The Winter Lakes Classic – Five to Watch

The 5th annual Winter Lakes Classic is this weekend at Alexandria High School and there are several players that you need to know before attending the games! 

There are seven games overall, four of the contests are boys games:

• 1:15 - Sauk Centre (6-12) vs #10AA East Grand Forks (15-0)
• 4:15 - Melrose (14-5) vs #8AA Eden Valley-Watkins (15-1)
• 6:00 - #3AA Perham (14-0) vs #7AA Osakis (16-1)
• 7:30 - #6AAA Delano (14-2) vs Alexandria (13-4)

Trey Longstreet of Delano (6'7 Jr Everything).  Years back when teams were trying to bring in Zach Stahl from Hopkins a college coach told me "Zach just does some of everything and often a lot of everything, he's a plug and play".  That same phrase could be offered for Tyler Wahl in previous years and Trey Longstreet currently.  Terron O'Neill and Keagan Smith are great stories with their improvements as 20 point per game scorers but each Delano gameplan starts with Trey.  How much will Trey handle?  How much does he need to create tonight?  How much does he need to score?  What top option does need to defend?  That's Trey.  He's a player that you will see in the top six or seven on both the junior basketball and football prospect lists. 

Rowan Nelson of Melrose (6'5 Jr Forward). Rowan is a player that I am really looking forward to see this weekend, and then this spring/summer at the 17u level.  Pound for pound he may be one of the more versatile scorers in the junior class.  He has the ability to play in the post and score with his back to the basket but also has the ability to face-up and score from the perimeter.  Strength, skill, agility, and savvy play. 

Charlie Rasmussen of Perham (6'2 Sr Combo Guard). I know that Finn Diggins is a top junior and that Elijah Morris shoots it so well, but Rasmussen is the guy that I really want to see play.  Perham remains undefeated and is led by Charlie's 20 points and 8 boards a contest. This is a relentless competitor on defense and on the glass from his guard spot, and you can really see his aggressive approach when he attacks the basket off the bounce. 

Daniel Savageau of Osakis (5'11 Sr Combo Guard).  As an upperclassmen Daniel has led his team to a 43-3 record so far.  Daniel's best ability is his feel for space.  He's a guy that combines skill with court sense leading to space creation.  Wether it be a quick separation for a jumper or the sudden fake shifting the defender and opening space for that mid-range attack jumper Daniel is always finding ways to produce.  He's also very good at creating fouls for the opponent opening up foul line opportunities.

Joshua Streit of Eden Valley-Watkins (6'7 JR PF). Steit is a top 5-10 level talent in the junior class for many reasons starting with his physical gifts. To me this is a division one prospect who will certainly collect low major chances and he has the potential to be an excellent face-up four man based on his agility and skills to pass as well as handle some. Streit has EVW in the top ten with a 23 point, 12 board a game average.