Breakdown Premier Fall League Standouts
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The Breakdown Premier Fall League was filled with talent competing at Hopkins on Sunday afternoon, and these are some of the prospects who impressed in the seven games I watched! Kyle Jorgensen MN #8 C #1 HEIGHT 6'9" POS C…
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Continue ReadingThe Breakdown Premier Fall League was filled with talent competing at Hopkins on Sunday afternoon, and these are some of the prospects who impressed in the seven games I watched!
Kyle already possessed an intriguing skillset as a 6’8+ big man, and now he looks trimmed down and in better shape than ever heading into his junior season. That should help him get up and down the floor quicker in transition, as well as stay on the floor for long periods of time. Defensively he excelled as a shot blocker in the game I saw, swatting a few shots early which really changed the course of the game for the opposing team. After those blocks you could tell they were driving with less confidence, and at times were looking to just avoid getting blocker rather than trying to finish at the rim. Offensively he has good footwork on the block which allows him to get off a clean look just about any time he catches on the block or in the paint. Shot wasn’t falling as much as usual from outside, but he showed such a smooth release from both mid-range and three. Really good passer as well who can find guys cutting from the block, or step out to the perimeter and zip in passes from the top of the key.
Orono looks to be one of the deeper teams in Class AAA this season, with Close being among their top players. He has size, mobility, and a versatile skillset that allow him to be used in a variety of ways. Zach can act as a stretch four with his ability to step outside and knock down threes with a smooth left handed stroke, but he can also operate out of the post and hit a tough turnaround jumper in the game I watched. He handles the ball well in the open floor which allowed him to take defensive rebounds and initiate the break on his own going the other way. Helped lead his team to an overtime win against Hopkins with some key plays down the stretch.
Highlights
Zavier joins the Richfield program and will be an instant impact player on both ends. Defensively he showed he can sit deep in a stance and consistently turn his man on the ball. Keeps his arms out and moves his feet to avoid fouling while taking contact straight into his chest. Offensively you can’t afford to give him an inch of space as he started to torch the St. Cloud Tech defense from three, including a pair of daggers late in the game that allowed Richfield to pull away in the win.
Highlights
Kai is one of the most explosive wings in the 2024 class, and he showed that in a win for Buffalo over Waconia. Buffalo started off the game ice cold, but Kai helped them pick up some momentum with highlight plays on both ends of the floor. He threw down a powerful dunk in transition, and on defense he was a help-side rim protector with his ability to slide into space and elevate to send shots right back to where they came from. He’s someone that doesn’t need the ball in his hands to get good looks as he cuts hard off the ball and sprints up the floor in transition to pick up easy scoring opportunities. Crashes the boards hard on both ends of the floor as well.
Highlights
You won’t find many shooters better than Luke in the 2024 class. The 6’2 sharpshooter will look to lead Champlin Park back to their winning ways, if Sunday was any indication he’s in for a big junior year. Everyone on the floor knows that Luke is a shooter, and he uses that to his advantage to get defenders in the air with a quick shot fake to open up an even better look. He does a great job at selling the fake, and once the defender goes flying by he relocates with one quick dribble either to the side or towards the basket for a wide open shot. With that type of space, Luke rarely misses a shot.
Minneapolis South is filled with new faces this year, but Poet helped keep them competitive with Champlin Park for a majority of the game. The ball will be in his hands a lot this winter, as he has the ability to create for himself and others. Poet has the ability to fire off shots quickly from beyond the arc, which forces defenders to guard him well beyond the three point line. Changes directions quickly to beat his initial defender off the dribble and get into the lane to force a help-side defender step in. He had some nice moments feeding his forwards off those type of drives while also having a couple of nice passes in pick & roll situations.
Ryan is one of the scrappiest and most versatile defenders you’ll find in the state. At 6’4 he was holding his own guarding one of the shiftiest point guards in Minnesota while also making plays on the ball. He’s going to be the first player on the floor for a loose ball, isn’t afraid to take a hard hit to draw a charge, and is a vocal presence on the floor both calling out screens and hyping up his teammates for big plays. Ryan has the look of a player that Lakeville South will be able to throw on to just about any player regardless of size or skill, and trust to keep them in check. He’s that type of versatile defender.