Early Season JV Standouts
Nearly a month into the delayed high school season, I’ve had a chance to watch a handful of JV games featuring some promising prospects. Some of these players also see small minutes at the varsity level, and have proven to be guys that colleges will want to track over the next few years as they continue to develop.
Trey Smith (6’4 2023 W, Osseo)- Due to the depth of Osseo’s 2022 class, Trey has been playing a majority of his time at the JV level. A long and lanky prospect with fluid athleticism, the physical attributes of Trey alone are enough to make him an intriguing prospect. Watching him play, Trey handles it well for his size, and is able to make plays getting into the lane or pulling up from mid-range. He’s an athletic player who can elevate for some tough finishes around the rim, has a smooth shooting stroke, and showcased some solid vision as a passer. Add in defensive versatility due to his length and mobility, and he has a high ceiling as a college prospect.
Jency Davis (5’7 2024 PG, Columbia Heights)- Jency occasionally sees minutes at the varsity level, but has been a standout playing JV for Columbia Heights. A smaller but shifty guard, Jency has a nice handle and the quickness to create off the dribble. What stands out the most at this point is his shooting touch, and his ability to hit at a high rate from well beyond the arc. Jency plays well under pressure, and is automatic at the free throw line, hitting clutch shots at the charity stripe in both JV and varsity games. He’ll be an exciting player to watch as he continues to develop.
PJ Ebeling PJ Ebeling 6'10" | C Totino Grace | 2022 State MN (6’9 2022 C, Totino-Grace)- A player who’s quietly been developing over the last year, PJ has had some nice flashes playing JV this season. At 6’9 he has size that sticks out, but he also has some emerging skills. PJ is a really nice passer both out of the block, or stepping out on the perimeter where he’s able to zip in passes through tight windows to slashing teammates. He’s showcased soft touch around the rim, and when left isolated on the block, he’s able to create clean looks with a variety of post moves due to his improved footwork. PJ also put in a lot of work to improve physically over the past year, and that’s helped him take noticeable strides forward with his game.
Ruhan Jordan (6’1 2023 G, Eastview)- One of a handful of promising sophomores for Eastview, Ruhan was the top ball handler for the JV team. Against Prior Lake he was a one-man press break, capable of handling under pressure and then adjusting the tempo to help get his team into their offense. The lefty is really crafty at getting into the paint off the dribble, and showcased soft touch with a high arcing floater to complete his chances. From the perimeter he changes pace well, and can hit from three consistently. He should be ready to take the step forward and be a varsity contributor next season.
Tameron Ferguson (5’9 2024 G, Osseo)- Tameron Ferguson is one of the featured prospects in a strong 2024 class for Osseo, and is the JV team’s floor general. Tameron has a long and lanky frame that suggests future growth, and has a tight handle that allows him to remain calm under high pressure defense. His shot was off in the game I saw, but he made up for it by excelling as a facilitator and P&R ball handler. Defensively he impressed with his ability to sit low in a stance and apply ball pressure, while using his long arms to create loose balls. His energy on both ends allows him to make an impact even on off shooting nights.
Zy’Ierre Stewart (5’9 2024 PG, Totino-Grace)- A shifty young point guard who plays with flair, there’s a sense of excitement every time Zy’Ierre puts the ball on the floor. He’s so dangerous in isolation as he’s able to break down his defender with ease and get into the paint where he can contort his body for difficult finishes or put up a soft floater to score over length. In transition he’s a threat to score or dish out an assist, and he had a lightning quick spin move leading to a bucket in one of the games I saw.
Mario Adams and Myles Adams (6’4 2023 F, Eastview)- After breakout summers with Minnesota Select, the Adams twins have been very productive at the JV level. Both of them look even quicker laterally this winter, and work hard to defend on the perimeter or in the paint. They have long arms and are quick to get off the floor leading to a handful of blocked shots each game. Against Prior Lake there was a nice combo where Mario got into the lane and kicked it out to Myles in the corner. Myles took a quick shot fake, dribbled around his back, and then exploded to the rim for a two hand slam. Both Adams twins are so composed attacking the basket, excel at passing the ball, and showed soft touch to shoot from beyond the arc.