Max's Weekend Top Performers

I was able to catch three different games this past Friday and Saturday, and these are eight of the prospects who stood out the most! [player_tooltip player_id="958668" first="Aj" last="Burns"] (6’2 2022 G, Tartan)- Tartan played a 4:00pm game on Friday as they were trying to get out early for spring break, and it was [player_tooltip player_id="958668" first="Aj" last="Burns"] providing energy on both ends of the floor in the afternoon matchup. He has long arms and explosive athleticism at 6’2 that allowed him to make plays jumping passing lanes and as a shot blocker. AJ is a highly active defender who makes plays all over the floor with his effort and intensity. Offensively he showed he can hit jumpers off the dribble or catch, as well as explode to the basket for some tough finishes. Was making plays on both ends of the floor all game long in a win over North St. Paul. [player_tooltip player_id="850709" first="Willie" last="Wilson"] (6’2 2022 G, Minneapolis North)- It was a pretty sloppy game overall as North took on St. Paul Johnson in the Twin Cities Championship game, but Willie made plays in big moments down the stretch. When Willie took a defensive rebound he was immediately looking to push it in transition, and he’s so good at weaving in and out of traffic to get down the floor. Once he’s at the rim he rarely misses, as he’s one of the best transition finishers in the state. Finished with a team high 17 points to help his team come away with the win. [player_tooltip player_id="958636" first="Alonzo" last="Dodd"] (6’2 2022 G, South St. Paul)- Once again Alonzo stuffed the box score on Friday night, finishing with a triple-double as South St. Paul defeated Mahtomedi to finish their regular season undefeated at 26-0. Zo looks much more comfortable stepping outside and knocking down threes this season, as he hit a couple in the first half that forced defenders to step out on him. Always explosive with the ball in his hands, he was tough to keep out of the paint all game long as he looked to create for himself and teammates. When Mahtomedi was in a zone defense, he did a great job of zipping passes into tight windows from the perimeter leading to good looks for his teammates at the rim. Finished with 20 points, 13 rebounds, and 10 assists in the win. AJ McCleery (6’ 2023 G, Mahtomedi)- Mahtomedi has a loaded group of 2023 guards, and with last year’s leading scorer injured, AJ has been stepping up big time. Against South St. Paul he showed he can be a dangerous player in the mid-range on his way to 22 points. Did a great job of not getting sped up by ball pressure, and was able to create the separation needed to elevate and knock down shots from inside the arc. Also showed plenty of poise getting to the basket, and did a nice job of getting defenders into the air with a quick shot fake. Has excellent footwork operating around the basket or when he pulls up for his jumper. Ishmeal David (6’3 2022 W, St. Paul Johnson)- Ishmeal has a great chance of winning conference player of the year, and he showed just why against Minneapolis North on Saturday. Johnson was right in it all game long, with David making big plays on both ends of the floor. Defensively he used his length to jump passing lanes and pick up steals, he was moving his feet on the perimeter, and stepped inside to take a pair of charges throughout the game. On the other end he showed off his dangerous mid-range jumper, as he gets great elevation making it so difficult to contest him when he gets a bit of space. Ishmeal also showcased some excellent body control at the rim to convert on some tough finishes as he scored 21 points throughout the game. [player_tooltip player_id="1293964" first="Brody" last="Radtke"] (6’7 2024 F, Tartan)- Brody played a nice role for Tartan off the bench on Friday, using his shooting touch to stretch out the NSP zone defense. At 6’7 he was the longest player on the floor, but he doesn’t just sit on the block. Brody was stepping outside to hit some corner threes, but also showed he’s capable of putting the ball on the floor and attacking off a bad closeout. Radtke made some smart decisions with the ball, and his skill level at 6’7 is intriguing moving forward. [player_tooltip player_id="1143864" first="Devin" last="Newsome"] (6’2 2022 SG, South St. Paul)- Devin is as tough as they come at the guard position, as he’s such a physical presence in the paint with a motor that never stops. All night long against Mahtomedi he was fighting through traffic for offensive boards and second chance finishes to help his team come away with a win. Hit a few outside shots, but was at his best getting to the rim where he was either able to score or earn a trip to the free throw line. That type of grit allowed him to finish with 7 rebounds while also putting up a game high 27 points. Highly skilled guard with the toughness to match. [player_tooltip player_id="1221176" first="Owen" last="Carlson"] (6’4 2023 SG, Mahtomedi)- Now listed at 6’4, Owen has grown into a major scoring threat, as he’s put up 20+ points in 16 of his 19 appearances this season. He’s a long and wiry guard with some bounce in the open floor and no shortage of confidence in his outside shot. Against South St. Paul he was running off screens and taking dribble hand-offs and immediately elevating to hit his shots. Started off the game strong with a dunk and a pair of jumpers, and although he ended up fouling out with a few minutes left, he finished with 20 points against an undefeated team. Expect scholarship level schools to be monitoring him closely over the next year.