17U Preview – Minnesota Lightning

<p>The Minnesota Lightning grow more and more as a program every year. They have once again put an excellent team together, he is their 17u preview.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="774814" first="Blake" last="Herber"]</strong> of PEM (5’11 PG). First things first, I went through the 2021 rankings and did not locate Blake. That was surely a cut and paste error moving him around because I recall evaluating his game this winter checking on video and seeing Blake as one of the quickest lead guards in the state of Minnesota. He’s an outstanding rebounder for his position, Herber is a quality shooter, and he lived at the foul line. We think Blake will have a big 17u season. Herber scored 21.6 points and four assists a game.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="774784" first="Ben" last="Holden"]</strong> of Cleveland (6’6 C). Holden scored 19 points a game this winter for the Clippers using his back to the basket ability combined with an improved face-up game. Holden’s left shoulder turn is as good as they come plus he has turned into a much better pick and pop player using that soft touch.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="774763" first="Teyghan" last="Hovland"]</strong> of Austin (6’3 Wing). Hovland is the do everything player of this group that the coach can plug in at any position. It’s not a surprise as Hovland is an outstanding three-sport athlete but Hovland gave top ten Austin 11 points, 4.5 boards, and a couple steals a contest. Can handle the ball, play with his back to the basket, or attack for results. Then Hovland is agile enough laterally with strength and knowledge making him a top defender as well.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="567090" first="Reid" last="Johnson"]</strong> of Chatfield (6’4 SG). Johnson is an aggressive, confident scorer that put up 20 a game this season as a big wing. Tough assignment on defense because you have to have a player at a smaller school level that can move with Reid but not get over-powered.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="957156" first="Austin" last="Klug"]</strong> of Caledonia (6’4 SG). Klug has a chance to prove something that we strongly believe, that Klug can be one of the state’s better big wing shooting prospects. Klug scored a dozen points a game one of the elite teams in the state. Much better off the dribble than people know.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="774936" first="Andrew" last="Kunelius"]</strong> of Caledonia (6’2 SG). Andrew was the worker in the line-up that could get over-looked because of all the size and stars around him but he was a very important piece to he Warriors. Scored three-four baskets a game hitting at the arc and scoring on the move. Willing to work.<strong> </strong></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="774768" first="Colt" last="Landers"]</strong> of Grand Meadow (6’5 PF). Landers broke the school record for scoring this year and he will enter his senior year with nearly 1,700 points already tallied. Colton averaged 20 plus points a game this year with 6-7 boards a contest and an improved perimeter game.</p> <p><strong>Noah Miller</strong> of Forest City, IA (6’0 PG). Scored 15 points a game for his team shooting 44 percent from the field 36 percent at the arc, and 68 percent from the foul line. Led his team in scoring, assists, and steals. Averaged five steals a contest.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="957155" first="Okey" last="Okey"]</strong> of Austin (6’2 SG). When it comes to agile playmakers and scorers at Austin, [player_tooltip player_id="957155" first="Okey" last="Okey"] looks to be next up. Okey knocked out 46 percent of his threes this winter and will give the Lightning a consistent threat at the wing. Okey scored 11.5 points a game for a top team in Class AAA.<strong> </strong></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1071109" first="Ty" last="Tuckner"]</strong> of Rochester JM (6’6 PF). Stepped into the post this year for the Rockets and had a very nice season (first as a varsity regular). Averaged just under double figures and is growing nicely as a player.</p>