Minnesota Top 250: Daniel’s Standouts Pt. 1

The Prep Hoops Minnesota Top 250 Expo was jam-packed with talent! Here are a few players that stood out to me during Saturday’s action!

Ty Burgoon Ty Burgoon 5'10" | PG Centennial | 2024 State MN (5’11 2024 G, Centennial)- Burgoon is a quick and confident guard who impacts the game in a variety of ways. He’s versatile off the dribble with the ability to go either direction, score, or facilitate, and he is constantly handling the rock with his head up. He’s an incredibly smart player and playmaker that seems to always find the open man. He shoots it well from three and has a nice touch with his floaters and around the rim. He excels in the pick-n-roll as a facilitator but is also able to find his own bucket coming off ball screens. Burgoon does a nice job of running the offense and making things happen.

Zy’lerre Stewart (6’0 2024 G, Totino-Grace)- Stewart is an elite athlete who plays above the rim. The high-flying guard threw down a handful of dunks on Saturday. He uses his quickness to bother opposing ball-handlers and to beat everyone down the floor in transition. His first step is nearly unguardable and when you cut him off, he has any number of counter moves. He rebounds well for his size, hustles during every second he is on the floor, keeps his hands and feet active on defense, rotates well on defense, and he plays the game hard. Stewart is a flat-out competitor.

Nolan Carlson Nolan Carlson 6'0" Northland | 2023 MN (6’0 2023 W, Northland)- Carlson is a hard-working player who has all of the intangibles. In the game that I watched, I never saw him stand still. Offensively, he is constantly moving without the ball through the use of off-ball picks or basket cuts, in order to get himself or a teammate open. Even at his size, he was one of the best rebounders on the floor due to his tenacity and hustle. He seems to always be in the right place at the right time scoring easy buckets or getting easy steals/rebounds. His defensive intensity is what stood out most to me. He is constantly talking, rotating away from the ball, searching for steals, and diving for loose balls. There is no such thing as a 50/50 ball for Carlson.

Micah Young Micah Young 6'3" | SF Minneapolis Edison | 2023 State MN (6’3 2024 F, Minneapolis Edison)- Young shoots it with pretty form; a high release point, excellent rotation, and elevates nicely. He is one sharp-shooter you do not want to leave open from anywhere on the floor, and at his height, he is able to shoot over the top of smaller defenders. He showed flashes as a playmaker/ball-handler and his rebounding efforts are superb. He loves to get his hands in passing lanes and run in transition. He plays poised and smart and isn’t afraid to play physically, he also absorbs and finishes through contact at a good rate. Young is a well-rounded wing/forward threat.

Eli Schroeder Eli Schroeder 6'1" | SG Shakopee | 2025 State MN (5’11 2025 G, Shakopee)- Schroeder is a fantastic shooter with unlimited range. He’s another guy who can fill it up in a hurry and does so with great mechanics and a fast release. He is a good ball-handler and appears comfortable running an offense. He takes good shots and due to his shooting abilities, the paint often opens up for dribble penetration since the defense must get out and guard him wherever he is. Schroeder capitalizes on this using many ball-fakes and hesitation moves to probe the lane. Once there, he’s a smart decision-maker, either scoring on his own or hitting the open man. Schroeder isn’t just a shooter, he also is constantly pestering opposing ball-handlers, making their jobs more difficult.

Liam Roche Liam Roche 6'6" | C Farmington | 2024 MN (6’6 2024 F, Farmington)- Roche is a polished post-player who dominates with his back-to-the-basket. He’s got great touch around the basket, finishes at a high rate with either hand and is a rebounding force. It seems as if he has such a nose for the basketball, corralling every rebound or loose ball in sight. He extends his game out and can hit the open jumper and he is also a good screener. Roche is a post-player who can impact the game in a lot of ways. He plays solid defense, providing wall-ups and good rotation.

Ricky Wengert Ricky Wengert 5'11" | PG Rochester Century | 2025 State MN (5’11 2025 G, Rochester Century)- Wengert is yet another lights out shooter with a deep range. He plays fast and is always looking to push in transition, he is a good ball-handler and playmaker, and he is always ready to make the right pass. He shoots it with wonderful mechanics and can pull it from nearly half-court. He does a nice job of probing the lane and setting up teammates and due to his unlimited range and ability to stretch the floor, the lane often opens up for dribble drives. Wengert scores in bunches and his offensive skillset isn’t limited to the three-point line; he can score at the rim, or get a floater to fall over taller defenders.