Shot Clock Classic: AAA/AA Star Performers
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The Breakdown Shot Clock Classic brought together some of the top teams from all over the state. Here are the seven performers that really caught my eye from Classes AAA & AA. Kaiden Peters Kaiden Peters 6'2" | CG Plainview/Elgin-Millville…
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Continue ReadingThe Breakdown Shot Clock Classic brought together some of the top teams from all over the state. Here are the seven performers that really caught my eye from Classes AAA & AA.
Kaiden Peters Kaiden Peters 6'2" | CG Plainview/Elgin-Millville | 2023 State MN of PEM (6’2” Guard – 2023)
Kaiden blew me away in my first time seeing him play. The 6’2” incoming senior has great size, length, and athleticism and can really just do it all for his team. He is very crafty when creating for his teammates and makes very difficult passes look easy. He really impressed me with his attacking ability, as he was constantly getting to the rim and finishing around defenders. He completes his ultimate offensive package with a knock down jump shot. Multiple times, he pulled up over defenders when they did not have a hand up or were not expecting him to shoot. I loved Peters’ game and PEM should turn a lot of heads this season in Class AA as they are preseason favorites to win it all.
Nas Beamon of BSM (6’3” Guard – 2024)
Nas looks like one of the top new faces on the Minnesota hoops scene as he is a transfer from Martin Luther High School in Wisconsin. He is freakishly athletic and what impressed me the most about his game was his defense, on and off the ball. He was constantly giving opposing ball handlers trouble, coming away with numerous steals. Once in transition, Beamon can finish with either hand, finishing over a defender or using his fantastic body control to maneuver around them and score. He also attacked the rim very well in the half court as he uses his combination of speed and strength very well. He can blow by his defender then use his body to bump them out of the way. He will look to help lead a young BSM team this season.
Randy McClendon Jr Randy McClendon Jr 6'2" | SG Columbia Heights | 2024 State MN . of Columbia Heights (6’1”Guard – 2024)
Randy put on a scoring clinic on Tuesday. He scored in a variety of ways and could not be stopped. He showed off his pure jumper, connecting with many different kinds of tough shots. Some off the dribble, some fading, and some with a hand in his face. He also showed off his underrated speed and quick first step, bursting to the rim and blowing by defenders for easy finishes in the paint. The incoming junior will need to carry the scoring load for an inexperienced Columbia Heights squad this season. I think that this team has so much potential with the mix of shooting, size, and athleticism that this roster provides. They will be contenders in the Tri-Metro Conference with DeLaSalle once again.
Will Kirsch of Holy Family (5’9” Guard – 2026)
It continues to amaze me that Will is still only an incoming freshman. He has such a mature skillset for his age and never seems to panic when the ball is in hands. He handled the ball for the majority of the game and never seemed pressured into any ill-advised passes or forced shots. He can score from all three levels and is never scared to attack a defender that is much larger than him. He was constantly making defenders pay for leaving him with too much space, knocking down shots from all over the perimeter as well. He finished the game with a team-high 20 points. He is an elite 2026 prospect and I can’t wait to see him keep developing.
Aeron Stevens Aeron Stevens 6'7" | PF Plainview-Eligin-Millville | 2023 State MN of PEM (6’7” Forward – 2023)
Aeron has emerged himself as one of the most underrated players in the state. At 6’7”, he has a big and strong frame that he uses to dominate the paint. I thought he played extremely well in his tough matchup with Boden Kapke Boden Kapke 6'11" | C Holy Family | 2023 State #153 Nation MN , holding him to a limited amount of scores. Stevens is also capable of stretching the floor and connecting with shots from the outside on top of his polished post game. He used that well rounded offensive skill set to score a game-high 23 points in the win over Holy Family. I believe whoever will end up with Aeron at the next level will be getting a steal. The hopes are high for PEM this season and I am excited to see how far they will be able to make it this season.
Abu Keita of BSM (6’5” Forward – 2025)
Abu just keeps getting better and better and should see a lot of varsity minutes this upcoming season as a sophomore. He is uber athletic and has a very lanky frame, that is a great combination to have and it led to a lot of tipped balls and steals going the other way. He capped off one of the fast breaks with a two-hand throw down early in the game to kickoff the dominant win over Columbia Heights. He also did a great job cleaning up after teammates with numerous offensive rebounds off of missed shots. These boards led to second chance opportunities for his team and a pair of and-ones for himself. I think Keita fits well with this BSM team and I expect him to keep improving throughout the season.
Ty Miller Ty Miller 6'5" | SF Waconia | 2023 State MN of Holy Family (6’5” Guard – 2023)
Ty is making the transition from Waconia to Holy Family for his senior season and looks like he could be the key piece the Fire needed to make a run at a state title. Miller is a knockdown shooter from the perimeter with a lightning quick release. He was automatic in the catch-and-shoot, always needing attention from the defense. His shooting mechanics just look smooth and he is a very confident shooter. He also added a couple finishes at the rim in his 14 point performance against PEM. This Holy Family team has so much talent and are a top three preseason team in Class AA right now. They definitely have all of the pieces to be a real contender.