Scouting Minnesota – The 8A Rundown
There is a lot to run through in Section 8A as we look forward to some potential summer events and then hopefully a winter season of hoops. Join us and get to know some players. I want to rundown several…
Access all of Prep Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingThere is a lot to run through in Section 8A as we look forward to some potential summer events and then hopefully a winter season of hoops. Join us and get to know some players.
I want to rundown several notes and I think the best way to do it is by grabbing seven teams and then talking about players from those teams.
Badger/Greenbush-Middle River. The request for Adam Benke Adam Benke 5'11" | SG Badger-Greenbush-Middle River | 2020 State MN coming into the season was get stronger. Benke did that and it allowed him to finish attacks as well as become a more study defender. Because Adam was already a good shooter and a fierce defender, the addition of finished attacks and holding his defensive ground made him a top player, and maybe the top player in his conference. Adam will be a senior next fall.
Blackduck. The Drakes won 19 games with senior Dylan Moen Dylan Moen 6'0" | SF Blackduck | 2020 State MN and junior Ethan Merrill leading the way. Ethan scored 14 a game and was an all league performer. Merrill played at a level that was expected of him a senior, as a junior. Now expectations are very high for Ethan as a senior.
Cass Lake-Bena. Senior-to-be Timmy Smith and junior-to-be Leroy Fairbanks of Cass Lake-Bena were both all league players with Fairbanks being the Rookie/Newcomer of the Year. Both will have Panther fans excited and should help them contend for another section title. What’s also exciting is that Cass Lake-Bena had two 8th graders playing meaning those two – Dominic Fairbanks and Kaydin Lee – are about to be talents to know going forward.
Fertile-Beltrami. The Falcons improved by six games (25-5 final record) in 2019-20 and a key reason was the expected depth – point guard Rylin Petry and shooting guard Everett Balstad – because two of the team’s most important players. Petry has a great IQ and is a high percentage shooter wherever while Balstad is an athletic slasher.
Red Lake. Get to know Delwyn Holthusen Delwyn Holthusen 6'6" | PF Red Lake | 2021 State MN . Delwyn averaged 27 points and 17.5 rebounds a game often carrying his team on his back as a team with no seniors gained experience. Aaron Chaboyea and Riley Chaboyea eventually became comfortable taking pressure off of Delwyn but this 27 and 18 a game guy could be an MVP next year.
Red Lake County. Eric Gieseke led Red Lake County to 20 wins shouldering a big combination of creating shots for others, knocking out jumpers, and attacking the paint for consistent results. Gieseke is another talent that could have a massive senior year and lead his team to a huge season.
Sacred Heart. One of the top sophomores in Class A this year was Kobe Tomkinson Kobe Tomkinson 6'1" | PG Sacred Heart | 2022 State MN , a 19 point per game player that pushed Sacred Heat a game over .500.