Underrated Class AAA Duos

With fall leagues just about to start and the high school season just months away, I’ll be taking a look at some of the lesser known duos to keep an eye on at the AAA level! [player_tooltip player_id="850716" first="Emmett" last="Johnson"] and Rob Issa (Holy Angels)- [player_tooltip player_id="850716" first="Emmett" last="Johnson"] has been playing varsity basketball since his middle school days with Minneapolis Washburn, and enters his senior year coming off of a 12 point and 4 assist per game junior season. He’s the main ball handler for this team and uses his quickness and powerful frame to attack downhill and get to the rim for some tough finishes. His speed and balance around the rim are hard for opponents to stop, and he has excellent body control to score in difficult positions. Rob Issa on the other hand really started to come around towards the end of last year. He averaged 6.5 ppg on the season, but scored 9.25 a game over the last 9 games of the season. He’s an explosive 6’3 wing who finishes above the rim with ease, and showed some versatility on the defensive end. He’ll be called upon to rebound and defend various spots on the floor. If he can find the consistency he had towards the end of his junior season, he’ll have a productive year. [player_tooltip player_id="962297" first="Pal" last="Wal"] and Joshua Guen (Albert Lea)- [player_tooltip player_id="962297" first="Pal" last="Wal"] is coming off a big time summer with Minnesota Lightning, and should be able to fill up the box scores this winter for Albert Lea. At around 6’5 he has a long frame and is capable of playing on the wing or in the post. His touch around the rim allows him to capitalize from just about anywhere in the paint, and he also has a nice stroke from beyond the arc. When needed he can handle the ball in the open floor and go coast-to-coast. Joshua Guen is still very raw on the offensive end, but offers plenty of defensive production. At 6’7 with a long frame and athleticism, the 2022 forward is a rim protecting threat who will contest just about everything around the rim. Even when he isn’t getting a piece of shots, his presence can be enough to force a miss and keep points off the board. [player_tooltip player_id="1148715" first="Jaden" last="Morgan"] and Edward Tre Michaels (Two Rivers HS)- Last year as a freshman [player_tooltip player_id="1148715" first="Jaden" last="Morgan"] showed that he can light it up from beyond the arc. This season he’ll likely be the go-to guy offensively for an inexperienced team. At around 6’2-6’3 he has a long and lanky frame on the wing, and is one of the top shooters in the 2024 class. He averaged 9.4 ppg as a freshman including a 20 point outburst against Mahtomedi, showing what he can do when he gets high volume touches. Edward Tre Michaels will likely be the lead ball handler as a senior, and has some slippery handles to weave through defenders and get to the rim. Showed some mid-range game last season as well. Averaged 6 ppg last season and is the second leading returning scorer from last year’s team. [player_tooltip player_id="962233" first="Matthew" last="Bothun"] and [player_tooltip player_id="1223083" first="Wes" last="Johnson"] (St. Francis)- St. Francis loses two of their top three scorers from last season’s team, but returns 6’8 forward [player_tooltip player_id="962233" first="Matthew" last="Bothun"] who can stuff the stat-sheet. The long 2023 prospect can stretch the floor with his shooting touch, and also score in the paint. For a 68 forward he has some versatility to his game, and that’s how he was able to average an impressive 18.8 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 2 blocks per game as a sophomore. [player_tooltip player_id="1223083" first="Wes" last="Johnson"] is a talented facilitator who can find the open man and get the offense going for his team. Averaged 2.8 assists per game last season and will likely see his scoring numbers bump up this year as well. When he’s not setting up his teammates, he has some scrappiness on the defensive end and can force turnovers with his tough defense. [player_tooltip player_id="1189958" first="Isaiah" last="Hagen"] and [player_tooltip player_id="850734" first="Cohen" last="Kellogg"] (Orono)- Isaiah began to emerge last season as a sophomore, and can play on or off the ball. He’s dangerous in the pick & roll because of his ability to pop a three if his defender goes under, or get his man on his hip and attack downhill to get to the rim. Averaged 8.5 ppg as a sophomore and will be a part of a talented backcourt this season. Cohen joins from Minnetonka, and is another option to handle the ball for this team, although we could see him play off the ball because of his ability to catch fire from three. He’s shown that once he gets a couple shots to fall, he can make a few more in succession. [player_tooltip player_id="958683" first="Mason" last="Lund"] and [player_tooltip player_id="1144114" first="Evan" last="Templin"] (Sartell-St. Stephen)- [player_tooltip player_id="958683" first="Mason" last="Lund"] is on track to be one of the most productive wings in the state this year, and he was so heavily recruited at the D2 level this summer because of his ability to do a bit of everything. At 6’6 he can guard in the paint at the high school level, but is also mobile enough where he can switch off and defend on the perimeter. Offensively he plays with composure and makes smart decisions to limit turnovers and create high percentage looks. Mason can score from beyond the arc or put the ball on the floor and finish above the rim. [player_tooltip player_id="1144114" first="Evan" last="Templin"] may take over as the lead backcourt option this season, and he’s a physical presence at the guard spot. He can use that strength to outrebound other guards or finish through contact around the rim. He’ll be able to handle the ball at times or play off the ball and provide a shooting threat from beyond the arc.