GameChangers at #PHtop250Expo in Minnesota

This content series is sponsored by GameChanger-The Official Scorekeeping, Stats, Team Management & Technology Partner of Prep Hoops. 

The #PHtop250Expo in Minnesota was loaded with talent. Players showed their ability to shoot the trey, facilitate, defend, and hit the boards, and they were impressive in doing so. While those things were great to see, I looked beyond them to see if I could find some players that impacted and changed the game through their play in some of those areas and other areas. Here are a few of the talents that emerged as #PHtop250Expo as GameChangers…

Isaiah Johnson Isaiah Johnson 6'7" | SF Totino-Grace | 2024 State #135 Nation MN (6'7 Wing)

School: Totino-Grace

Year: 2024

Isaiah is a 6'7 junior forward from Totino-Grace who was recently offered scholarships by Northern Iowa, Loyola, Hampton, and Illinois State. He's a top five level player in the Minnesota junior class that will be a nationally ranked top 175 player when the 2024 rankings are updated by Prep Hoops soon. He's a versatile talent with a great frame who moves very well with the ball in his hands.

What Made Isaiah a GameChanger: Isaiah's ability to lead the break off a defensive rebound led to immediate offense for his team on a regular basis. At his size Johnson was impossible to stop moving up the floor and even tougher to deal with when he was moving off the ball in the halfcourt set. His ability to finish over the top of everybody also made him a constant game changer.

Joshua Ofori Joshua Ofori 6'7" | PF Prior Lake | 2023 State MN (6'7 Forward)

School: Prior Lake

Year: 2023

Josh is from Prior Lake and he was one of the biggest reasons that there were so many college coaches at this event. Ofori has pretty much all of the D3s in the area hoping to land him and when Ofori finally plays his first varsity basketball games his stock will rise even more.

What Made Joshua a GameChanger: Ofori was physically just stronger and more agile than the vast majority of the front court players at the Minnesota Expo. What made his numbers a constant 20 & 10 was his effort on the glass and his effort in getting to the front of the rim to make plays with regularity.

Lincoln Palbicki Lincoln Palbicki 6'10" | C Maple Grove | 2023 State MN (6'10 Big)

School: Maple Grove

Year: 2023

Palbicki will be a four year varsity player and he's been a constant top 5 big in this state and a top 20 prospect in Minnesota. He is one of the headiest players in the state of Minnesota and a guy that has worked as hard as anybody to physically change himself and be a modern day big that knows how to set a screen and defend a screen.

What Made Lincoln a GameChanger: Lincoln was an unstoppable force ending possessions with defensive rebounds, stopping posts from having any chance of getting shots to the rim in the paint, and he finished 80 plus percentage of his attempts at this event. Lincoln plowed the road for guards with his ball screens and the defense was powerless.

Jonathan Mekonnen Jonathan Mekonnen 6'8" | PF Eastview | 2024 State #201 Nation MN (6'7 Forward)

School: Eastview

Year: 2024

Mekonnen continues to be one of the junior prospects with the highest upside even though he's yet to play a varsity game in the main rotation. Mekonnen has D2 offers and he has been hearing from Minnesota and Iowa State. Mekonnen played JV this past year as the stacked Eastview frontcourt was full of college players. Mekonnen shined this summer with the Minnesota Heat making himself a top 200 national recruit with his efforts competing for one of the best 16u teams on the Prep Hoops Circuit.

What Made Jonathan a GameChanger: Jonathan is longer than most, he's bigger than most that he faced this weekend, he's got way more explosion than most he faced this weekend, he's a lefty, and most importantly, Mekonnen plays harder than most. When you have all the physical advantages PLUS you play harder than your opponent, that makes you a constant game changer.

Jj Sullivan Jj Sullivan 6'2" | SG Eden Prairie | 2025 MN (6'2 Guard)

School: Eden Prairie

Year: 2025

JJ is the son of former Tartan Titan state champion and Iowa State Cyclone Jake Sullivan. Jake is a top five prospect in the state of Minnesota's sophomore class and one of the elite shooters. Jake played some varsity last year at Eden Prairie (an AAAA school) and he was a leader for the D1 Minnesota 15s.

What Made JJ a GameChanger: Sullivan was not about to let some guards slow in transition retreat or slow in getting to defensive spots stop him from being a constant producer. I saw Sullivan put together an eight lay-up make session of every time as help defenders stood helplessly. That same game JJ knocked out a pull-up and a three making 10 of 11 shots. Even better, he had six assists as his decisions on the push earned an A+ grade.

Marley Baah-Yeboah Marley Baah-Yeboah 6'3" | SF Lakeville South | 2024 State MN (6'3 Wing)

School: Lakeville South

Year: 2024

The explosive athletic ability of Baah-Yeboah in 15u and fall league last year put him on the map of many. Marley played off of the Cougars bench last year and then had a really nice summer playing with D1 Minnesota taking a step forward. Marley is a top 25 junior prospect and he's a key reason why Lakeville South is at top ten team in Class AAAA

What Made Marley a GameChanger: Once Marley got a step to the basket this weekend the play was done, and Marley had won. And the camera guys on the baseline had fun. Marley's first step past the defender was really eye popping and if the help defenders weren't in a perfect spot, Marley went over them. Baah-Yeboah also put up a constant 20+ points in every game.