MN Shorty Classic Uncommitted Breakout Prospects

Jack Pfeiffer November 8, 2021 @ 02:53 PM

The MN Shorty Classic presented by The Grind Session brought some of the nation’s top talent to Minneapolis. Here are the top uncommitted prospects that caught my eye. Tavion Banks of Minnesota Prep (6’8” Forward - 2022) Thursday night was a breakout performance for Tavion. He finished the game with a double-double (27 points & 11 rebounds). Tavion was a force inside and scored most of his points in the paint and in transition. He finished off three huge dunks in the second half to give his team the momentum. This momentum sparked Minnesota Prep’s comeback from their 12 point halftime deficit. Saturday’s matchup versus Donda Academy was no different, Tavion was again the game’s leading scorer and finished the game with 23 points and 15 rebounds. Expect the recruiting for Tavion to increase rapidly. Treymane Parker of Vertical Academy (6’3” Guard - 2023) Trey Parker was electric Thursday night. The 6’3” guard was the bounciest kid in the gym and was getting the crowd out of their seats all night. He played with a different kind of energy and confidence that you only see from the nation’s best. There were two plays that summed up Trey’s night. A fast break poster that shut the gym down and a 7-0 run that Trey created single-handedly. He started it off with a steal and a fast break windmill dunk, then he intercepted a bad Minnesota Prep pass and hit an open three at the top of the key, he capped his 7-0 run off by snatching a steal and throwing an alley-oop for his teammate to finish off. Gob Gob of Minnesota Prep (6’3” Guard - 2022) One of the biggest breakout performers this past week was Gob Gob. The 6’3” guard took over in their matchup with Vertical Academy on Thursday. He finished with 19 points and hit multiple clutch baskets to put Minnesota Prep on top, one of those baskets was a pull-up three catching the defense off guard. Gob also played great in their Saturday contest against national powerhouse Donda Academy. The Minnesota Prep guard currently holds offers from Wichita State and UMASS. Look for that list to grow in these next couple months. Antwaun Massey of Minnesota Prep (6’8” Forward - 2022) I did not know that much about Antwaun going into this past week, but he impressed me a lot. The 6’8” big was a force on both sides of the ball, especially in the paint. He played great team basketball and seemed to always make the right decisions on offense and defense. Massey had huge momentum changing dunks in both of Minnesota Prep’s matchups at Target Center and was a key contributor to their wins. Whoever ends up with Antwaun Massey will find a hidden gem. Javonte Taylor of Donda Academy (6’7” Forward - 2023) JJ Taylor is one of the top prospects in the 2023 class nationwide. Playing for new Prep Academy ‘Donda Academy’, he showed out in their debut. JJ is very long and lanky which allows him to finish over defenders, get in passing lanes, and block shots. The 6’7” forward was making highlight plays all night on Saturday in their contest with Minnesota Prep, including a dunk where it looked like he could have touched the ceiling of the Target Center. His athleticism and shot creating ability is incredible for a player of his size. Jahki Howard of Donda Academy (6’6” Wing - 2024) I could not believe Jahki Howard was only a sophomore when I looked at his team’s roster. His athleticism and build make him look like he could be playing college basketball right now. He did not get to showcase that much of his scoring ability playing with the likes of Javonte Taylor, Robert Dillingham, and Zion Cruz, but he showed out on both sides of the ball when given the chance. Jahki had the highlight of the night where he got to show off his 40”+ vertical where he slammed one down off a pass from Javonte Taylor. Jahki Howard will be a name to know on the national stage for years to come.