2022 Prospect Rankings: The Top New Additions

<p>What new names did we add to the rankings that we didn’t have last March?  Here are ten quality prospects. </p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>First Five</strong></p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1268453" first="Puolrah" last="Gong"] of Mankato East (Minnesota Select).  The 6’5/6’6 had a brilliant four months with Minnesota Select as an active, long, and agile forward that has been used at both the three and the four.  Gong also had an excellent summer playing with Mankato East in different events giving the Cougars a strong 1-2 punch with [player_tooltip player_id="850715" first="BJ" last="Omot"].  Should of been ranked last March after a strong junior season that saw him average 14.7 points and 5.1 rebounds a game shooting 51.5 percent. A top 50 area prospect in the senior class.  </p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1267321" first="Tyler" last="Swanson"] of Lakeville South (Minnesota Lightning).  After an injury sidelined Swanson for some time, he came back strong with the Minnesota Lightning and helped them win 31 of 38 games over the four month 17u season.  Swanson is about a 6’2 guard that was the Lightning’s main playmaker as well an all around producer for the team.  Swanson will team with another guy on this list - [player_tooltip player_id="1267323" first="Connor" last="Beauchamp"] - and they will join [player_tooltip player_id="774771" first="Avery" last="Mast"] and [player_tooltip player_id="850730" first="Sam" last="Fliehe"] making one heck of a Cougars senior group that will start the season as a top 10 area squad. </p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1267322" first="Sam" last="West"] of Shakopee (Minnesota Fury Narum).  [player_tooltip player_id="1267322" first="Sam" last="West"] is one of the smartest players I saw this winter and definitely one of the best movers off the basketball.  West has a great touch on the move and his intelligence as well as his toughness allow him to play bigger than his listed 6’4 height.  Shakopee will be a top 3-4 team entering the season and West is a big part of that veteran group that will make them a contender. </p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1267323" first="Connor" last="Beauchamp"] of Lakeville South (WOTN).  One of the best stories of this 17u basketball season was the emergence of [player_tooltip player_id="1267323" first="Connor" last="Beauchamp"].  Connor was in that 8-9 man rotation last year for the Cougars but we didn’t expect him to have the outstanding two way season that he did for WOTN.  Wear Out the Net went 30-12 and Beauchamp was one of the biggest reasons why with his pretty lefty touch and outstanding defensive efforts. </p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1267324" first="Bennett" last="Olson"] of St. Peter (Minnesota Rise).  Olson averaged 14.3 points per game this winter at St. Peter and then stepped into the Rise line-up and was the second scoring option for the team when he was healthy.  Olson is 6’6 but he is a stretch four that sets a monster screen and then steps away to catch and bury shots.  A modern day pick and pop four.  </p> <p><strong>Five More</strong></p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1234301" first="Judah" last="Land"] of Holy Family (Minnesota Heat).  Land moved to the west metro from Vermont.  He is a strong big that is tough to move and he will allow the Fire to use [player_tooltip player_id="962212" first="Boden" last="Kapke"] in a variety of ways.  A high-low duo that will be tough to deal with. </p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1268454" first="Ethan" last="Forthun"] of Southland (Minnesota Lightning).  Ethan’s future is almost certainly in football but he’s also a very strong basketball player that at the end of the year was the Lightning rep on the All State Team at 17U.  Averaged 20 points and 9.5 boards a game last year. </p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1201801" first="Sam" last="Kuseske"] of Rosemount (Minnesota Select Mantey).  I think Sam has a chance to have a fantastic senior season.  The Irish will have a great backcourt and the emergence of Sam as a versatile scoring four man.</p> <p><strong>M.J. Galimah</strong> of Coon Rapids (Minnesota Comets).  Galimah emerged at Coon Rapids as the season went deep into February averaging 17 a game and seeing him scoring in a number of ways with the Comets has me excited to see what he can do as a senior. </p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1180206" first="Payton" last="Thomsen"] of Spring Lake Park (MSP Elite).  Thomsen shot well over 40 percent from the arc last winter but was a tad overshadowed by the seniors around him.  He maintained that 40% Club pace through 17u play only in that situation allowed him to score in big numbers. </p>