16U Summer – Top 2022 D1 Stock Risers
The 2022 class of basketball talent could set a new record when it comes to basketball players headed to the D1 level. Here’s a group of six that I felt firmly established themselves as D1 prospects this summer. Carter Bjerke…
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Continue ReadingThe 2022 class of basketball talent could set a new record when it comes to basketball players headed to the D1 level. Here’s a group of six that I felt firmly established themselves as D1 prospects this summer.
Carter Bjerke Carter Bjerke 6'9" | C Wayzata | 2022 State MN of D1 Minnesota (Wayzata). For starters, Carter Bjerke Carter Bjerke 6'9" | C Wayzata | 2022 State MN has a division one shoot stroke. He’s the type of player you put on the wing within your motion, or you have fade off the ball screen and just knock out shots. The Bjerke flick of the risk is in the 40% Club. Then you add that Carter is a strong, 6-foot-8 and you have a Shelby Moats type that certainly has the skills and size to play division one basketball.
Antonio Bluiett Antonio Bluiett 6'2" | PG Buffalo | 2022 State MN of Minnesota Comets (Buffalo). What I really like about Antonio is his ability to mix his own offense while creating chances for others. His quickness in creating space against talented defenders provided him the edge needed to have an excellent summer with the Comets. Bluiett has a beautiful touch on the move but to get to it facing the other team’s top guy, Antonio has to craft space. We saw him do that with quick spins, deep crossovers, and rapid change of directions of various dribble that opened that window for Antonio to score in. I think Antonio has the ability to play D1 basketball at the low major level of division one.
Nick Katona Nick Katona 6'6" | SF Shakopee | 2022 State MN of Minnesota Fury (Shakopee). Tough to call any go the main scorer or go-to scorer for a Fury team that was so balanced. They dissected teams with ball movement and intelligent sets/motion offense. Game to game it was often a different guy that was able to get 9-10 shots and lead the team in numbers but the more I saw the Fury, the more I saw Nick Katona Nick Katona 6'6" | SF Shakopee | 2022 State MN step forward as the top threat. Nick is an athletic 6-foot-6 player that spent his winter scoring on the move and defending the other team’s top option. With the Fury, Nick scored in the same ways but also mixed in a consistent shooting touch with feet set and that added feature will take his game to an even higher level. Big things are expected in the future for Nick Katona Nick Katona 6'6" | SF Shakopee | 2022 State MN .
Ayden McDonald Ayden McDonald 6'4" | PG Omaha Central | 2022 State MN of Playmakers North (Hibbing). When it comes to passing the basketball Ayden McDonald Ayden McDonald 6'4" | PG Omaha Central | 2022 State MN is in elite company. And when I mean elite, I’m saying the only guys in the last ten years who have shown to consistently have better court vision at this age would be Tyus Jones and Tyrell Terry. Elite company? Without a doubt. But Ayden has earned it. He’s the type of guy that builds an assist total in many ways: 1) the right decision in transition every time, 2) the perfect ball reversal too quick for a defender to recover to, 3) post feeds that make life easy for bigs, 4) attacking feeds for high percentage finishes, and 5) creative passes in the air that are made with the purpose of timing and angle. Yes Ayden can put points on the board but his gift is his understanding of how to help teammates put points on the board in high percentage ways.
Cody Pennebaker Cody Pennebaker 6'5" | SF Park Center | 2022 State MN of Grassroots Sizzle (St. Francis). After we did our 2022 rankings last spring I was sent a video of Cody that was much different than what I had heard about from the winter season. That video showed an explosive 6-foot-6 athlete that runs the floor ahead of the back and easily glides into finishes in effortless yes fun ways. Cody has physical tools that give him the potential to one day be a division one prospect. He’s coming off of a 14-15 point per game season for a struggling team but if he continues to improve they will not struggle for long.
Willie Wilson Willie Wilson 6'2" | CG Minneapolis North | 2022 State MN of Grassroots Sizzle (Minneapolis North). We’ve talked a lot about Willie in the past so first we start with the summary, and then what really caught my eye in watching him this summer. Willie is one of the best transition finishers/passers we have in the state of Minnesota and he’s got a shooting touch that warms up and can put numbers on the board quickly. He’s a combo guard that seems to have a bright future. What caught my eye was his willingness to step forward and be the take charge guy. When the Sizzle played other top teams Willie was sitting deep in a stance willing to work defensively. When the team needed a shot to be crafted individually, Willie was more than willing to be that guy.