Class Of 2024 Fall Standouts
The high school season is quickly approaching, and we’ve been in the gym watching multiple fall leagues and events over the past two months. With plenty of talent rising up in the 2024 class, we take a look at seven…
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Continue ReadingThe high school season is quickly approaching, and we’ve been in the gym watching multiple fall leagues and events over the past two months. With plenty of talent rising up in the 2024 class, we take a look at seven of the top freshmen we’ve seen this fall!
Chiang Ring (6’7 2024 F, Minneapolis South)- Chiang has been making a name for himself both locally, and nationally this fall. I’ve seen him listed at both 6’7 and 6’8, but his arms are extremely long which allows him to blow even bigger than his size. Chiang has shown no fear protecting the rim against nationally ranked upperclassmen, showing off great timing on his blocks. Offensively he can handle it well for a player his size, and has touch to shoot from beyond the arc, though he still does most of his scoring around the rim. He’s aggressive on the glass and looks to dunk everything when he has the space to elevate.
Mercy Miller (6’3 2024 G, Minnehaha Academy)- Another prospect who’s been making a name for himself around the country, Mercy has impressed at some underclassmen camps, and has shown flashes of great potential playing with Sizzle in fall leagues. Already possessing the size to play at either guard spot, Mercy adds in a versatile skillset and athleticism that he’s able to use on both ends of the floor. He can hurt you if you leave him open behind the arc, but he’s also a gifted finisher around the rim. Mercy is capable of playing either guard spot, and also defending both spots with his long frame and athleticism that allows him to apply ball pressure.
Brody Wishart (6’1 2024 G, Buffalo)- The younger brother of former Delano standout Calvin Wishart, Brody impressed at the Prep Hoops Futures League. At about 6’1 Brody is a high caliber athlete, able to fly up and down the floor to make a living in transition. He’s also an explosive player for a freshman, able to finish above the rim and snag offensive rebounds leading to second chance points. Brody has shown some flashes of his brother’s passing vision that allows him to make plays for others, and he can also score it from all three levels. I really like what I’ve seen out of Brody as a defender as well, as his long arms and speed combined to force a lot of turnovers.
Jonathan Mekonnen (6’4 2024 F, Eastview)- A player who I didn’t know about until recently, Jonathan burst on to the scene at the Minnesota Heat freshman workout. At 6’4 he has a ton of length that could suggest he’s still growing, and Jonathan showed a skillset that will allow him to play in the post or on the wing. He’s a fluid athlete who can finish above the rim, or push the ball in transition and go coast-to-coast to score. In the half-court he can score on a simple post move, but he also showed that he can create a jumper off the dribble and hit from three. Really like his potential as a long and athletic forward who already has a solid skillset to work with.
Demari Larkins (5’7 2024 PG, Minneapolis South)- Don’t let Demari’s size fool you, as he’s an extremely talented young guard. He’s an athletically gifted player who’s shown no fear picking up beyond half court and sitting deep in a stance to defend. His quickness causes issues for opposing ball handlers. Offensively he has the vision and handle to run the show, and has proven to be dangerous attacking the basket. Despite his smaller size he attacks the rim fearlessly, doing a good job at drawing contact and keeping his chin at the rim to finish.
Anthony Knight (5’8 2024 PG, Roseville)- Another smaller but skilled point guard, Anthony stood out to me last year when I saw him running the show for Roseville’s JV team. He plays with great change of pace to either get by his man or create space on the perimeter, and has showcased the ability to shoot from outside or finish with craft around the rim. Anthony also has excellent vision to find cutting teammates and create easy scoring opportunities for them. He had a solid showing at the Minnesota Heat freshman workout.
Jackson Fowlkes (6’2 2024 W, Park Center)- Couldn’t find an official height for Jackson, but he looked to be in the 6’1-6’2 range at the Minnesota Heat freshman workout. Jackson showcased a versatile game offensively, as he has length, solid athleticism, and the ability to score at the rim or hit the open three. He showed that he’s capable of defending multiple positions, and uses his long arms to tip balls and force turnovers. Jackson got to the rim at will and showed flashes of a developing pull-up jumper.