Prep Hoops Live: Max’s Day 1 Standouts
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Prep Hoops Live kicked off last night in the Twin Cities, and I was in the gym to catch some 15u action on night one. These are seven of the prospects who impressed on the night. Tyler Forrest Tyler Forrest…
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Continue ReadingPrep Hoops Live kicked off last night in the Twin Cities, and I was in the gym to catch some 15u action on night one. These are seven of the prospects who impressed on the night.
Tyler Forrest Tyler Forrest 6'2" | PG Chaska | 2027 State MN
Tyler Forrest Tyler Forrest 6'2" | PG Chaska | 2027 State MN
Tyler had some impressive stretches as Team Tyus played up in the 15u bracket. His team was trailing early, but there was a few minute stretch over the backend of the 1st half where he had four finishes right at the rim to make it a game again. He plays with great change of speed as just an 8th grader, has a quick first step to attack the basket, and showcased impressive body control to finish through contact and over size. Displayed good court vision to kick it out to his shooters and also rebounded well as a point guard. On the defensive end I like how vocal he already is as he was making sure everyone on the floor knew what they were doing at all times. Helped lead his team to an overtime win.
Malachi Hill Malachi Hill 5'8" Minneapolis South | 2026 MN
Malachi Hill Malachi Hill 5'8" Minneapolis South | 2026 MN
Malachi is another 8th grader who has already played varsity basketball, and it showed as he was dominant over stretches against Team Iowa 15u. Hill is extremely shifty with the ball in his hands, and had success either getting to the rim or into space for a mid-range jumper. Gets good elevation on his shot with the ability to score at all three levels. At times he was like a one-man press break as he was able to weave in-and-out of defenders to get his team a numbers advantage going forward. Impressive skillset as an 8th grader.
Caiden just makes the game look easy. At 6’3 he looked like he could play either guard spot as he handles it well under pressure but could also provide a scoring threat on the wing. He was a difficult matchup for D1 Minnesota 2027 because he was skilled enough off the bounce to get past similar sized players, but smaller guards couldn’t contest him when he pulled up for a mid-range shot or got to the basket. Wasn’t forcing his game and instead took what the defense was giving him to help lead B&B Academy to a big win.
Highlights
Jacob got off to a hot start for Wisconsin Academy. In just the first couple of minutes the 6’2 lefty had already drained a pair of 3’s, blocked a shot, and then attacked the basket to earn a trip to the free throw line. Since last summer he’s grown a few inches and added some strength to his frame making him much more than just a shooter. Yes he was a huge threat from deep, but he had some physical finishes inside and was grabbing rebounds in traffic that he wouldn’t have gotten last year. Look for Hibner to have some more impressive games this weekend in Minnesota.
Jaylan Hynes Jaylan Hynes 6'0" | SG Totino-Grace | 2027 State MN
Jaylan Hynes Jaylan Hynes 6'0" | SG Totino-Grace | 2027 State MN
Jaylan is another intriguing 8th grade prospect with some high school experience already under his belt. He has a really long frame at 6’1, and as someone who I had previously seen as mostly a shooter, he put it to use attacking the basket for some tough finishes as well as rebounding the ball well. Still possesses a smooth jumper with the ability to knock down shots off the catch or dribble. Makes plays defensively as PJ Hoops was always looking to press and trap the ball, so his combination of length and quickness was tough to get around. Had some big buckets in the second half to help hold off a comeback attempt from Team Iowa.
Gavin Walter Gavin Walter 6'3" | SF Champlin Park | 2027 State MN
Gavin Walter Gavin Walter 6'3" | SF Champlin Park | 2027 State MN
Gavin made big plays on both ends helping lead Team Tyus to an opening night win over Wisconsin Academy. Defensively he moves well at his size, but was also protecting the rim at a high level as he had a handful of blocks. On the offensive end he continuously found ways to get to the rim and use his length to extend and finish. Can attack off a straight line drive or work off the ball to put himself in positions to catch and finish. Had a very crafty lay-up that ended up tying the game for his team late in regulation and forcing overtime.
Isaiah Asuma Isaiah Asuma 5'11" | SG Cherry | 2027 State MN
Isaiah Asuma Isaiah Asuma 5'11" | SG Cherry | 2027 State MN
It was a tough loss for D1 Minnesota on the night, but Isaiah showed some bright spots for his team. Asuma is lightning quick, and has a motor that never stops defensively. He’s a tough on-ball defender with his lateral quickness, but seemed to be everywhere off the ball jumping passing lanes, cutting off drives, or reaching in to poke the ball free. Offensively his quickness allows him to attack gaps as soon as they open up and get all the way to the rim to score.