Section Semifinal Standout Unsigned Prospects

The majority of big schools played in their section semifinals this past weekend, here are the seven unsigned prospects that really stood out to me! Minneapolis South (68) vs Hopkins (53): [player_tooltip player_id="1284106" first="Chiang" last="Ring"] of Minneapolis South (6’8” Center - 2024) Chiang made a statement on Friday, absolutely dominating the paint in their win over Hopkins. The sophomore blocked numerous shots, causing opponents to settle for looks from the perimeter all game. He scored 13 points with some strong finishes around the rim and he even knocked down a three-pointer in the second half. Ring got everyone out of their seats with a huge alley-oop dunk early in the game, giving his team the momentum to go on a run. He currently holds a D1 offer from Bryant that he received this past summer, look for that list to grow in the upcoming months. Poet Davis of Minneapolis South (5’11” Guard - 2024) Poet shot the lights out on Friday, scoring a game-high 17 points in the section semifinal win over Hopkins. He excelled in the catch-and-shoot as his teammates did a great job getting to the rim attracting help defenders, leaving Davis open for good looks. He has a very quick jump shot and plays with extreme confidence. He also had some very smooth finishes around the rim, showcasing his all around scoring ability. Poet will be looking for another breakout performance on Tuesday night versus Wayzata in the 6AAAA section final.   Mound Westonka (56) vs Benilde-St. Margaret’s (49): [player_tooltip player_id="1144113" first="Jake" last="Dallman"] of Mound Westonka (6’1” Guard - 2022) Jake took over in Mound Westonka’s comeback win over BSM on Saturday. The senior guard’s shots were not falling early, but flipped the switch at the end of the second half, coming away with numerous steals and tough transition baskets. He finished with a game-high 18 points in the low scoring contest, most of which coming off drives to the paint. He could not be stopped from attacking the basket, drawing fouls and finishing through defenders. Dallman and the Whitehawks will take on rival Orono on Thursday in the 6AAA section championship. Jalen Wilson of Benilde-St. Margaret’s (6’4” Forward - 2025) Jalen was a bright spot in BSM’s section semifinal loss to Mound Westonka on Saturday. He got it going early with some physical drives to the hoop, finishing through defenders and drawing fouls. Wilson was also able to show off his post game a little bit with a couple of different moves that freed space for some advanced hook shots. The freshman should step into a much larger role next season for the Red Knights, as they lose four out of their five starters to graduation. He ended the year averaging 12.5 points per game.   Bloomington Jefferson (68) vs Park (72): [player_tooltip player_id="1145928" first="OT" last="Omot"] of Park (6’3” Wing - 2023) Saturday was the first time I have been able to see OT play this season, as he was out in their matchup with Owatonna a couple months back. I was very impressed with the way the junior wing attacked the basket, as Jefferson did not have an answer for him all game. He is very strong and explosive, resulting in him being extremely hard to stay in front of. He was also able to show off his bounce, throwing down a posterizing dunk at the end of the first half. Omot and Park will matchup with Eastview on Thursday looking for their first state appearance in over a decade. [player_tooltip player_id="1151197" first="Daniel" last="Freitag"] of Bloomington Jefferson (6’3” Guard - 2024) Daniel finished off his incredible sophomore season with a 28-point performance in the tight loss to Park. He is so dynamic, being able to attack at will or knock down tough shots from the perimeter. He got it going early, getting to the rim, blowing by defenders and finishing through the bigs of Park. He also had some really nice back cuts for an easy dunk and an easy layup. Freitag finished his sophomore season with 640 points total, averaging out to 26.7 points per game. He also led the Jaguars to a 20-win season, the first since 2016-17. Daniel currently holds offers from Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Iowa State, I expect that list to grow over the spring/summer. [player_tooltip player_id="958754" first="Hayden" last="Holland"] of Bloomington Jefferson (6’0” Guard - 2022) Hayden showed out in his final high school game, scoring 20 points. The senior guard is very crafty when he is at the rim with his elite body control. He is able to hang in the air and switch to the other side of the basket, avoiding his shot from being altered by the defense. He also showed off his range, connecting with a pair of three-pointers. The Jaguars just fell short of a section championship game berth, but Holland was able to prove himself as the clear cut second scoring option on a very solid Bloomington Jefferson squad. He finished the season averaging 12.8 points per game. Any school looking for a tough and competitive combo guard with scoring upside should get familiar with Hayden before it is too late.