Midwest Collision: Top Post Prospects

The Prep Hoops Circuit was in Minnesota this past weekend, with many of Minnesota’s top AAU programs participating in the Midwest Collision. After getting a look at a handful of in-state teams, these are the best post prospects I saw over the two day event. [player_tooltip player_id="850735" first="Brady" last="Helgren"] (6’8 2022 F, MN Fury-Wilde 16u)- A player I’m really high on as a long term prospect, Brady impressed offensively in the two Fury games I watched. His team subbed in five man rotations so he only played half of each game, but he made his presence felt showcasing his ability to score in a variety of ways. Helgren looked solid as a pick-and-pop shooter, making defenses pay for giving him too much space beyond the arc. I already knew that Brady could shoot it well, but what impressed me most was his footwork on the block. Brady was almost unstoppable when isolated in the post, as he was able to turn over either shoulder to get up high percentage shots, or use his strength to go right through his defender. A strong showing from the Edina product. [player_tooltip player_id="567035" first="Will" last="Tschetter"] (6’8 2021 F, MN Heat-Tauer 17u)- There’s not much to say about Will that hasn’t already been said. He simply continues to be productive no matter who he comes up against, and last weekend it included numerous Division 1 prospects and multiple shoe circuit teams. Will has a fantastic work ethic, plays with confidence, and can hurt you from on the block or beyond the arc. He showcased his lightning quick spin move that made defenders look like they were stuck in quick sand, and had no problem shooting the ball at a high percentage from three. The Michigan commit’s scoring prowess helped the Heat take home the title in their bracket. [player_tooltip player_id="774801" first="Mattie" last="Thompson"] (6’7 2021 F, Playmakers Showcase-Deadrick 17u)- In a semi-final matchup against D1 Minnesota, Mattie showed no fear going at their D1 offered bigs. Thompson showed great mobility as a 6’7 forward, with the ability to attack from the wing into a post-up where he then had the touch to turn and finish at the rim. Thompson also did a nice job of establishing position on the block before a quick turn over the shoulder to score. With his mixture of length and agility, Mattie looks like a player capable of playing in the post or on the wing at the next level. Ahman Decker (6’6 2021 F, Gain Elite 17u)- A physically imposing forward with a high motor, Ahman was out hustling opponents all weekend long, helping his team to an impressive showing at the Midwest Collision. At 6’6 he may seem undersized to play in the post, but Ahman is an extremely strong player who can use that strength to overwhelm opponents around the rim. He was able to back defenders down into deep position around the rim before going up for easy finishes. His strength also helped him clear out space around the rim to pull in rebounds in bulk, both offensively and defensively. One play that really stood out to me was Decker diving across the floor to beat two closer players to a loose ball on the ground. Those are the types of plays that Ahman makes consistently, and can help a team win games. [player_tooltip player_id="850706" first="Jackson" last="Loge"] (6’7 2022 F, MN Fury-Wilde 16u)- There was nothing flashy about [player_tooltip player_id="850706" first="Jackson" last="Loge"]’s game, but he simply produced at a high level both times I saw him play. The thing that stood out to me the most was Jackson’s ability to establish winning position on the block before he even received the entry pass. That position then allowed him to score with ease, most of the time without even needing to dribble the ball. His understanding of angles and his strong frame rendered defenders helpless at times, and led to consistent offensive production from the North Dakota offered big man. Add in a handful of blocks on the defensive end, and [player_tooltip player_id="850706" first="Jackson" last="Loge"] put together a solid showing for Fury. [player_tooltip player_id="774748" first="Broden" last="Lien"] (6’8 2021 F, D1 Minnesota 17u)- I’ve really liked what I’ve seen out of [player_tooltip player_id="774748" first="Broden" last="Lien"], and think he’s a forward that mid-major programs should be all over. He’s a versatile scorer who showed he can go from backing a player down to pulling up from three off the dribble. At times D1 Minnesota ran with a lineup of players 6’6+ which meant that Broden had to defend on the wing a lot, and he showed no problem doing so. Add in the ability to run the floor and throw down powerful dunks in transition, and [player_tooltip player_id="774748" first="Broden" last="Lien"] is a well rounded forward prospect. [player_tooltip player_id="774755" first="Noah" last="Paulson"] (6’9 2021 C, Playmakers Showcase-Deadrick 17u)- [player_tooltip player_id="774755" first="Noah" last="Paulson"] was one of the best post-defenders I saw over the weekend, using his strong 6’9 frame to limit high percentage looks around the rim. In the first half against D1 Minnesota, Noah swatted two shots straight back into the floor like a volleyball spike. Offensively he showed no issues going at D1 offered size on the block and scoring, with the ability to turn over either shoulder and finish with a soft touch from either hand. The scholarship level player is one of the top big men in Minnesota’s 2021 class. [player_tooltip player_id="850712" first="Malcolm" last="Jones"] (6’7 2022 PF, D1 Minnesota 16u)- Playing alongside a pair of talented big men, Malcolm still made his presence felt in a game against Team RWA. Malcolm is a versatile prospect with solid size and strength for his age, and he showed the ability to do a little bit of everything on the floor. Offensively he can handle the ball, back defenders down on the post, competes on the offensive glass, and has a smooth jumper both from mid-range and three. In a 2022 class that features a vast amount of high level prospects, [player_tooltip player_id="850712" first="Malcolm" last="Jones"] is among the most consistent performers of that group. [player_tooltip player_id="532587" first="Andrew" last="Morgan"] (6’9 2021 PF, MN Heat-Tauer 17u)- A physically imposing post prospect with high major potential, Andrew was a clutch performer in the championship game against D1 Minnesota. Although he had a relatively quiet game by his standards, Andrew swatted a late shot off the backboard to help save the game, and then scored the game winning lay-up after grabbing an offensive board in overtime. In the two other games I caught, Andrew was his usual self scoring at a high percentage around the rim, pulling down rebounds in bulk, and showcased a steadily improving jump shot that only adds to his ability to score the basketball.