17U Preview – Playmakers North

Ryan James May 8, 2020 @ 12:48 PM

The Playmakers North squad is a Hibbing/Duluth East mix with two other players forming a very solid 17 and Under team top ten caliber team. Here is the preview of the Playmakers. [player_tooltip player_id="774863" first="Mayson" last="Brown"] of Hibbing (SG, 5’11). When it comes to rapid releases, few can match [player_tooltip player_id="774863" first="Mayson" last="Brown"]. If modern day life had duals [player_tooltip player_id="774863" first="Mayson" last="Brown"] would be left standing county after county. It’s almost comical looking at the faces of the defenders who are shocked at how quickly Mayson releases a shot with range and consistency for his 17 points a game. Zaa Buffalo of Duluth East (SG, 6’4). We look forward to seeing more of what Buffalo can do. He was an East role player that scored a couple times a game but seemed to play all over the court. There were times we saw Buffalo handle, times we saw him on the low block to finish, and a few times he caught and hit at the arc. [player_tooltip player_id="957200" first="Tre" last="Holmes"] of Hibbing (SG, 6’2). Holmes is a wing that scored 15 a game at Hibbing this winter. Do you have to be watchful of his three-point stroke? Most assuredly. And dribbling left into his pull-up Tre looks dangerous. But Holmes is a better athlete than I think he gets credit for. A couple explosive attacks here, mixed in with a block and a dunk there, interesting player. Dylan Karau of Baldwin-Woodville (SF, 6’6). Dylan is yet another shooter on this team only he has more size than some of the others meaning he will be a three or a stretch four. More than half of his attempts were at the arc this year where Dylan shot 37 percent. Scored nine a game this winter and is an 85 percent foul shooter. [player_tooltip player_id="567088" first="Parker" last="Maki"] of Hibbing (PF, 6’6). Parker reminds me a lot of [player_tooltip player_id="721842" first="Tate" last="Machacek"] in the way he is very active, agile, and strong at 6-foot-6. When you watch Parker play you see a lot of hard cuts to catch and finish, there are face-up jumpers, and there are elbow attacks to the rim. We’ve also seen a three here and there while playing with a team full of excellent shooters. Scored ten a game. [player_tooltip player_id="850731" first="Ayden" last="McDonald"] of Hibbing (PG, 6’3, 2022). McDonald is one of Minnesota’s better all around players, one of the state’s elite passers, and one of the top 15-20 sophomores in the state overall. Ayden averaged 21.6 points, 10.4 assists, 6.4 assists, and four steals a game. McDonald will be a featured talent that many will track closely. [player_tooltip player_id="774755" first="Noah" last="Paulson"] of Hibbing (C, 6’9). The second move - or the move after Noah’s shoulder turn - is high quality. Between the pivot and the fakes Paulson is clearing defenders in multiples. A big bodied post that offers a great target and with each entry pass Paulson moves the defense setting up all the talent around him. One of the state’s best four center prospects in the 2021 class, Noah is coming off of a 15 point per game season. [player_tooltip player_id="774801" first="Mattie" last="Thompson"] of Duluth East (SF, 6’6). A top 40 level player in this class, Mattie has the potential to be one of the top 17u stock raisers out of Minnesota. There are few players at his size that can move with Thompson’s first step/attack moves and Mattie is one of the top 10-12 explosive finishers in his grade. Thompson averaged 20 a game for the Greyhounds this year. [player_tooltip player_id="774781" first="Brady" last="Watrin"] of Moose Lake-Willow River (SF, 6’5). On a team of shooters, Watrin is another with a quick release as he catches and keeps the ball high into a quick jumper. Watrin is a quality passer, can attack with a pair of dribbles of each hand, and he averaged 20 points, eight boards, and five assists.