Minnesota Prep Academy Prospect Breakdown
Minnesota Prep Academy faced off against an Elevation Prep team loaded with D1 talent in an exhibition game in St. Paul on Friday, in an intense game that went down to the final minutes. Northstar Hoops was in attendance, and…
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Continue ReadingMinnesota Prep Academy faced off against an Elevation Prep team loaded with D1 talent in an exhibition game in St. Paul on Friday, in an intense game that went down to the final minutes. Northstar Hoops was in attendance, and we break down the top seven contributors for Minnesota Prep Academy on the night.
DJ Jefferson (6’5 2022 W)- This was the player I was most excited to watch for the first time in real game action, and he showed up by scoring 19 points for MPA. A high major prospect who has added offers from Oregon and Arizona State in the past week, DJ showcased a smooth lefty jumper from beyond the arc that he used to connect on three first half 3’s. In the second half he took on a more aggressive approach by driving to the basket, and although he only finished on one attempt around the rim, he was consistently earning trips to the free throw line. Defensively he sat deep in a stance and was guarding well beyond the three point arc with quickness and effort. Would like to see him demand the ball a bit more on offense, as good things seemed to happen when he got touches.
Brenden Moss (6’4 2022 SG)- The leading scorer for MPA on the day was Brenden Moss, who finished with 20 points on the night. I knew he was a threat to shoot from deep, but he ended up doing most of his damage getting to the rim and finishing. He had an acrobatic finish in the first half, and completed some transition attempts in the second to help MPA keep things close. Brenden has a nice blend of length, athleticism, and scoring ability that will have scholarship schools keeping tabs.
Jordan Truelove (6’1 2023 PG)- One of Canada’s top 2023 floor generals is now in Minneapolis, and he made an impact coming off the bench and receiving big minutes at the point guard spot. He reminds me a lot of former Minnesota Prep point guard Lu’Cye Patterson, in that he plays with great change of pace, and is a strong finisher around the rim. Jordan won’t stand out with his athleticism, but he remained calm under intense ball pressure, and had some impressive scores around the rim going straight at size and extending to finish.
Amahn Decker (6’6 2021 F)- One of the only remaining players from last season’s team, Amahn brought his signature toughness to the floor for Minnesota Prep. He was relentless on the glass and was consistently the first player on the floor for loose balls. Amahn has a strong frame and used it to clear out space around the rim, and found success finishing inside offensively. Amahn also showcased improved ball handling, and could see increased usage on the perimeter as a small forward at times.
Gob Gob (6’3 2022 PG)- Although he didn’t receive a large amount of playing time as MPA ran with a three point guard rotation, Gob made some nice plays creating off the dribble. He’s a long and athletic point guard who plays with great change of pace off the bounce. Gob did well to create separation off the dribble, and with his length, explosiveness, and feel for the game, he’s a high potential point guard.
James Flippin (6’10 2021 PF/C)- Minnesota Prep Academy relied mostly on perimeter players for their offense, but I really liked some of the flashes that James showed as a post prospect. He has a nice handle for a player his size, and the ability to step out and knock down the open jumper. Inside he isn’t the most explosive but makes up for it with a strong frame to bang in the paint. He provided effort on the boards and made things difficult for opposing players trying to score inside with his presence around the rim.
Akeem Nelson Akeem Nelson 6'1" | PG Minnesota prep academy | 2022 MN (6’ 2023 PG)- The third in a trio of point guards that saw significant time, Akeem took a little bit to get adjusted to the length and ball pressure that Elevation Prep threw at him, but ended up coming up with two key buckets late in the game. Akeem handled the ball well, and provided some toughness on the defensive end. One of the local prospects on Minnesota Prep.