JV Prospects Impressing This Season
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When I have the time, I’ll try to arrive early to games to catch some up-and-coming prospects playing at the JV level. These are a handful of the top prospects that I’ve seen in those games this winter! Ja’carion Green…
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Continue ReadingWhen I have the time, I’ll try to arrive early to games to catch some up-and-coming prospects playing at the JV level. These are a handful of the top prospects that I’ve seen in those games this winter!
Tartan has a promising wing coming up in the ranks as JC dominated in a matchup against South St. Paul. Finishing with 27 points, the 6’3 wing was just too strong and athletic to be stopped. He handles the ball well at his size, and it allowed him to repeatedly beat his man off the dribble to get to the rim, while also being able to go coast-to-coast in transition. Once at the rim, his strength allowed him to finish through contact, and he also displayed advanced touch and body control as he was finishing from difficult angles at a high level.
Highlights
Xavier is the lone freshman listed on Park Center’s roster, and has been putting together some productive games at the JV level. He has a nice feel for the game, and plays with good pace even when under pressure. Frelix is able to create his own shots off the dribble, and looks good stepping into his pull-up jumper. Really well-rounded skillset as a freshman guard, and it will be intriguing to watch his progress as he continues to mature physically.
You don’t often see freshmen as good as Tian playing JV, but with Totino-Grace’s loaded roster he’s embracing his role on the JV team. He’s already listed as 6’3, and even at that size he’s spending time running the point for his team. Tian has the ability to play either guard spot, as he can facilitate with his ability to get into the paint and kick it out to open shooters, but can also score on his own. He has tremendous change of speed off the dribble, with the ability to elevate for a pull-up jumper or attack and use his touch to score off the glass. Defensively he’s very impressive as he loves to pressure the ball, and can move his feet with much smaller guards. Versatile guard prospect who could catch a lot of people off guard when he makes the jump to varsity.
Highlights
Kevin Kemp Kevin Kemp 6'6" | PF Eagan | 2026 State MN
Kevin Kemp Kevin Kemp 6'6" | PF Eagan | 2026 State MN
I didn’t get to see as much of Eagan’s JV game as I would’ve liked to, but Kevin impressed in the short time I saw. At 6’6 he’s a long and lanky frontcourt prospect, but moves very well at his size. Was very active off the ball, and runs the floor better than most bigs with his long and fluid stride. Showcased good touch around the basket as he finished with 17 points in a win for his team. Prospect to keep an eye on with a nice ceiling out of Eagan!
Dorian Pruitt Dorian Pruitt 6'6" | PF DeLaSalle | 2025 State MN
Dorian Pruitt Dorian Pruitt 6'6" | PF DeLaSalle | 2025 State MN
I think DeLaSalle has an underrated 2025 class with plenty of sophomores waiting their turn to make that jump to varsity next season. Dorian has added a few inches since his freshman year, and is a very long and lanky guard at 6’4. He’s a solid athlete who can use his length to swallow up opposing guards on defense, and offensively he’s a solid shot creator with a smooth jumper. Dorian has seen time in 7 varsity games this season, but for the most part has been showcasing his skillset at the JV level. Has the tools to be a nice prospect moving forward.
Doth will typically see time for TG’s varsity, but whenever I’ve been there he also starts the JV games to get some additional experience. You rarely see freshmen coming in with the type of physical attributes Ijadimbola has, as he’s a smooth and explosive athlete who already has good positional size on the wing. At the JV level he’s simply too much for defenders to handle once he gets to the rim, and he’s shown he has the handle to attack on his own. Also impressed in the last JV game I saw as he confidently pulled up and drained a deep three as the defender sagged off trying to stop the drive. When he gets a clear path to the rim he can take off for dunks, but also has the touch to extend and lay it in off the glass over/around defenders.
As just an 8th grader, Ty is talented enough that he’s worked his way into receiving some consistent minutes at the varsity level at Eden Prairie over the past few weeks. I saw him earlier in the year playing JV, where he showcased really fluid mobility and poise on the ball at 6’4. Looks so comfortable stepping into a pull-up jumper, and has a smooth release. Ty has a solid grasp of the fundamentals as he can effectively utilize shot fakes and jab steps to create space, while also knowing how to use his body to work his way to the basket. In a tied game last month he showed some of that clutch gene as he knocked down a three off the dribble to give his team a win.
In the same JV game I saw Ty Schlagel Ty Schlagel 6’5″ | SF Eden Prairie | 2027 State MN play in, Quincy was on the opposite team producing at a high level for Hopkins. His chance of speed on the ball was very advanced, as he would lull defenders to sleep before blowing right by them to get two feet in the paint. In a close game, Quincy made play after play to push his team ahead as he was constantly forcing a second defender to step up on him, and he showed the vision to quickly dump it off to an open teammate at the rim. His coach trusted him to make plays down the stretch, and he did just that. Will be a part of a really promising group of young guards coming up at Hopkins