The Race for Mr. Basketball – The Final Five

The Race for Mr. Basketball &#8211; The Final Five

Photo: Acorn Photography

Ryan James March 30, 2021 @ 08:09 AM

Lamar Grayson Lamar Grayson 6'0" | PG Richfield | 2021 State MN of Richfield. Grayson is a 6-foot-1 guard that has scored 23 points a game this year for the 3rd ranked Richfield Spartans. Grayson’s section final performance of 37 points against South St. Paul matching Alonzo Dodd Alonzo Dodd 6'2" | CG South St Paul | 2022 State MN score for score will forever be etched in the history of Spartan hoops. Richfield has qualified for state the second straight year with Grayson being among the team leaders. Richfield plays Mankato West tomorrow night in the first round of state.

Chet Holmgren Chet Holmgren 7'0" | C Minnehaha Academy | 2021 State #1 Nation MN of Minnehaha Academy. Chet is the number one ranked player in the nation. The James Naismith National High School Player of the Year. A constant triple double threat using assists or blocks to often join his double figure scoring and rebounding totals. Minnehaha Academy is clearly the best team in the state right now having defeated just about every Minnesota opponent by double figures. Holmgren controls games both ways unlike any high school player I’ve ever seen and his leadership in action (passes the ball so well) and words results in the Redhawks playing with great balance.

Andrew Morgan Andrew Morgan 6'9" | C Waseca | 2021 State #178 Nation MN of Waseca. Mr. Double-Double from Waseca, the 20 and 10 man who combines with fellow seniors Ryan Dufault Ryan Dufault 5'11" | PG Waseca | 2021 State MN and Kyreese Willingham Kyreese Willingham 6'5" | SF Waseca | 2021 State MN putting strong numbers to beat teams by an average of 29 points a night. Morgan, who will play for North Dakota State near year, is a top 200 ranked player in the nation in the senior class and has the Jays ranked number one in Class AA. Waseca faces Morris Area tomorrow at 4pm (at Chanhassen) in the first round of the state tournament.

Francis Nwaokorie Francis Nwaokorie 6'7" | C Champlin Park | 2021 State MN of Champlin Park. The state’s lone unbeaten? Champlin Park. What’s amazing is that the Rebels have played a tough schedule – they have defeated top five level Park Center three times plus other ranked teams including Totino-Grace – and are still undefeated entering the state tournament at 21-0. Nwaokorie is averaging 19 plus points, 13 plus rebounds, a couple assists, and a couple steals per game. The Rebels take on Maple Grove (third time this season tomorrow at seven). Francis is headed to division one UC-San Diego next year. Nwaokorie, Joshua Strong Joshua Strong 6'0" | PG Champlin Park | 2021 State MN (likely the 6th Man of this Mr. Basketball group), and Dylan Gichaba Dylan Gichaba 6'5" | SF Champlin Park | 2021 State MN lead a strong senior class.

Will Tschetter Will Tschetter 6'8" | PF Stewartville | 2021 State #96 Nation MN of Stewartville. Tschetter is a top 100-125 level prospect in the senior class and he’s headed to play at Michigan next season for Coach Juwan Howard. Will led the Tigers to 18 wins in 22 games scoring 31.4 points a game with 11.4 rebounds a night. He mixed in playing some lead guard with nightly monster numbers in the paint. Overcame a wrist injury at the end of the year to push Stewartville to second place in the section. Tschetter will long be remembered for his intensity mixed with skilled play from all areas on the floor.