Meg Vang Invitational Standouts Pt. 1
The Meg Vang invitational took place last weekend at Forest Lake High School, and Prep Hoops was in attendance to catch two days worth of action. With some of the state’s top talents and programs in attendance, these are seven…
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Continue ReadingThe Meg Vang invitational took place last weekend at Forest Lake High School, and Prep Hoops was in attendance to catch two days worth of action. With some of the state’s top talents and programs in attendance, these are seven names who stood out.
Eli King Eli King 6'2" | PG Caledonia | 2022 State #151 Nation MN (6’3 2022 G, Minnesota Warriors)- Playing with the Minnesota Warriors (his Caledonia high school team), Eli showed off his well rounded game that will make him one of the most dominant players in the state for the next two years. Eli has been known as a freak athlete, but isn’t reliant on that athleticism to be effective. In a game against Wisconsin Swing, King knocked down two pull-up threes, as well as hitting a mid-range shot off the bounce. He was also able to get to the rim effectively, accelerating quickly to blow by his man where he was then able to finish or show off his improved passing vision to set up an open teammate. To cap it all off, Eli threw down one of his signature highlight dunks, this one a powerful slam coming off a baseline out of bounds alley-oop.
Willie Wilson Willie Wilson 6'2" | CG Minneapolis North | 2022 State MN (6’2 2022 G, Sizzle UAA)- Another of the state’s elite 2022 prospects, Willie Wilson Willie Wilson 6'2" | CG Minneapolis North | 2022 State MN gave Sizzle the kick-start they needed after slow starts to both of their games that I watched. Playing with a mix of their 16u and 17u teams, Sizzle started off slow offensively in both outings I watched, before Willie started to take over with his transition scoring. Attacking the rim at full speed for some crafty finishes, Willie’s aggressive approach gave Sizzle the momentum they needed to finish out the games strong. Add in a handful of assists to showcase his playmaking abilities, and Willie had a solid weekend of play.
Joshua Ola-Joseph Joshua Ola-Joseph 6'6" | SF Osseo | 2022 State #166 Nation MN (6’5 2022 W, D1 Minnesota 16u)- Josh Ola-Joseph continued to dominate this summer with his physical attributes. At 6’5 with explosive leaping ability and extremely long arms, Josh was able to establish post position against opposing wings, and extend over the top to finish at the rim with either hand. Josh also continued to impress with a consistent outside shot, and although he still only attempts one or two 3’s a game, his ability to knock them down forces defenders to play up on him which opens up his ability to attack off the dribble.
Francis Nwaokorie Francis Nwaokorie 6'7" | C Champlin Park | 2021 State MN (6’7 2021 C, Minnesota Fury 17u)- Francis continued to prove that he is one of the most efficient post scorers in the state, using his combination of strength, footwork, and soft touch around the rim to turn post touches into two points with ease. Even when getting double teamed, Francis showed the ability to step through the defenders and go up balanced to finish, or quickly find the open man cutting to the basket for an easy assist. That passing vision is something that will help Francis become an even more productive player this winter, as teams will be forced to pick their poison when trying to defend him.
Sam Privet Sam Privet 6'9" | PF Caledonia | 2021 State MN (6’8 2021 F, Minnesota Warriors)- Another of the top big men in attendance, Sam’s versatility as a prospect stood out in the game that I caught. Privet showcased great hands receiving some difficult post feeds as well as swallowing up every rebound that he was able to get a hand on. In the halfcourt he was able to score both from the block or spotting up and knocking down the open jumper. What impressed me most about Sam was his ability to gather a defensive rebound, and lead the fast break by going coast-to-coast multiple times to score at the rim.
Nick Katona Nick Katona 6'6" | SF Shakopee | 2022 State MN (6’6 2022 SF, MN Fury 16u)- Nick Katona Nick Katona 6'6" | SF Shakopee | 2022 State MN backed up his top-15 ranking in the 2022 class with a strong showing for Fury-Wilde. An extremely versatile player, Nick was knocking down threes at a high rate, attacking the basket off the dribble, providing tough defense guarding a variety of spots, and pushing the ball ahead in transition. Nick is a hard-nosed competitor who is willing to do anything it takes to win, and it shows in his ability to step into a variety of roles for his team.
Paris Johnson Paris Johnson 6'4" | SG St. Louis Park | 2021 State MN (6’4 2021 SG, Sizzle-Caldwell)- Sizzle-Caldwell had a pair of tough matchups against D1 Minnesota 16u and Minnesota Fury 16u, and Paris Johnson Paris Johnson 6'4" | SG St. Louis Park | 2021 State MN proved to be their go-to guy on the offensive end. Paris was aggressive getting to the basket to finish, using his long frame and athleticism to rise up and finish over length. He has an intriguing blend of length, athleticism, and a smooth pull-up jumper that give him a high ceiling as a prospect if he can produce consistently against high level competition.