Hard Work Region Finals: Minnesota Players that impressed

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1220381" first="Anish" last="Ramlall"]<a href="https://prephoops.com/player/anish-ramlall/" data-type="URL" data-id="https://prephoops.com/player/anish-ramlall/"> </a><strong>(6'3 - 2023 - Guard - WOTN Bertsch/Rosemount)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Producing 88 points in their five games over the weekend, Ramlall used a number of his skills to put the pressure on opposing defenders. Dribble drive for lay-ups using either hand when finishing. Made good passes for assists to his shooters using his good vision to find teammates, pull-up 3s and mid-range when scoring away from the basket, and controlled pace as primary and secondary ball handler. Ramlall also picked up his 2nd D2 offer from St. Cloud State on Sunday after WOTN's close loss to [program_tooltip program_id='2078859' first='Starks' last='Elite'] in the Hard Work Final Four.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/PHCircuit/status/1549401173982973952","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/PHCircuit/status/1549401173982973952 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1391203" first="Mitchell" last="Kauch"] (<strong>6'0 - 2025 - Guard - [program_tooltip program_id='2075683' first='Minnesota' last='Matrix']/Orono)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Shooters shoot. Kauch made multiple 3s in each game over the weekend in two specific ways, spot-ups and pull-up transition. Versus [program_tooltip program_id='2075685' first='Minnesota' last='Select'] he made two 3s from deep, well out passed even the college 3-point line. In transition he picked up a few coast-to-coast lay-ups off steals and loose balls.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1214457" first="Will" last="Kutzler"] <strong>(6'7 - 2023 - Wing - WOTN/Lakeville North</strong>)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kutzler in five games was WOTN second leading scorer making an array of three's throughout the weekend, 13 to be exact. His quick release combined with his six-foot-seven-inch height allows many clean looks. Playing a 5-out style for WOTN, Kutzler would pop to perimeter to provide guards lanes to drive but also opportunities for quality shots for himself. He put together 69 points including a weekend high 21 versus a tough Minnesota Lightning team in the Elite Eight. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1288801" first="Ja'Rory" last="Purnell"] (<strong>6'2 - 2024 - Guard - [program_tooltip program_id='2075485' first='Gain' last='Elite']/Maranatha Christian Academy)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Shifty relentless point guard who attacked defenders at will from start to finish in the first game. In the third game, made multiple open 3s, and utilized multiple ways to keep teammates involved. Made secure pocket passes in pick and roll and shared ball to open shooters.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1284164" first="Justin" last="Courneya"] <strong>(6'0 - 2024 - Guard - [program_tooltip program_id='2076003' first='West' last='Central United']/Win-E-Mac</strong>)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 2024 Win-E-Mac six-foot guard can be a lot of fun to watch as he'll make 3's in bunches while pushing defenders on to their heels. Uses a variety of ways to attack the defense off the dribble hitting pull-ups, zig-zagging his way to rim and catching and shooting while playing off other playmakers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/PHCircuit/status/1549408724007124994","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/PHCircuit/status/1549408724007124994 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Aidan Memene (6' - 2024 - Guard [program_tooltip program_id='2075485' first='Gain' last='Elite']/Park Center)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Memene, playing mostly off the ball with [program_tooltip program_id='2075485' first='Gain' last='Elite'], was a crafty finisher in all games at Hard Work Region Finals. Any sliver of an opening to the rim Memene would slip through and make his way for a score finishing with a simple lay-up but if needed a more acrobatic move. Speed and quickness are Memene's go to and when able to use those skills he was hard to stop this weekend playing for [program_tooltip program_id='2075485' first='Gain' last='Elite'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1552934' first='Will' last='Brands'] (6'2 - 2024 - Wing - Minnesota Rush/Totino Grace</strong>)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For the 2022 summer the Minnesota Rush 16U team has put together a solid run (<a href="https://prephoops.com/2022/07/minnesota-grassroots-update-16u-records-week-14/">24-13</a>). [player_tooltip player_id='1552934' first='Will' last='Brands'] doesn't immediately strike you but he's consistent in his production. He will make the correct passes on offense and right rotations on defense, cut when needed and make the lay-ups off those cuts. When guards drive the seams he spaces out to the corner to make corner 3's. On the occasion with a line to the basket, or a breakaway like this weekend Brands will throw down a dunk to show he's got a bit of bounce.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/PHCircuit/status/1549529526992084994","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/PHCircuit/status/1549529526992084994 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed -->