NHR State Tournament: 2-Way Impact Prospects

Minneapolis, Minnesota – NHR State Tournament was back again for another year! The event was full of talented players and programs. The best of the best out of Minnesota, along with elite programs from across the Midwest came out to compete.  In this article, I will highlight prospects who stood out as two-way athletes. Each one of them made a big-time impact on both ends of the floor. 

Kenny Turner | Sizzle

Turner is a reliable playmaker in the post for Sizzle. His presence and awareness were on display when working against the zone. His willingness to seal guys in the post brought great balance to the floor and resulted in a lot of scoring in the paint. The mobile big man utilized pass fakes to shift defenders and find open teammates in the half-court. When help defenders dug down in helping situations, Turner’s recognition was on point, and his timely passes. His footwork was on display with crafty pivots to see passing slots as well as angles for driving lanes. His activity ranged beyond the offensive end. He was just as proactive in the paint. His active hands disrupted post-entry passes. The fleet-footed big man was able to block shots and make scoring tough in the paint with contests without fouling. 

Dothan Ijadimbola | D1 Minnesota

Ijadimbola is an exciting prospect with an amazing upside. His impact on both ends led the way for D1 Minnesota. His size and athleticism allow him to protect the painted area, and his ability to time blocks was impressive. His lateral quickness stood out when switching onto guards. His motor and effort were a catalyst that resulted in numerous rebounds on both ends. The versatile impact player had a lot of success on the offensive end. His ability to use his body and finish through contact was on display. He spaced the floor and removed big men out of the paint with a silky smooth jumper. His pace and awareness made for a few breakout dunks in transition. 

AJ Taban | PJ Hoops MN

Taban is a versatile big man for PJ Hoops MN. His nose for the ball and willingness to hunt rebounds stood out. Opponents struggled to get momentum due to one attempt trips down the floor. His motor and lateral quickness put him in opportune positions to make plays in the paint. His help defense threw a wrench in the opponent’s gamelan. His footwork and pivots made for finishes off the glass and vigilant passing to shooters. Good things happened when he was able to go to work on the block. He has a good feel for the game as he knocked down timely pull-ups when defenders sagged off. Taban is a reliable scorer who can get it done on all levels of the floor. 

Tommy Schabert | Team Tyus 

Schabert is a two-way paint presence for Team Tyus. His physicality and willingness to use his body in the paint really stood out. His size and motor caused problems for the opposition, he was hard to slow down as a moving target. He was able to finish with authority with dunks and strong finishes in the lane. His skill in the paint resulted in soft finishes over each shoulder. The Team Tyus big man has a great sense of positioning, his ability to pivot and use the glass is next-level ready. His ability to move on defense altered a lot of shots near the basket. 

Jalen Dickerson I Chicago Demons

Dickerson is an all-around playmaker for the Chicago Demons. His pace and instincts constantly put him in an opportune position on both sides of the floor. He thrived in the passing lanes and proved to have next-level foresight. His lateral quickness allowed him to stay in front while defending without fouling. The two-way playmaker had major success on the offensive end with his quick first step consistently putting him in a position to make plays. He wields great vision finding teammates off the dribble and finding his spots to raise up and knock down mid-range. Most impressive was his crafty footwork in the paint, euro steps, and playing off two feet.