MN Basketball Club Prospect Camp Standouts

<p>Minnesota Basketball Club hosted a camp over the weekend consisting of some drills as well as 5v5 games. I was in attendance to watch a mix of some high profile prospects as well as some under-the-radar names compete, and these are some of the top performers I saw!</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="850708" first="Kendall" last="Blue"] (6’5 2022 G, East Ridge)- </strong>The St. Thomas commit was operating at a high level over the weekend, showcasing his skills in both the drills and full court games. He was a major threat in transition as his combination of length, explosiveness, and handle at his size allowed him to weave through traffic and finish above the rim with force to put a quick two points on the board. In some of the 1v1 drills he excelled at creating space to get off his own shot, and also showed he can get opposing guards into the post and use his footwork to get clean looks around the rim.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1288728" first="Zy’Ierre" last="Stewart"] (6’ 2024 PG, Totino-Grace)- </strong>Not sure there was a player who performed better in the 1v1 drills than Zy’Ierre. No one in his group was able to keep him in front as he effortlessly blew by his man to get to the rim to finish. He’s a shifty ball handler and is fearless going at size around the rim. Looks bigger and a bit more explosive than he did as a freshman, and it showed as he was able to convert on some tough looks around the basket. Defensively he showed quick hands to poke the ball free and get things started in transition going the other way.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1284084" first="Anthony" last="Howze"] (6’3 2024 W, Anoka)- </strong>A high potential prospect in the 2024 class, Anthony is filled with length and explosive athleticism. During one of the 1v1 drills, Howze turned the corner and elevated for a one handed slam right over his defender. Not too many players his age possess that type of athletic ability, and it allows AJ to guard multiple spots and rebound well for his position also. Offensively the majority of his game comes from attacking the basket from the wing or fighting for offensive boards/put-backs. As he continues to develop his perimeter skill-set, he’s a prospect to watch moving forward.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="958665" first="Jacob" last="Butler"] (6’5 2022 W, Minneapolis North)- </strong>This summer Jacob showed off his versatility, and last weekend he showed that he can be one of the best shot creators in the state. It didn’t matter who was guarding him or in which setting, Butler just found ways to create space and get off a clean look. Step-back threes, spin moves leading to finishes at the rim, and turnaround jumpers were all in his arsenal as he made scoring the ball look easy. In a full court 3v3 drill Jake started things out by scoring the ball on three straight possessions for his team. I also liked how he competed on the defensive end whether it was against a 6’8 post or a 6’1 guard. </p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1288767" first="Greyson" last="Uelmen"] (5’9 2024 PG, Minnetonka)- </strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1288767" first="Greyson" last="Uelmen"] proved to be an absolute sniper on Saturday. The sophomore not only lit it up during drills and games, but he also took home the crown in the 3P contest at the end of camp, knocking down what I believe was 20 threes in a minute. He’s not just a shooter though, as he showcased a nice feel for the game with the ball in his hands, and the ability to change pace to get to his spots. Is a crafty finisher around the rim allowing him to score against bigger players, and he also showed that he can create for others with his passing.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="958752" first="Gedeon" last="Musabyimana"] (6’1 2022 PG, St. Paul Central)- </strong>Gedeon could be in for a monster senior year at St. Paul Central, as the 2022 floor general showcased a nice feel for the game and ability to score off the dribble last weekend. His change of pace allows him to get to whatever spot on the floor he wants to, and his jumper has consistently been improving each year, as he’s knocking down shots consistently from deep and mid-range. Whether it was in some of the small-sided drills or 5v5 games, Gedeon just kept finding ways to put points on the board. Central has an inexperienced team around him this season, so he could see a heavy workload.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1288777" first="Greg" last="Hopkins"] (6’3 2022 SG, Hopkins)- </strong>One of the most exciting players to watch during the 5v5 games was [player_tooltip player_id="1288777" first="Greg" last="Hopkins"]. The explosive wing-guard was putting on a show in transition with his explosiveness off of two feet, as he was leaking out in the open floor to finish above the rim a handful of times. Even in the half-court he was able to cut backdoor and catch an impressive alley-oop pass and throw it down with two hands. That athleticism also translates to the defensive end where he was able to get under guys and move his feet to continuously cut them off and make them change directions.</p>