The Last Dance: Minnesota Wing Standouts

Seven wing prospects who impressed over the weekend in Chicago at The Last Dance!   [player_tooltip player_id='1226375' first='JT' last='Thornton'] (6'4 2023 W, WOTN)- [player_tooltip player_id='1226375' first='JT' last='Thornton'] picked up his first offer from Valley City State University after the weekend, and for good reason as there's a lot to like about the athletic wing-guard. The physical attributes alone of the explosive and laterally quick 6'4 prospect catch your eye, but he also has a skill level on the ball that makes him so dangerous in isolation. He's one of the best in the state at creating space on the perimeter, and when WOTN needs someone to go and get a bucket, JT is one of the players you want with the ball. Bigger defenders have a hard time staying in front of him, but smaller guards can't contest him when he gets to the rim. Really like his versatility defensively as well as he slides his feet and really utilizes his length to get up in passing lanes or poke the ball free if his man has a sloppy handle.   [player_tooltip player_id='962247' first='Gavin' last='Pierce'] (6'4 2023 SF, Northstar Titans Terhaar)- With his size at 6'4, I think Gavin has the chance to be a small-ball four or play on the wing depending on where he ends up at after high school. Really like his ability to step out and stretch the defense well beyond the arc, which can not only lead to him knocking down threes but also helps to remove a shot blocker from the paint and open up some driving lanes for his teammates. All game long he had opposing forwards chasing him out to the perimeter but it didn't stop him from knocking down a handful of threes on the day. On the defensive end he does have the height to defend in the paint when necessary, but I was really impressed with how he moved his feet on the perimeter when matched up against shorter guards/wings. Just works hard and knows how to use his frame to cut guys off.   [player_tooltip player_id='962224' first='Will' last='Opsahl'] (6'8 2023 G/W, Minnesota Lightning)- The do-it-all prospect impressed in front of a number of scholarship level schools over the weekend, doing everything from running the point for his team to defending physical 6'8 players on the other end. You won't find many players at 6'8 who have the ball on a string like he does, as he can both create his own shot off the dribble while also handle it under pressure and get his team into their offense. When off the ball he poses a threat from three, while also having the body control to the slash to the basket and finish through some traffic. His rare combination of size and skill makes him an intriguing prospect with a high ceiling long term as he continues to grow into his body.   [player_tooltip player_id='1434066' first='John' last='Troolin'] (6'2 2024 SG, Minnesota Spartans)- After the Spartans got a bit banged up on Saturday night, [player_tooltip player_id='1434066' first='John' last='Troolin'] was able to step up and he played a big role in his team's win over Midwest Basketball Club 3SSB 2025. Coming in off the bench John drained four 3's on his way to 14 points as he not only provided a scoring spark, but also helped to stretch the floor and open up space inside for his team's 6'8+ duo inside. Because defenders had to account for his quick release from deep, they couldn't afford to double team the post hard and it helped lead to some easy finishes inside for the Spartans' bigs. Really like how John always has his hands and feet ready to shoot so that he's able to get a shot off in a hurry when the ball comes his way.   [player_tooltip player_id='962306' first='Michael' last='Kirchner'] (6'2 2023 W, Real Phenom)- Michael impressed me in both games of his that I saw over the weekend. Whether he was scoring the ball or dishing out assists, he was playing at a high level offensively. So good at getting into the lane off the dribble before zipping in passes to one of his teammates cutting to the rim. He had a handful of assists drawing in that help-side defender and then hitting the open man around the rim. Kirchner played fast yet under control, taking the opportunities that the defense gave him and converting at a high level. In a tight game against Coulee Country, the ball was trusted to be in his hands as he just found ways to get a bucket whether it was going all the way to the rim or pulling up for a mid-range jumper.   [player_tooltip player_id='962257' first='Logan' last='Tuckner'] (6'4 2023 SG, Minnesota Lightning)- In a big time matchup against the Iowa Barnstormers, Logan took the game over in the second half knocking down shot after shot to help lead his team to a win. He ended up finishing with 18 points on 7-10 shooting, with four of those makes from beyond the arc. Logan is the type of player whose confidence just grows with each shot he sees fall, and in the second half it didn't matter if he was wide open or contested because the shot was going in. Tuckner possesses good positional size and a smooth shooting stroke from beyond the arc that can make him a valuable asset to a college program.   Ellis Todd (6'3 2022 W, Minnesota Chill)- The unsigned senior made some big plays for Minnesota Chill in the game I saw. He really stepped up providing an extra scoring punch at times, but also with his effort and versatility on the defensive end. He has solid height at 6'3, but his a strong and explosive athlete who can move his feet on the perimeter or battle against a 6'6 post down low. Ellis is one of those players who's exciting to watch in warmups because of his flashy dunks, and that explosiveness translated to the game when he cut hard down the lane and threw down a powerful two-hand slam to give his team a boost of momentum. Had a few nice cuts to open up scoring opportunities, and with his body control he's a consistent finisher once he's around the basket.

Seven wing prospects who impressed over the weekend in Chicago at The Last Dance!