The Minnesota Top 250 Expo: 2023 Standouts

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Senior Standouts. The veteran players that came to the Expo excited, and left feeling like they played well. Here is my list of those players!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1225656' first='Max' last='Briggs'] of New Life Academy (5'11). I think Max is going to make for a really good D3 player and the way he was beating everybody off the dribble on Saturday, I'm really interested to see what he can do at NLA his senior season. Max was putting attempts on a plate for teammates and getting to the paint for consistent scores, and if he can do that this winter, NLA will be in the chatter for a championship even more than they are right now. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='962252' first='Grant' last='Hansen'] of Rock Ridge (5'10). Hansen averaged 7.8 assists a game last winter ranking with the best shot creators in the state of Minnesota. The lightning quick guard has since transferred from Greenway to Rock Ridge (a first year school) and he will immediately make Rock Ridge a contender. And like Briggs, Hansen has a real chance to be an all State player. And like Briggs, Hansen could have his team in state tournament contending status. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1221142' first='Jalen' last='Hayes'] of Richfield (6'2). I love the way this young man plays. Tough and versatile. He's the type of kid where, you see what you need for that game, and then ask Jalen to do it. Need him to bring the ball up the floor? Sure. Hit a big shot, he can do it. Defend a post or rebound? Strong enough to do that too. There is just so much versatility and so much fire to Jalen that I think he is going to be great for Richfield. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1345987' first='Vincent' last='Hillesheim'] of Hopkins (6'6). Speaking of kids about to have a big senior year, this face up big man is going to be tough for teams this winter. Hillehseim can play with his back to the basket or facing up, depending on the advantage he has. And this past weekend he was a constant in the scorebooks with quality numbers because most bigs didn't have the strength or foot speed to deal with his all around post game. He is going to be a really nice MIAC like frontcourt player. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1221115' first='Kobe' last='Karels'] of Cambridge-Isanti (6'2). This young man is a scorer and the type of scorer that keeps expanding his game. ANother player I could see grow as a really good D3 prospect. Karels shot the ball well from the perimeter when I watched but what caught my eye was his quickness with his first move/first step. In addition, he's a bit bigger than I thought as well. Scored 18 a game last yea, could have a huge number senior year. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1617765' first='Kayden' last='Reid-Aaron'] of Simley (6'0). Another player that I think D3s should have an eye on because I think his best basketball is ahead of him. Don't be surprised to see Kayden score 20 a game this year, he's a physical attack guard with a solid jumper. Type of kid who is going to score at the rim a lot in the Metro East Conference. He had a 17 point per game season at Simley last year, was really good for the Minnesota Select this summer, and I saw him produce consistent points the game I watched him play at the Expo. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1617781' first='Max' last='Sampson'] of Mora (5'11). One thing I will say about the Expo this year is that guys really tried to defend others one on one with a purpose. And [player_tooltip player_id='1617781' first='Max' last='Sampson'] was one of the better defensive workers I saw as opposing players had a tough time getting space on him. I also thought Max did a great job moving the basketball compared to a lot of other guards at the Expo. He and [player_tooltip player_id='1584900' first='Gage' last='Braiedy'] will make a great guard pair. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='962254' first='Sam' last='Senske'] of Hawley (6'5). I would not be surprised if Sam led this event in rebounds per minutes played. This is a physical 6'5 forward that just comes at you. Back to the bucket, face-up short jumper, power finishes, putbacks, he is a really strong frontcourt player for Hawley that was a half a board a game from averaging a double double last season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1139350' first='Hudson' last='Vaith'] of Lakeville North (6'5). Hudson is on my shortlist to have a monster senior season and make people talk about him in a bigger way. Yes the Panthers have Nolan, and they have Jack, but don't be surprised of Vaith is right there on their heels (in the stat book of course) as a top scoring option. He can hit from the perimeter and Vaith has really learned to score the ball well around the basket. I would not at all be surprised if Vaith had a monster senior season because once again he showed (at the Expo) that he's one of the best scoring wings in the class. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='962225' first='Reese' last='Vanderwilt'] of Mound-Westonka (6'6). I really liked what I saw from Reese this past weekend. Open jumpers? He took three and made them all comfortably. Reese also cleared roads with his ball screens and when the guards rewarded him Reese finished at the cup. I also liked the way Resse passed the ball and when he was able to get a post touch, it looks like Reese has put some good work into improving that post footwork!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->