NHR State Tournament: Under-The-Radar Standouts

The NHR State Tournament wrapped up on Sunday, with some of the state’s top programs competing. These seven sleeper prospects used the weekend to boost their stocks going up against some big named prospects, and were some of the top under-the-radar performers I saw play. [player_tooltip player_id="958742" first="Terrence" last="Brown"] (5’11 2022 PG, Rip City 2022)- We saw Terrence’s passing and floor general abilities on display all winter with Columbia Heights, but what we didn’t get to see much is his ability to take over a game scoring the ball. There wasn’t a single guard that could stay in front of Terrence off the dribble, as his rhythm and change of pace constantly had defenders watching as he blew by them. Once at the rim he excelled at being able to extend the ball out to avoid looming shot blockers and score. Defensively he’s able to be a pest on the ball, and also showed off his increased athleticism by sending an opponents shot flying off the court. Terrence was so dangerous that he forced an opposing team to put a box-and-one defense on him, and that’s a testament to the amount of time he spends working in the gym. Jay Nyamari (6’1 2022 G, Minnesota Heat 2022 Hoyt)- Not only did Jay Nyamari put up 20+ points in the game I watched, but he did so against scholarship level competition in D1 Minnesota Prospects. Jay proved that he can put up points in a hurry, as the shifty guard created space off the dribble and and got to the rim for some tough finishes. His range extended to well beyond the high school arc, and he was able to keep the defense stretched out due to the constant threat of him shooting. Jay played his heart out defensively to create turnovers and come up with some key stops that kept his team in it until the very end. Jerome Williams (6’6 2023 PF/C, Minnesota Select 2023 James)- The big man out of Osseo proved that he can be a force in the paint at the 2023 level. Simply too strong for opposing players to handle, Jerome was able to power his way to some clean looks around the basket, and using his soft touch he converted at a high rate. He also showed nimble feet able to slide into open space to receive an entry pass, or shift over to provide help-side defense on the other end. Jereome did a great job of finding a man and boxing out immediately after a shot went up, clearing out space to attack a missed shot off the rim. Jamez Gardner (6’ 2022 G, Real Phenom 2022)- When it comes to on-ball defenders, there weren’t many, if any, that performed better than Jamez did over the weekend. He’s as quick as they come moving laterally, and is high intensity combined with that quickness to disrupt opposing ball handlers constantly. Opposing point guards never had a second to let the offense set up, because Jamez was constantly there speeding them up or throwing them out of their rhythm. On the offensive end he used that quickness to get to the basket off the dribble, and was fearless going up against longer defenders. He also had to be accounted for from beyond the arc as he has the shooting touch to make defenders pay for leaving him open. Landon Dimler (6’2 2024 W, Minnesota Lightning 2024)- In one of the most exciting games I saw all weekend, Landon went on a huge run in the second half to lead his team to a 15+ point comeback win. The 2024 wing-guard has some nice length as a freshman, and showed he has the ability to create his own shot in the mid-range off the dribble. Landon was making plays you don’t often see prospects this young make, including a fadeaway jumper off the dribble, and a mid-range jumper out of a spin move. His second half shooting performance was exciting to watch as he had defenders scrambling just to try to get a hand up on him. [player_tooltip player_id="1158739" first="Raoul" last="Vaidya"] (5’11 2023 PG, MN Bounce 2023)- This Minnesota Bounce team played with a lot of balance in the game I watched, but one of the things that stood out was Raoul’s contributions and effort on both ends of the floor. He can sit deep in a stance and move his feet quickly to get through screens and apply ball pressure, while also having a solid understanding of where to be when defending off the ball. On the offensive end he was a constant threat from beyond the arc as he has a quick release and is an accurate shooter from deep. When defenders gave him too much space he was able to make them pay. Raoul can also run the show due to his quick handle and unselfishness with the ball, able to distribute and keep everyone involved in the offense. Derrick Anthony (6’5 2022 W, E1T1 17 Premier)- DJ Anthony quietly put together a solid junior season for Ironadale, averaging 9.6 ppg over 12 games. This past weekend he proved that he can produce in a number of ways with E1T1. The long and lanky wing prospect has some impressive athleticism in the open floor, able to beat opposing wings up the floor in transition, and he can also elevate to finish above the rim with ease. On the defensive end his length allows him to get up in passing lanes and intercept passes, but he can also be effective with his ability to defend most spots on the floor. In the half court he showed range from well beyond the arc, knocking down a handful of jumpers off the dribble, while also maintaining the threat of taking the ball to the rim.