Midwest Collision Sunday Standouts: 17U Forwards
Top teams from all over the midwest took over Bloomington this past weekend, taking part in the Prep Hoops Midwest Collision. Here were some of the guys who looked good: Cooper Laufenberger, WOTN Bertsch Laufenberger is a multidimensional swingman who…
Access all of Prep Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingTop teams from all over the midwest took over Bloomington this past weekend, taking part in the Prep Hoops Midwest Collision.
Here were some of the guys who looked good:
Cooper Laufenberger, WOTN Bertsch
Laufenberger is a multidimensional swingman who can impact the game in a bunch of different ways. He’s got great length – and he extends his arms which very few ‘long’ guys do – which allows him to swallow up perimeter guys and pressure the passing lanes. Offensively, he did good work on and off the ball, creating his own shot on drives, while also cutting with purpose and finishing around the rim.
Roderick Payne, MN Select Brown
Payne had some excellent moments in Select Brown’s loss to WOTN Sunday, showcasing a nice shooting stroke from the 3-point line and an activity level in the paint that allows him to produce even without a lot of touches. He uses his size well on the defensive end, walling up at the rim and contesting shots without fouling.
Noah Paulson Noah Paulson 6'8" | C Duluth East | 2021 State MN , Wisconsin Playmakers Deadrick
Paulson is simply a force inside and was the bright spot for Playmakers Deadrick in a loss to a stacked D1 Minnesota team. He’s so under control when he gets touches in the low post, and has great footwork to get to his spots just about any time he wants. His touch on his jump hook is terrific. When he got the ball and looked to score, he scored. Paulson uses his size and strength to defend the rim and rebound his area at a solid level too, and he held his own against an array of high-end bigs.
Xavier White Xavier White 6'6" | SF Hopkins | 2021 State MN , Gain Elite MN
White’s had a good abbreviated summer on the circuit and it doesn’t take long to feel his impact on the game. He’s 6-foot-6 or so, shoots it well from the 3-point line, has the quickness and slithery kind of drive game that allows him to beat closeouts and get to the paint, and he’s an explosive leaper who can rebound and finish at the rim. He showed versatility on the defensive end Sunday too, guarding big burly post players while also spending time chasing around small guards.
Josh Streit, D1 Minnesota
Streit has been among the top forward prospects in the state for a few years now and his play Sunday was just further confirmation that he’s as good as anybody. The Eden Valley-Watkins big man was impactful and productive on both ends of the floor, helping D1 Minnesota reach the championship game. He doesn’t need a high volume of touches on the offensive end, but he’s terrific as a rim-runner, he’s very effective screening and diving and finishing everything from the short corner and in. He’s extended his range to the point that he’s a threat from the 3-point line on secondary breaks and his ability to defend the paint out to the perimeter is a weapon.
Holden Mueller, WOTN Grey
Mueller looked good for WOTN Grey, as a 6-foot-6 multi-skilled faceup big. He showed off a smooth-looking perimeter jumper as well as the athleticism and burst to get to the rim on straight line drives. He’s active as a defender off the ball and aggressive crashing both backboards.