Jack’s Week 5 Weekend Standouts
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With many games being moved around due to weather, I was only able to catch games this past Friday and Saturday. Here are the seven prospects who impressed in those two matchups! #1-AAA Totino-Grace (65) vs #6-AAAA Maple Grove (56):…
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Continue ReadingWith many games being moved around due to weather, I was only able to catch games this past Friday and Saturday. Here are the seven prospects who impressed in those two matchups!
#1-AAA Totino-Grace (65) vs #6-AAAA Maple Grove (56):
Isaiah was getting it done on both ends of the floor in Friday’s win over Maple Grove. The D1 offered junior’s improved perimeter game really impressed me as he knocked down multiple threes, most coming in the catch-and-shoot. He fits very well into this offense with many facilitators able to kick out to him when they are driving to the basket. The 6’7” wing also showed off his bounce and athleticism with some highlight reel blocks on the defensive end of the floor. Johnson currently holds six mid-major Division 1 offers.
Highlights
Henry has continued to impress me this season in two tough matchups I have seen him in (Hopkins & Totino-Grace). His ability to knock down shots off of the dribble is excellent, as he can create shots for himself when necessary. He has a tight handle with the ball and made smart plays throughout the entire game. The junior guard has a silky smooth left-handed jumper with a quick release making him very tough to contest when he is pulling up. He finished the game with 11 points, connecting with 3 three-pointers along with a tough drive to the basket avoiding the height and length of the Totino-Grace defense with a double-clutch layup. Stang is one of the most underrated players in this 2024 class.
Patrick led the way for Totino-Grace in the scoring department, as he finished with a team-high 16 points in the win over Maple Grove. He dominated the boards on both ends of the floor, grabbing numerous offensive rebounds leading to second chance buckets. The 6’9” senior was almost automatic around the rim as he used his size to his advantage by finishing through contact all game. Bath is also very athletic and moves very well for his size, showing that off with a transition two-handed slam in the second half. Patrick and TG will take on undefeated Park Center on Thursday in one of the most anticipated matchups of the season. Bath is one of the top uncommitted seniors left in Minnesota.
Lincoln was effective in the paint in Friday’s matchup with Totino-Grace. He is a fantastic rebounder and knows where to position himself to grab boards. I really liked the way he attacked the ball on offensive rebounds as they led to multiple second chance baskets for himself. He relied on a right-handed hook shot in a couple of different scenarios in the post, making him very difficult to guard for opponents. He finished the game with a team-high 14 points and also impressed me in the pick and roll. Palbicki and the Crimson have exceeded expectations so far this season as they are now sitting at 6-2.
Burnsville (52) vs Bloomington Jefferson (74):
Daniel is on fire right now and currently leads the state of Minnesota in scoring. The 6’2” junior scored Jefferson’s first 16 points in the win against Burnsville, doing this by scoring from just about everywhere and forcing opponents to send him to the line for free throws. He is a three level scorer and is so hard to stay in front of as he is so unpredictable when he has the ball. He is so quick and can blow by defenders with ease. Freitag also got loose for three huge dunks bringing the crowd to their feet. Daniel can do everything on a basketball court and has willed his team to four-straight wins after starting the season 0-3 with some tough matchups.
Highlights
Khalif is the definition of a tough-shot-maker. When he is getting to his spots, it is so hard to get a good contest with the combination of him being 6’5” and his quick release on his shot. He sunk numerous tough fading shots off the dribble from beyond the arc and in the mid-range. He also had an incredible full-court assist to a teammate running in transition that really caught my eye early in the game. Bettis is one of the top unsigned seniors left in Minnesota and I believe he is a Division 1 caliber prospect. He is averaging around 25 points per game to start the season.
JT’s game is so fun to watch and he brings so much to the table with his elite athleticism. He impressed me most with his ball handling and plays at the basket. He attacks the paint with no fear and is not scared to draw contact or finish over defenders. The senior guard had some really crafty finishes, hanging up in the air and adjusting the angles he laid the ball up to avoid getting blocked. Thornton was able to use a combination of his handles and speed to get past defenders all game. He also threw down a pair of fast break dunks making it look easy. With the addition of JT to the lineup this season, Burnsville already has more wins than they did all of last year.