Prep Hoops Midwest Collision Saturday Standouts: 17U Forwards

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Top teams from all over the midwest took over Bloomington this past weekend, taking part in the Prep Hoops Midwest Collision. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Here were some of the guys who looked good:</span></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="927793" first="Ariel" last="Bland"], D1 Minnesota</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">D1 Minnesota met little resistance throughout play Saturday and Bland was one of several guys who was simply on another level athletically. He’s 6-foot-7, long, lean and bouncy, but he’s clearly put in a lot of work when it comes to his skill level. He showed some grab-and-go ability on the glass, and the assertiveness and skill to rip and drive from the wing. He covers so much ground with each step that it’s hard to challenge him at the rim when he gets momentum going, and he knocked down enough perimeter jumpers to garner respect from defenders.</span></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="957133" first="Sam" last="Privet"], Playmakers Showcase Shaw</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Privet is an under-the-radar big from Caledonia who I’m confident would’ve put up bigger numbers during his junior season had he not gotten off to an injury/sickness-riddled start. He’s 6-foot-8 or so, and fluid enough to abuse bigger, slower post players from the mid-post. He’s got good footwork, a high release and a soft touch in the low post and his mobility and activity level allowed him to produce as a rim-runner in the halfcourt and in transition. </span></p> <p><strong>Kortland Johnsen, MN Matrix</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Johnsen plays a lot bigger than his 6-foot-2 listed height, as he’s aggressive attacking the rim, and smooth as a finisher. He plays with a physicality that few other wings seem to match, and his activity level on the glass was an asset for a smallish MN Matrix team. He did a good job attacking closeouts and on reversals, and his ability to elevate and finish around the rim allowed him to shine. </span></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="774821" first="Jaden" last="Norby"], WC United</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Norby is a multi-dimensional faceup big who showed he can impact the game in a variety of ways Saturday. The 6-foot-4 Ashby forward is skilled in the mid-post as a shooter or driver, and was highly effective drawing extra defenders and pitching to shooters or cutters. He’s a strong area rebounder who can trigger transition opportunities and his activity level allows him to work his way into scoring opportunities even when plays aren’t drawn up for him. </span></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="774767" first="Drew" last="Maloney"], WOTN Bertsch</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Maloney doesn’t get the volume of shots or usage in the offense for WOTN that he does with St. Charles, but he impacted the game in a lot of other ways Saturday. He’s 6-foot-4 or so and plays bigger on the defensive end of the floor, oftentimes defending bigger guys and holding his own. He’s competitive on the glass and has some grab-and-go to him. Offensively, he’s unselfish as a ball-mover and screener and when he had opportunities to do damage, he did. </span></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="774755" first="Noah" last="Paulson"], Playmakers Showcase Deadrick</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Duluth East big man is a load on the interior, using broad shoulders, savvy footwork and a soft touch to consistently bully defenders and convert baby hooks around the rim. He does a great job making first contact on the post and establishing strong position, and he presents a nice, big target for entry passes. He’s good in off-ball actions too, as he’s a solid screener and does a good job making himself available around the rim for drop-offs. </span></p>