The Race for Mr. Basketball – Preview
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The Race for the richest prize in Minnesota high school sports has started. Who is the favorite? Top Contenders? Names you should consider? The Favorite: Taison Chatman Taison Chatman 6'4" | PG Totino Grace | 2023 State #35 Nation MN…
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Continue ReadingThe Race for the richest prize in Minnesota high school sports has started. Who is the favorite? Top Contenders? Names you should consider?
The Favorite: Taison Chatman Taison Chatman 6'4" | PG Totino Grace | 2023 State #35 Nation MN
Having earned a state title, having earned a Class AAA Player of the Year award, having earned All State First Team, and being broadcast as the top prospect in the class, Taison Chatman Taison Chatman 6'4" | PG Totino Grace | 2023 State #35 Nation MN enters the season as the clear favorite for Mr. Basketball.
Top Contenders
Nolan Winter Nolan Winter 7'0" | PF Lakeville North | 2023 State #98 Nation MN will follow as a top contender. He’s a top 100 level talent nationally coming off a strong junior season who will play for one of the elite teams in Minnesota High School basketball.
Boden Kapke Boden Kapke 6'11" | C Holy Family | 2023 State #153 Nation MN ‘s 28 points and 14 rebounds a game last year earned him first team all state. He’s the most difficult to stop small school player and he’s going to be the big man on the likely preseason favorite for the Class AA state title (Holy Family).
Final Five
Taison Chatman Taison Chatman 6'4" | PG Totino Grace | 2023 State #35 Nation MN . Nolan Winter Nolan Winter 7'0" | PF Lakeville North | 2023 State #98 Nation MN . Boden Kapke Boden Kapke 6'11" | C Holy Family | 2023 State #153 Nation MN .
Tommy Humphries Tommy Humphries 6'5" | SF Totino-Grace | 2023 State #283 Nation MN of Totino-Grace. Considering the fantastic summer that Tommy had coming off a strong junior year for a state champ, the Furman commit will be right on the heels of his teammate. It will be tough to chase the teammate but nonetheless Tommy will be right there.
CJ O’Hara CJ O’Hara 6'4" | SF Park Center | 2023 State #285 Nation MN of Park Center. The Pirates will try and defend their state title and the return of O’Hara to Park Center will likely be a big part of the team making their run. O’Hara is one of the most explosive players in the class and one of the most consistent producers.
Max Shikenjanski Max Shikenjanski 6'2" | PG Stillwater | 2023 State #288 Nation MN of Stillwater. The Citadel committed point guard has 30 point per game scoring ability, he is the best passer in Minnesota, Max is one of the toughest talents in the state, he has several returning teammates from last year’s improved team, and the Ponies added a couple key transfers so they will push for top ten in Class AAAA and a state bid.
Next Up
Jack Janicki Jack Janicki 6'4" | SG White Bear Lake | 2023 State #277 Nation MN of White Bear Lake. I hear you now “this is too low for Jack” and I fully agree with you. Sadly, Jack has an injury and will likely miss some portion of the season which of course is an unfair dagger to an award like this.
Isaac Matti Isaac Matti 6'1" | SG Hayfield | 2023 State MN of Hayfield. The returning Class A player of the Year and a two time top scorer on a two time state champion. What more really needs to be said? That resume gets you on this list.
Chiddi Obiazor Chiddi Obiazor 6'5" | PF Eden Prairie | 2023 MN of Eden Prairie. The performance of Obiazor vs Shakopee in last year’s section title game won’t soon be forgotten. He’s a Kansas State football commit and because of that people will wonder if he will go to college this winter, but we haven’t heard that so he will surely be here on this list.
Nasir Whitlock Nasir Whitlock 6'2" | PG Delasalle | 2023 State MN of DeLaSalle. Nasir’s 26 point per game junior year run once the Islander line-up changed was big time. Nasir’s push of the Islanders to the state title game was big time. Committing to Lehigh was big time. Whitlock is a lock for the top ten believe and I think he has a solid shot at the Final Five.