2023 Prospect Rankings: The Top New Additions

<p>What new headlining names did we add to the list this week that we didn’t have last fall?  Here are ten quality prospects. </p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>First Five</strong></p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1220360" first="Chiddi" last="Obiazor"] of Eden Prairie/Howard Pulley (6’6 Forward).  Chiddi was the biggest surprise name of the entire 2020-21 season.  Eden Prairie of course replaced a huge part of their line-up from the previous year and his emergence scoring 16 a game as a sophomore led the Eagles to a surprising quality season.  Chiddi has since played very well at the 16U level as well as with EP at the Breakdown Summer State and he was a MBCA standout.  All of this has lifted his athletic combo forward into the national rankings and the top five of Minnesota prospects. </p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1221112" first="Isaac" last="Nyakundi"] of Duluth East/Starks Elite (6’8 Big).  Isaac played mostly JV this season but he is clearly the next frontcourt talent for the Greyhounds.  He is a powerful frontcourt talent that should record a lot of double-doubles with high percentage finishing numbers.  He’s more of your old school, power big with strong hands and a quick jump to the rim that will lead to a lot of boards and quick outlets, tough low post defense, and physical finishes that players can’t contest. </p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="962243" first="Austin" last="Josephson"] of South Ridge/Playmakers North (6’9 Big).  More size!  Yes bigs emerge later in most cases.  Austin really emerged the second half of the winter season with some big performances and this spring Austin has continued to take steps forward with the Playmakers. The big thing for Austin is that he uses his size well.  Defensively he keeps his length in front, around the basket he pulls boards off the glass after a quick hit, and at the moment he spends most of his time in the paint finishing deep. </p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1225623" first="Ryan" last="Heise"] of Lake City/Minnesota Select (6’6 Wing).  Ryan is the younger brother of [player_tooltip player_id="548395" first="Nathan" last="Heise"] (at UNI) and when we saw Lake City, Ryan was one of the team’s top defenders and a double figure averaging scorer.  Unfortunately he missed a decent part of the year to injury but Ryan is every bit of 6-foot-6 and at his size he moves very well both up and down the floor and laterally.  Add the skill to play on the wing and you have a real prospect to keep an eye on. </p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1226375" first="JT" last="Thornton"] of Lakeville North/WOTN (6’4 Wing).  One of the hardest working, naturally gifted players I saw this spring was JT.  Defensively he intimidated and tortured 16u wings and offensively he made some physically gifted plays that most kids his age simply can’t make.  The beautiful part of his emergence is that JT played at the Panther younger levels this year and is just getting started.  If JT continues to be the defender he is and continues to improve his skills the sky is truly the limit. </p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Five More</strong></p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="962279" first="Zach" last="Anderson"] of Martin County West/MN Rise (6’6 Wing).  My initial viewings of Anderson have been high quality.  Anderson looks to have guard scholarship skill in a wing/forward frame. </p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1225651" first="Erick" last="Reader"] of New Life Academy/Grassroots Sizzle (6’7 Big).  Reader has good size and some natural prospect mobility to him that could blossom into something at the full scholarship level. </p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1220406" first="Trey" last="Smith"] of Osseo/MN Bounce (6’6 Forward).  Smith has a lot of natural ability and the skills are starting to emerge with it.  Should be a key bench figure for a good Osseo team.</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1161947" first="Joshua" last="Ofori"] of Shakopee/MN Chill (6’5 Wing).  Another player that physically looks quite gifted and we see starting to emerge as a prospect in the next 12 months. </p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1220381" first="Anish" last="Ramlall"] of Rosemount/WOTN (6’2 Guard).  One of the best guards we have seen all 16u season, Anish is likely to be an All State 16u player come August. </p> <p>&nbsp;</p>