The Race is close! We are getting close to the Mr. Basketball watch list and with that comes the thought of who will make it, who will make the Top Ten, who will be in the final five, and who…
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Subscribe Already a subscriber? Log inThe Race is close! We are getting close to the Mr. Basketball watch list and with that comes the thought of who will make it, who will make the Top Ten, who will be in the final five, and who will win. Let’s start with the leaders.
But before we talk about the leaders its annual rant time. Again, I have zero idea who turns in the name for the honored McDonald’s All American candidates (the big list, not the final list) but those people need to be dropped and replaced. I know who used to do it when Minnesota got 20 names, but now every year it’s a couple names and the names often don’t seem to co-relate. To take away the chance of 10, 12 whatever kids to be honored at their school like what other states do is totally unfair.
This year, the only players that were honored were
Taison Chatman
Taison
Chatman
6'4" | PG
Totino-Grace | 2023
State
#35
Nation
MN
and
Jack Janicki
Jack
Janicki
6'4" | SG
White Bear Lake | 2023
State
#277
Nation
MN
. Yes two guys that have earned the right to be honored, but also two guys that have combined to play in eight games this year because of injury. Meanwhile,
Boden Kapke
Boden
Kapke
6'11" | C
Holy Family | 2023
State
#153
Nation
MN
,
Nolan Winter
Nolan
Winter
6'10" | PF
Lakeville North | 2023
State
#98
Nation
MN
,
Nasir Whitlock
Nasir
Whitlock
6'1" | PG
DeLaSalle | 2023
State
MN
, and
Max Shikenjanski
Max
Shikenjanski
6'2" | PG
Stillwater | 2023
State
#288
Nation
MN
have had great years playing all year, and they are not on the list with Taison and Jack. No, it does not make sense. Or it makes about as much sense as the MSHSL state credentialing process.
So, back to your regular scheduled programming….
The Leader
Nolan Winter
Nolan
Winter
6'10" | PF
Lakeville North | 2023
State
#98
Nation
MN
of Lakeville North. Winter is averaging 22 points and 12.5 rebounds a game shooting 60 percent from the floor, 72 percent from the foul line and 29.5 percent at the arc. The Panthers lost to Eastview this week but Nolan had 27 points versus Eastview and a 30 point game making 11 of 15 shots. At this point he has a foot ahead of the race.
Top Contenders
Boden Kapke
Boden
Kapke
6'11" | C
Holy Family | 2023
State
#153
Nation
MN
of Holy Family. Boden had 20 in a 40 point win over previously undefeated Dassel-Cokato and then scored 21 in a 15 point win over Breck. Kapke and the Fire face Watertown-Mayer this evening in what should be a good game.
Max Shikenjanski
Max
Shikenjanski
6'2" | PG
Stillwater | 2023
State
#288
Nation
MN
of Stillwater. Max scored 29 (his average for the season) and ended the undefeated run of Mounds View this past week and then he had 25 against East Ridge.
Nasir Whitlock
Nasir
Whitlock
6'1" | PG
DeLaSalle | 2023
State
MN
of DeLaSalle. Whitlock led the Islanders to a couple controlling pair of wins over Kennedy and Holy Angels. He had 29 points before an early seat versus AHA and then had a quick 14 before taking an earlier seat against Kennedy. Nasir has a big game leading De vs Minneapolis North tonight.
Final Five Potentials
CJ O’Hara
CJ
O’Hara
6'4" | SF
Park Center | 2023
State
#285
Nation
MN
of Park Center. CJ and the Pirates blew out Rogers and Spring Lake Park, O’Hara scored a combined 28 points in those two games, he’s averaging 17.6 points a game. Huge game for CJ and the Pirates tonight against Totino-Grace.
Isaiah Hagen
Isaiah
Hagen
6'3" | PG
Orono | 2023
State
MN
of Orono. The Spartans are a Class AAA top contender and his 22 point, 14 rebound, seven assist game against Mound-Westonka was an eye catching performance this past week.
Others
Ben Kopetzki
Ben
Kopetzki
6'0" | PG
Andover | 2023
State
MN
of Andover. In a big game the Huskies lost but he had 23 points and 6 assists. Also had 31 points and 5 assists in their win over Anoka.
Patrick Bath
Patrick
Bath
6'9" | C
Totino-Grace | 2023
State
MN
of Totino-Grace. Another double-double against a strong opponent, had 16 points and 12 rebounds against Maple Grove.
Taison Chatman
Taison
Chatman
6'4" | PG
Totino-Grace | 2023
State
#35
Nation
MN
of Totino-Grace. Back on the court, looking healthier, has had a combined 36 points in his last three games.
Jack Janicki
Jack
Janicki
6'4" | SG
White Bear Lake | 2023
State
#277
Nation
MN
of White Bear Lake. This past week Jack had a four point game in a blowout win over Roseville, and then 21 points in a win at Woodbury.
Names to Watch
Khalif Bettis
Khalif
Bettis
6'4" | SF
Burnsville | 2023
State
MN
of Burnsville
Ryan Heise
Ryan
Heise
6'8" | SF
Lake City | 2023
State
MN
of Lake City
Tommy Humphries
Tommy
Humphries
6'5" | SF
Totino-Grace | 2023
State
#283
Nation
MN
of Totino-Grace
Owen Leach
Owen
Leach
6'5" | SF
Dillworth Glyndon-Felton | 2023
State
MN
of DGF
Isaac Matti
Isaac
Matti
6'1" | SG
Hayfield | 2023
State
MN
of Hayfield
Ater Manyuon
Ater
Manyuon
6'4" | SF
Austin | 2023
State
MN
of Austin
Will Opsahl
Will
Opsahl
6'8" | SF
Goodhue | 2023
State
MN
of Goodhue
Kaiden Peters
Kaiden
Peters
6'2" | CG
Plainview/Elgin-Millville | 2023
State
MN
of PEM
Trey Smith
Trey
Smith
6'6" | SF
Osseo | 2023
State
MN
of Osseo
Aeron Stevens
Aeron
Stevens
6'7" | PF
Plainview-Elgin-Millville | 2023
State
MN
of PEM
Hayden Tibbits
Hayden
Tibbits
5'11" | PG
Wayzata | 2023
State
MN
of Wayzata
Will Underwood
Will
Underwood
6'3" | PG
Mahtomedi | 2023
State
MN
of Mahtomedi
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