Midwest Collision - New Names to Know

What knew names should Minnesota basketball fans be aware of after the Midwest Collision? Here’s a group ready to make a big winter impact! Ben Buesgens of Wear out the Net (5’11 PG of Farmington: 2022). I like the grit of this young guard. There is a toughness, a production value to him that just sticks out. He had a late game crucial assist in that Venom win and looking back on some previous film, this is a player that can at times be relied on as one of the key options to score/playmake. Has had some nice games for WOTN this summer as a scorer and handler, I really feel like he could be another player helping Farmington take another step forward this winter. Anthony Conzemius of West Central United (6’6 Forward of Breckenridge; 2021). Loved how Anthony moved within his team’s zone offense to completely defeat an opponent on Sunday. Anthony is a long armed forward that has handled every role that has been given him this summer. This weekend his role was to rebound and cut to the rim against a good team and he did it scoring six times with six boards. Watch out for Anthony and Brecknridge this winter. LeRoy Fairbanks IV of Playmakers North (6’4 SF of Cass Lake-Bena; 2022). Fairbanks is a scorer that has taken a massive step forward with his work during the pandemic. A double figure scoring sophomore that has been a times a 20 point per game guy for the Playmakers. This past weekend LeRoy was a 20 plus point per game player including a 29 point performance putting his team on his back at times in a 81-79 win over the Suns. Had a couple high teen scoring games as well mixing that beautiful scoring touch into the game from several different approaches. Sam Hoffman of Minnesota Fury Narum (6’3 of Farmington; 2022). We at Prep Hoops are really liking the 2022s from Farmington lately! Another Tiger that impressed us over the weekend was Sam Hoffman, a player that worked his way into the Farmington line-up last year as the season moved on scoring three times a game. I have not seen Sam enough to dive incredibly deep into his game but I have seen him enough to know that he’s been an impact shooter in a lot of situations. Against Heat Grow he knocked out two late threes and a one dribble pull-up for his own 8-0 run that changed the game. One of these players consistently improving by the day. Michael McIntrye of D1 Minnesota Prospects (6’4 PF of Osseo; 2021). I love how hard Michael plays. This is the type of guy that is perfect for Osseo who is a young developing team, but need a veteran worker, need a consistent player to lead/learn from each night. He battled this weekend every possession grabbing 18 boars in the two games we watched and scored six field goals in those contests battling bigger players inside. Love his tenacious effort as a role player that will likely play a lot of four mixing great with a big skilled wing and a post. [player_tooltip player_id="774876" first="Laron" last="Thomas"] of Heat PB&J (6’2 SG of North St. Paul; 2021). There is just so much that LaRon should be able to give a team going forward. He will be a senior but I think this is one of those players that could make his biggest jump at the college level. Why? Plays hard, more agile/athletic than most that guard him/he defends, and Thomas looks to be improving the skill level while being a willing passer. Thomas has a 40 inch vertical and he averaged ten boards a game last year as a guard! We saw him hit a couple jumpers this weekend while pulling down seven boards in a win. A lot to him. Dayne Wojcik of Wear Out the Net (6’4 PF of Goodhue; 2022). The new name of the weekend is most certainly Dayne Wojcik, a player that scored ten a game at Goodhue last year. WOTN plays good team basketball which is how they were able to defeat D1 Minnesota 16u and the South Dakota Venom. That said, against each of the top opponents that WOTN faced, it was Dayne who was the most consistent force game to game. He was able to use every part of the paint to physically come at bigger players, and he produced against each of them. Scored 13 against D1 Minnesota, had 23 in an at times dominating performance versus the Venom, and while most of WOTN had a terrible time with the Fury, Wojcik went at their bigger players and scored seven field goals against them as well. Didn’t matter that he was giving up inches, Wojcik used his strength and leverage to get into space and then touched in shots consistently for the event 16u runner-up. [player_tooltip player_id="960333" first="Sam" last="Zilmer"] of Minnesota Heat Grow (6’4 Forward of Rockford; 2022). I name that kept coming back to me while watching Heat Grow was [player_tooltip player_id="960333" first="Sam" last="Zilmer"]. What player made that nice pass? [player_tooltip player_id="960333" first="Sam" last="Zilmer"]. Who just slid in to cut off a drive forcing a bad shot and then sprinted the other way to score at the rim? [player_tooltip player_id="960333" first="Sam" last="Zilmer"]. Who just made that nice move from mid-range shifting the defender out of the picture? [player_tooltip player_id="960333" first="Sam" last="Zilmer"].. Played a role for Rockford last year behind a huge group of solid seniors but next year has the talent to score in double digits for his team.