2021 Metro Hidden Gems: Small Forwards

With the 2021 class losing out on the spring portion of the AAU season, we at Prep Hoops want to give recognition to some hidden gems at the small forward position. A majority of these players are ranked outside of our top-100, and are all capable of playing at the next level! [player_tooltip player_id="957623" first="Kaden" last="Doram"] (6’2 2021 W, St. Paul Central)- Though a bit undersized as a small forward, Kaden has the physical tools to make up for it. An extremely explosive leaper who loves to attack the basket, Kaden can rise up for some powerful dunks in the half court. Defensively he works hard to move his feet and is able to draw charges with his on-ball defense or by sliding over into the lane as a help defender. He’s athleticism and work ethic allow him to pull in offensive rebounds leading to second chance points in the paint. If he can work on getting the jumper more consistent, he could see his stock rise as a senior. A 12.2 ppg scorer this past winter. [player_tooltip player_id="957196" first="Henry" last="Shannon III"] (6’6 2021 W, Eastview)- Henry Shannon didn’t see much varsity action this past winter, but everything about his game screams potential. He has next level size at 6’6 with a long wingspan, and he adds in above-the-rim athleticism that makes him a major threat in transition. I was able to watch him get big minutes during fall league play, and he showed a smooth mid-range jumper that he hits with consistency off the bounce. During the winter on JV he showed the versatility to post up smaller guards in finish with ease, or play on the perimeter as a wing. Eastview graduates all of their starters, so expect Henry to have the opportunity to showcase his game as a senior. [player_tooltip player_id="957207" first="Dylan" last="Inniger"] (6’4 2021 W, Robbinsdale Armstrong)- A versatile wing prospect who can play the 2 or 3, Dylan is an intelligent player who plays within the flow of the offense. He scored just 6 ppg as a junior but is an extremely efficient player who will likely see those numbers rise as a senior. Dylan has a great touch on his shot beyond the arc, and the length to penetrate and finish around the rim. He’s well coached playing in a tough Armstrong program, and he competes hard on both ends of the floor. [player_tooltip player_id="774895" first="Caden" last="Boettcher"] (6’4 2021 W, Maple Grove)- [player_tooltip player_id="774895" first="Caden" last="Boettcher"] is a physically built and fundamentally sound wing who played a key role in a successful year for Maple Grove. He showcased athleticism in the open floor leading to transition dunks, and has a high releasing three that he hits at a solid rate. Defensively he works hard to move his feet, and searches to initiate the box out to pull in rebounds. He had a solid junior season finishing with averages of 8.4 points and 4.8 rebounds per game. [player_tooltip player_id="957198" first="Bryce" last="Boyd"] (6’4 2021 W, Holy Angels)- As a 6’4 wing, [player_tooltip player_id="957198" first="Bryce" last="Boyd"] has the physical tools that colleges look for in a small forward. He’s a smooth slasher who’s a composed attacker off the dribble. He picks his moments to penetrate gaps and does so keeping his head on a swivel to avoid charging and maintaining his vision to pick out a pass. Bryce has the athleticism to glide to the basket and finish in both half court and in transition. His breakout junior year saw him average 11.5 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 1.3 steals per contest. [player_tooltip player_id="957620" first="Ryan" last="Chamberlain"] (6’5 2021 W, St. Thomas Academy)- A versatile combo-forward with great size on the wing, Ryan did a bit of everything for STA this past winter. Though he doesn’t shoot a high volume of threes, he hit them at a 36% rate as a junior. Also capable of creating off the dribble, he can get to the rim and score or set up his teammates off penetration. Ryan is a fundamentally sound player and he competes hard on both ends of the floor. He averaged 9.7 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game over the winter. [player_tooltip player_id="957204" first="Terence" last="Anthony-Larmouth"] (6’6 2021 W, Maple Grove)- With an intriguing mix of length and athleticism, Terence is a guy who can play and defend multiple spots on the floor. From the wing he has the first step and handle to beat his man to the hoop, but he can also act as a pick-and-pop forward with a confident stroke from three. He’s a plus length wing who can move his feet to defend on the perimeter or go straight up to contest shots in the paint. Though he’s still raw and didn’t play a big role for Maple Grove as a junior, he has a promising set of tools to work with and a high ceiling if he keeps developing.