Prep Hoops Live – Top Minnesota Big Wings

<p>Minnesota was heavily featured at Prep Hoops Live in Kansas City.  Who were the best big wings from Minnesota at the event?  Here’s my group from the weekend. </p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="958678" first="Evan" last="Bearth"]</strong> of Minnesota Select Ohnstad (6’5, Park of Cottage Grove, 2022). Select is 8-0 this year and their mix of players has been perfect for two great weekends. One of the reasons they’ve had success is their ability to stretch the floor and [player_tooltip player_id="958678" first="Evan" last="Bearth"] has done that for them. Against Perry Ellis Elite, Bearth scored a dozen in a row and took a two score game and made it a 14-point differential early. Bearth can break a game open quick.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="962223" first="Khalif" last="Bettis"]</strong> of Minnesota Chill (6’5, Apple Valley, 2023). Bettis has won 7 of 12 games this spring already and Khalif has been a big part of it. Bettis has a great combination of strength and quickness at his position mixed with a good handle and a fantastic touch on the move from mid-range and close to the rim. Had 17 points and another 23 in the games our staff looked at this weekend.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="958729" first="Ayouba" last="Berthe"]</strong> of Minnesota Heat Select (6’4, Park Center, 2022). Berthe is an excellent defender. Berthe and [player_tooltip player_id="1143878" first="Leo" last="Torbor"] are about to make one of the best defensive pairs in the state next year and we are seeing Berthe doing a great job changing the game with the Heat. Equally impressive has been the steady growth of what Berthe can do offensively.   He mixes in a three here, a basket using his strength and size there, and then an active bucket from just about everywhere. Had 16 in the game we saw in KC.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="958665" first="Jacob" last="Butler"]</strong> of Minnesota Heat Grow (6’5, Minneapolis North, 2022). I continue to believe that there is some special ability to [player_tooltip player_id="958665" first="Jacob" last="Butler"] that we are going to see do some big things in the future. Butler went to the cup against HIT without much trouble and finished consistently. Good passer, impressive lefty finisher from any angle, and quality size on the wing.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="958675" first="Hakeem" last="Ford"]</strong> of Minnesota Heat Grow (6’5, Minneapolis Southwest, 2022). One of the most impressive highlight videos of the PH Live event was [player_tooltip player_id="958675" first="Hakeem" last="Ford"]s. His explosive blocks erasing some shots and pinning others caught the attention of players on the other court. Ford went at the rim and exploded for finishes when he had a step and rebounding wise he was able to start the Heat transition quickly with his springy collections.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="850703" first="Camden" last="Heide"]</strong> of D1 Minnesota (6’7 Wayzata, 2022). [player_tooltip player_id="850703" first="Camden" last="Heide"] is in a spot between a top key piece for a top team, and a guy that can be the alpha player on a squad. Wayzata played great team basketball this year earning a title and Heide scored his 18 a game with 2-3 jumpers, a couple back to the basket scores, and then about three active finishes at the rim (nothing forced, everything came through the flow). Heide did the same this weekend for D1 Minnesota scoring 4-5 times a contest with the perimeter jumper a couple times and the active rim finish a couple times. At his best catching a rotated ball and then using the dribble to pull-up or finish at the rack because the rotating D has to be in the perfect spot to deal with his skill and size (and most of the time the D isn’t ready for the attack).</p> <p><strong>Josh Hoffman</strong> of Minnesota Heat Conyers (6’5, North Metro Blazers, 2022). Josh Hoffman is your ultimate sleeper.   He plays for the North Metro Blazers which isn’t a MSHSL team and it’s not a well known prep like MPA. But people know the Minnesota Heat and Hoffman has had a great start to the season with Coach Conyers. Josh’s length and agility seems to catch a lot of people off guard and in the three games we checked in on, Hoffman scored 14, 16, and 15 for his team. Certainly a prospect I’d look at if I was a MIAC school or offering at the NAIA level.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="958702" first="Buom" last="Jock"]</strong> of D1 Minnesota Prospects (6’5, Mankato West, 2022).  Jock made his first impression nationally with his explosive finishing and the way he moves.  Now Jock is making an impression with his activity and when you combine that with the athletic ability we spoke of, this is a prospect ready to be talking to college coaches about his future.  Had 18 points and seven boards against the Tulsa Hawks making 9 of 13 shots and this was the type of game Jock gave the Prospects all weekend. Too athletic and active to rotate to or retreat to. </p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="850711" first="Joshua" last="Ola-Joseph"]</strong> of D1 Minnesota (6’6, Osseo, 2022).  Joshua has all the measures of a high major prospect: length, agility, explosive bounce, and the right size.  What people have been waiting for is consistency and regular active play.  He is physically there. Next up is the consistency and game changing ability. We saw Joshua take over the second D1 Minnesota contest vs YnR with four straight scores and great defense. If that type of play continues offers will come likely from mid-major and then maybe high major, the physical look is certainly there.</p> <p><strong>Erik Rottinghaus</strong> of Minnesota Heat Conyers (6’3, Wayzata, 2022). Erik played JV for Wayzata as a junior but I could see him getting some varsity time based on the two games I watched this weekend. Erik hit a few baseline jumpers and went to the rim using his strength and hard cuts to be one of the top two Heat scorers on the weekend. Love his activity.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="958831" first="Colton" last="Thomsen"]</strong> of Northstar Titans (6’4 Nicollet, 2022). Nicollet always has a guy and next up is Colton.   The size to finish at the cup but the skills to get there as well as hit the open jumper. Good rebounder for the two-guard, three spot and a constant effort player. I think Thomsen is going to have a huge senior season next winter.</p>