2023 Rankings Analysis: The Top 10
We recently released our initial class of 2023 rankings featuring 125 talented freshmen that made a name for themselves over the high school season. Today we break down the top 10! 1. Taison Chatman Taison Chatman 6'4" | PG Totino…
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Continue ReadingWe recently released our initial class of 2023 rankings featuring 125 talented freshmen that made a name for themselves over the high school season. Today we break down the top 10!
1. Taison Chatman Taison Chatman 6'4" | PG Totino Grace | 2023 State #35 Nation MN (6’3 G, Totino-Grace)- The number one ranked freshman in Minnesota, Taison already holds high major offers from Minnesota and Marquette. He already has size at 6’3, is an explosive and quick athlete, and plays with great change of tempo that allows him to beat defenders off the dribble. His pull-up jumper is pure, and he’s able to create his own shot off the bounce from deep or mid-range. Taison had a productive freshman season averaging 13.6 ppg for a well balanced team.
2. CJ O’Hara CJ O’Hara 6'4" | SF Park Center | 2023 State #285 Nation MN (6’4 SF, Totino-Grace)- Totino-Grace fills up the top two spots, as CJ O’Hara CJ O’Hara 6'4" | SF Park Center | 2023 State #285 Nation MN earned the #2 ranking in the 2023 class. CJ is long, explosive, and has a rapidly developing skill-set on the wing. He runs like a gazelle leading to transition dunks, or can take his man off the dribble and power through contact inside. Defensively he has the versatility to guard a handful of spots on the floor. Add in an improving three point stroke, and CJ was able to average 13 ppg as a freshman.
3. Jack Janicki Jack Janicki 6'4" | SG White Bear Lake | 2023 State #277 Nation MN (6’2 G, White Bear Lake)- Jack Janicki Jack Janicki 6'4" | SG White Bear Lake | 2023 State #277 Nation MN took the tough SEC by storm in his first year seeing meaningful varsity minutes (was on the team in 8th grade as well), terrorizing defenses with his confident game and sharpshooting ability. Jack has no fear hitting step back threes with a hand in his face, or pulling up from beyond the arc in transition. There were times this season where he wasn’t missing no matter how deep he shot from or how well he was being guarded. Jack also has athleticism in the open floor, and ended his freshman campaign having scored 14.2 ppg.
4. Maxsamus Wilson Maxsamus Wilson 6'3" | CG Hopkins | 2023 State MN (6’3 G, South St. Paul)- A talented guard with some flair to his game, Maxsamus Wilson Maxsamus Wilson 6'3" | CG Hopkins | 2023 State MN comes in at #4 after a solid freshman year for South St. Paul. Able to break his man down off the dribble to get to the rack, Wilson has great touch on his floater to finish over height. Maxsamus also has a consistent shot from outside, and great vision to find the open man off penetration. As one of the better passers in the class, Maxsamus can play either guard spot and make an impact regardless of if his shot is falling or not. He averaged 12 ppg during his freshman campaign.
5. JJ Ware JJ Ware 6'6" | SF Park Center | 2023 State MN (6’5 F, Park Center)- One could argue that JJ has the most upside in the class, but is also a bit of a mystery after missing his freshman season due to injury. Ware has such a long frame but moves extremely well and can handle the rock like a guard. Able to get to the rim off the dribble, post up smaller players, and knock down outside shots, JJ has a versatile game on the wing. Park Center graduates their whole starting lineup from last year, so there will be plenty of opportunity for JJ to contribute at the varsity level.
6. Tommy Humphries Tommy Humphries 6'5" | SF Totino-Grace | 2023 State #283 Nation MN (6’4 W, Totino-Grace)- The third Totino-Grace prospect on this list, Humphries is a versatile wing who did a bit of everything over the winter. Over the season he added a bit of height and explosiveness, now becoming an above the rim threat in transition. Defensively he has a long wingspan that lets him get up in passing lanes and disrupt ball handlers. On the offensive end he’ll make defenses pay for leaving him open from three, but also has the toughness to compete in the paint despite a lanky frame. He averaged 6.4 ppg over the course of his freshman year.
7. Lincoln Palbicki Lincoln Palbicki 6'10" | C Maple Grove | 2023 State MN (6’9 C, Maple Grove)- Playing at the JV level as a freshman, Palbicki displayed some of the skills that will make him a force in the paint down the road. He has a strong frame to withstand contact, as well as a soft finishing touch around the rim. Lincoln plays extremely hard on both ends, moving to contest every shot in the paint, and battling for every rebound on both ends. As he continues to develop an arsenal of post moves, he’ll be an intriguing prospect for years down the road.
8. Jalen Cain Jalen Cain 6'3" | SF Minnetonka | 2023 State MN (6’2 G, Minnetonka)- One of the top young guard prospects in the state, Jalen Cain Jalen Cain 6'3" | SF Minnetonka | 2023 State MN put together a promising season at the Class AAAA level with Minnetonka. Cain saw time both off the bench and as a starter, using his deep range to stretch the floor and showcasing the ability to set up his teammates to score. Jalen likes getting out and pushing the tempo in transition with his ball handling, and finished up his freshman season averaging 7 ppg.
9. Max Shikenjanski Max Shikenjanski 6'2" | PG Stillwater | 2023 State #288 Nation MN (6’1 PG, Stillwater)- A crafty point guard with high basketball IQ, Max made the most of his freshman season with Stillwater. The young point guard does a great job at reading the defense, knowing when he can attack and beat his man off the dribble, or when to pick out a pass to a cutting teammate. He combined passing vision, a knockdown jumper, and a flashy lay-up package to average 16.8 ppg against a tough Class AAAA schedule.
10. Ibrahim El-Amin Ibrahim El-Amin 5'10" | PG Minnetonka | 2023 State MN (5’11 PG, Burnsville)- Perhaps the most gifted natural scorer in this group, Ibo has takeover ability on the offensive end. A stocky point guard with explosive athleticism, El-Amin gets great elevation on his jumper which allows him to get up shots over length and with a hand in his face. A shifty ball handler, Ibo plays with change of tempo which allows him to create space off the bounce to find his shot. He’s so quick when attacking the basket and displayed the passing vision to dump off passes to his forwards for easy buckets this season. El-Amin put up 17.7 ppg at the AAAA level.